Thanks to George of All About George, for pointing this out to me.
It’s encouraging to know that the subject of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in African American youth is getting attention. It’s even more encouraging to know that experts are talking about the undertreatment of ADHD/ADD among African American youth.
A panel of experts voiced concerns to the Congressional Black Caucus about misperceptions of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in the African American community during a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by Children and Adults with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Co-sponsored by Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) and Donna Christian-Christensen (U.S. Virgin Islands), the panel presented scientific evidence that African Americans with AD/HD are often undertreated and discussed the devastating implications for minority communities when denied appropriate access to care.
“Claims that AD/HD is not a real disorder or that it is caused by too much sugar or bad parenting are completely false and are, in fact, harmful to concerned parents trying valiantly to find ways to help their children,” reported Marilyn Benoit, M.D., child psychiatrist, assistant professor of Psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine, and immediate past president, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. “Scientific studies demonstrate that the real problem is the undertreatment of AD/HD among African American children and teens.”
It’s just my opinion, but I think that many African Americans are probably at least s little suspicious of anything in the realm of psychology or psychiatry, or simply don’t “believe in it.” I’m talking about people who think that a kid with ADHD or ADD just “needs his behind spanked” more often, or just needs someone to “be harder on him.” My experience is that those approaches do mor harm than good in the long run.
But perhaps today attitudes are changing a bit. I think some in African American communities still need some education on ADHD/ADD. I mean just the basics, like that it is a real condition. Here are the basics.
AD/HD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, attention, and in some cases, hyperactivity. It is a neurobiological disorder(1) that affects 3-5 percent of school-age children.(2,3,4) Until recently, most people believed that children outgrew AD/HD in adolescence, perhaps because hyperactivity often diminishes during this time. Research demonstrates that many symptoms continue into adulthood. In fact, recent studies reflect rates of roughly 2-4 percent among adults.(5)
AD/HD is the current diagnostic label for a condition that has been recognized and studied for more than a century. Over the years it has been called several other names including “brain damaged syndrome,” “minimal brain dysfunction (MBD),” “hyperkinetic impulsive disorder” and “attention deficit disorder.”
OK, people? It isn’t “new.” It isn’t “made up.” It isn’t some sort of conspiracy to get your kids hooked on mind controlling drugs or something else. If your kid has ADHD/ADD, beating her isn’t going to make it better, and being harder on him isn’t going to make it go away. In fact, it will likely make things worse. If it’s possible that your kid has ADD, get him or her to a psychiatrist and find out for sure. Then start working on a treatment that works for the kid and for you. Also consider a therapist or an ADD coach to help you both through the post-diagnosis process.
I just wish people had been having this conversation on this level when I was growing up. It might have done me a lot of good. At least it’s happening now, and good will probably come of it for a lot more kids and their families.