When Noise Helps: Stochastic Resonance and ADHD

scienceblogs.com

8 points·bootload··4 comments

I don't like the implication that children with ADHD are unhealthy.

I think the problem is that people perceive them to be (because they are different).

Mis-diagnosis of ADD and ADHD is common at young ages too. I am most likely bi-polar more than ADD even though I was diagnosed with the latter not the former.

It isn't something in the brain you can point at like a tumor - it (seems to be) an difference in the development of structures or the concentration of neurotransmitters that everyone has - so a diagnosis can only be made based on whether these differences are impeding in some way. That's why it doesn't really make sense to say it isn't a problem when how problematic it is is one of the diagnostic criteria.

It's not diagnosis that concerns me per say (although it does in kids). The problem is over medication. I was on ritalin for so long as a kind my body became resistant. And now I've been told I may have been mis-diagnosed.

I don't think I had a problem other than school was boring, and I was always ahead of the curve. I wasn't like the rest so I had a problem and they had to try making me conform.

It's this need for us all to be more or less like everyone else that is the problem.

There has been some speculation by people that public school (and probably even non public) exists but to drain the individuality, creativeness, independantness, etc, from us to make use perfect obedient corporate drones. When school fails they push prescriptions.

I should say I agree with the sound thing though. I almost always need my brain processing multiple things at once. Be it conscious or subconscious to avoid being distracted.

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