Attention Deficit Disorder Hyperactivity and Its Treatment

As if my Brain had split

I tried to match it

Seam by Seam

But could not make them fit.

The thought behind, I strove to join Unto the thought before

But Sequence ravelled out of Sound

Like Balls

upon a Floor.

Emily Dickinson (1864)

Probably all of us can identify with the poem above as being true for us occasionally, when our thoughts become tangled and disjointed, but for the child or adult with ADHD this is the normative experience. They face the daunting task of trying desperately to bring their scattered thoughts together in an attempt to understand and control their universe. This latter is important, because an ADHD child is constantly seeking to control everything in his environment to bring it into line with his perception of the universe.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Technically, the correct diagnostic label in use today is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which lumps hyperactivity into the collection of symptoms, but attention-deficit disorder (ADD) is often used as well to describe the same package of behaviors. The label is not exact and can be confusing in some cases, since it is not a lack of attention but attention inconsistency that is the problem--ADHD individuals have a remarkable to "hyper focus" at times. Also, the hyperactivity may or may not be present in all cases--some individuals display a dreamy and passive appearance on the outside. And finally, the use of "disorder" to describe the syndrome implies that this is a pathological condition to be treated and cured, while the truth is that the problems created by the ADHD are often accompanied by some startling benefits--creativity, intuitiveness, high energy, enthusiasm, and empathy for others. The truth is that an ADHD child can perhaps most correctly be termed a "special-needs" child.

ADHD is linked to an imbalance in the chemicals used to regulate mood, behavior and energy level in the body. As such, it oftentimes is partially correctable with appropriate doses of medication. This is never a complete answer to the problem, but medication often makes the symptoms manageable enough to where the ADHD individual can begin, with counseling, the process of consciously developing skills to deal with his symptoms.

ADHD is not the result of poor parenting. Because it is biological in nature, the analysis of the problem based on behavior is often misleading. Well-meaning individuals will often suggest that "a good, swift swat" or "firm, consistent discipline" is the answers to the problems of dealing with the ADHD child. This completely misses the point. While a diagnosis of ADHD should never be allowed to become an excuse for misbehavior, in dealing with inappropriate behavior a parent or caregiver must be careful to try and determine the actual motivation for such behavior. While ADHD children are sinners by birth like the rest of us, they are prone to impulsive and seemingly rude behavior, which is nearly impossible for them to control (or even understand as wrong). The frustration of constantly living on the ragged edge of control breeds angry, often violent outbursts. The insecurity caused by never really being sure that they have a handle on things provokes demands for attention and reassurance that can be misinterpreted as merely selfish behavior.

As a corrective reaction to secular psychology assigning biological motivation to behaviors we consider sinful choices, many in the Christian community deny any biological causation for behavior. This flies in the face of scientific and medical evidence, which shows that our behavior is often not simply a matter of our conscious choices, but affected greatly by a complex interaction between external situations, emotions, and the bodies own chemical balance. Truly, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."

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