A.D.D.  OR  B A D.?

By JOSEPH HARRIS

The topic of A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder) can stir emotion in some, especially among parents whose children are affected. It was originally known as Minimal Brain Dysfunction. There are two basic types of A.D.D.:

(1) Passive, where the child is not hyperactive, but can’t focus and (2) Active, where the child is hyperactive along with a deficiency of attention, also known ad A.D.H.D. Plainly stated, A.D.D. children can’t focus their attention on anything for a long time.

This disorder is legitimate, but has been exploited over the years. Let me give you my simplistic, rather hard, but common sense analysis on this disorder. Most kids will not focus their attention very long on anything unless they are already interested in it, or unless they are motivated to do so.

I am no expert in this area, but my experience from pastoring A.D.D. kids and their parents, being a father myself, and consulting with my wife (who has legitimate expertise in diagnosis and treatment in this area) tells me that a lot of the kids diagnosed with A.D.D. may not really have it.

One thing they all have in common is descent from Adam, with a predisposition to sin and rebel against authority. They may be more B.A.D. than A.D.D.

How many times have you heard a parent say, ‘I just can’t do a thing with him (most A.D.D.’s are male)," only to hear later that Jr. was just diagnosed A.D.D. You mean an adult with life experience, usually with formal education, and common sense (hopefully) can’t outwit, outmaneuver, or outsmart their child?

Kids learn early how to manipulate and threaten. The majority of children, whether diagnosed as A.D.D. or not, will not perform or work at quality level unless they are motivated to do so. The method of motivation is up to the parent, first, then the teacher. Depending on the child, it may be positive reinforcement, or it may be a belt or switch on the bottom or legs (See the book of Proverbs for further instruction under "rod.").

Am I denying the reality of A.D.D.? Certainly not! But I am saying there are too many parents who, when met with a little resistance from their child, listen to some liberal claptrap about attention deficiency and how "kids today just can’t focus or mind," then they whisk them off to be labeled and medicated.

Now, the child may really have A.D.D. or some other legitimate learning disorder. But the child may just be strong willed. Or the child may be a little hyperactive with a seeming deficiency of attention brought on because he’s not made to stop long enough to focus.

I think some parents are deficient in paying attention to their kids. When the home is a Godly home, with the parents in charge, and boundaries are set and rules enforced through discipline and training, administered in love and compassion, that home will have fewer "cases" of A.D.D. children.

The Bible says TRAIN up a child. That means to bend the tree in the direction it should grow. Training requires effort and means teaching children they are accountable, and responsible for their own actions. Children are not responsible or wise enough to train themselves properly. That’s why they have parents. 

Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and

www.miniedition.net also appear)