Does ADD mean NT?

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I agree with not giving kids amphetamines, but there is no blood test for ADD/ADHD.

Yep. I know there isn't. Therefore, how can you be certain that you are treating ADHD? The dx. change so often. So why give these kids speed? That was my point. Sorry. I don't always express myself very well. In fact, I rarely do

The thing about any "abnormality" in thinking is that neurons form pathways according to how we think, what we think about and thus our mental habits, our neurological habits perpetuate themselves naturally.
That's why people who have brain injury, sensory impairment/loss or other neurological "disorder" tend to compensate in other parts of the brain. It may be chemicals driving ADHD impairment, but eventually those people will find other ways to think and pattern behavior/communication. Genii may be chemically "normal" but their "otherness" may affect or damage their social behavior. Or may make them just not like NTs. They habituate into their genius thought patterns and leave other social norms behind.
People who have mental illness for a long time, perhaps starting in their younger years are set on different path. They must learn to communicate differently, they socialize with others that are different. Not always, but they have the ability to change their brain patterns. Think of the creative genii that suffered from severe depression or bipolar disorder? Which came first?
Did the creativity make them mad? Did the madness make them creative? I've seen cases of both.

Good practitioners have a high success rate in making an accurate diagnosis of ADHD. As I mentioned earlier, this wasn't always the case but things have improved greatly. Yes, there are false positives and there is no blood test, but this doesn't mean that a good practitioner can't have a very high rate of accuracy.

The giving "kids speed" comment, shows how persuasive Scientology and other antipsych-groups have been at disseminating their false/ inaccurate propaganda. "Speed" is a drug culture term and that connotation has nothing to do with the use of therapeutic stimulants. With theraputic levels of stimulants, the doses are smaller but more importantly, the drug delivery system is totally different. When you ingest a stimulant it is slowly absorbed by the stomach lining. On the other hand abused stimulant drugs like crystal meth are snorted or injected and reach the brain immediately. Hence you get the high and crash cycle of drug addiction. Abused drugs are highly addictive while therapeutic levels of prescribed stimulants actually decreases the odds of someone becoming a drug addict.

Case in point, if you inject alcohol into your veins, over a short period of time, I'm sure you will create the same drug addiction cycle that infamous street drugs cause. Funny too that cocaine was once used as an ingredient of Coca Cola. The use of cocaine in a soft drink wasn't harmful because the dose was low and it was ingested.

Theraputic stimulants have a very high clinically proven ability to reduce ADHD symptoms. These meds are probably the safest class of drugs out there. No drug is perfect but a trial run of stimulants for hyperactive and combo ADHD, is a no brainer.

Last edited by tortoise on 30 Nov 2006, 11:47 pm, edited 4 times in total.

There is a fine line between genius and insanity.. and I think someone erased it while I wasnt looking.

I haven't seen too many people self-correct a major mental illness. While it is true that many with more relatively minor disorders, may compensate one dysfunctional area with another, this does not happen universally, nor is that brain function restored to optimal levels.

I believe that one of the major reasons that many with disorders cope better in time, is because they leave a highly impairing environment ( school ) and gravitate towards environments that suit their strengths. Disorders like Aspergers and ADHD are developmental in nature so many will also see some upside over time.