Troubled Teens Resources

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is viewed as a curse and addressed as a “disease’. Is that a helpful perception or even a useful definition? Many professionals would assert that that approach is counterproductive.

“The biggest mistake I see so many parents making when it comes to ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilities is thinking that diagnosis of a learning disability and labeling of a child with the name of a “disease” somehow helps in some way! To me that is as foolish as going to the doctor and having him tell you that your child has Strep Throat without doing anything to help the child get over the infection!
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I always ask, “What is your number one strategy for dealing effectively with your situation?” Most everyone answers with a blank stare. Someone has diagnosed a problem but done little or nothing to teach compensation or adaptation skills!”

An approach often found employed at schools for troubled teens and military boarding schools is to treat ADHD as an asset to be utilized towards your troubled teenager’s advancement. As opposed to dealing with ADHD as a liability, “special need” or disease, many health professionals view it as a particularly useful tool to be mastered. Now, which approach do you think garners the better results?

“…before taking any action after suspecting that a child has ADD (or any learning disorders for that matter) you must decide what definition you are going to use to define what you are talking about.
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As a parent, the only important thing to establish is “How am I going to help my child to adapt and learn to use the abilities and capabilities that they have to be an independent and self-reliant and capable person!”

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