A closer look at hyperactivity, attention problems

Dear Dr. Fournier:

My 6-year-old son is medicated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While this helps somewhat at school, the battle begins once he gets home. His teacher says homework should take 15-30 minutes. Many nights, after two hours of struggling to finish the assignment, I write a note saying we did as much as we could. His teacher suggests that we hold him back for "maturity."

Making the situation worse, he often argues and fights with his younger brother. This past holiday, we bought a second video game system to stop the fights, but they find other reasons to harass one another. Adding to the problems, my 4-year-old's preschool suggests that I have him tested for ADHD. What is going on? I refuse to have my 4 year old taking pills. Please help -- before I am the one that needs medication.

ASSESSMENT

I can always tell when a subject is going to generate reaction, and I already see the letters stuffed into the mailbox on this one.

In our society of quick fixes and instant gratification, pill-popping children have unfortunately become the norm. I completely and vehemently disagree with the notion that medication is the one-size-fits-all solution to every child's problem in school.

I usually support new technologies in education -- but in this case, the "technology" is overused and damaging to your children's development.

ADHD medications are basically amphetamines, which are addictive, can inhibit growth and result in sleep deprivation. I remember a time when parents didn't allow their children to drink coffee because of the caffeine. But today, a daily dose of high-powered amphetamines is the norm for a portion of generation of students. There are other solutions for attention problems in school.

WHAT TO DO

Look for answers in places that don't offer a singular solution. You will not find a solution until you find a cause. According to studies published in the Journal of Pediatrics, hyperactivity and attention deficit are linked to several different "environmental" causes:

-- "Viewing of violent programming by pre-school boys is associated with subsequent aggressive behavior."

-- "Television and computer game exposure affect children's sleep and deteriorate verbal cognitive performance, which supports the hypothesis of the negative influence of media consumption on children's sleep, learning and memory."

-- "Sustained exposure (to television) is a risk factor for behavioral problems.... Children age 5.5 had more social problems if they had 'concurrent exposure' (more than 2 hours of TV daily)."

-- "The association between early television viewing and subsequent attention problems is specific to non-educational viewing and to viewing before age 3."

Everyday more research emerges concluding that early continuous viewing of non-educational programs results in difficulty with sustained attention and concentration in young children.

Television and video games are about immediate gratification, which is the antithesis of school. Video games are about winning regardless of the means and often include violence. Even worse, there are no consequences in a "reality" where you can always press "Reset" and start over.

On the other hand is about sustained attention and perseverance. To avoid the pills, rid your home of the games and TV programs that your children emulate.

Educational programming will require listening and sustained attention. This is what school is about. The solution lies with parents having the courage and tenacity to bring peace to their home and into their children's drug-free lives.

(Write Dr. Yvonne Fournier, Fournier Learning Strategies Inc., 5900 Poplar, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. E-mail her at drfournier(at)hfhw.net)