My friend's son has been having some behavioural problems recently: aggressive, hyperactive behaviour to name just a couple of things. Well to cut a long story short, my friend went along to the doctors with him on several occasions and now the doctor says he has ADHD.

I don't really know a lot about this disorder but I told my partner and he basically dismissed it as rubbish, saying that doctors label children with this when they show signs of having too much energy. How serious is it?

My son was diagnosed with A.D.H.D at the age of ten, he was a really difficult child and very agressive. He set fire to his bedroom beat up his younger brother regularly and even pulled a knife on me. I live in cheshire and cheshire county council is all for inclusion. So my little darling was made to go to main stream secondary school against my better judgement. I protested and protested to the powers that be but i was ignored at every turn! My argument was that my boy just wouldn't cope in that environment and would cause so much disruption that the other children would be affected by his behavior and why should their education suffer as a result of my child. Needless to say it didn't take long for the problems to start, my son was thrown down stairs had his knee dislocated, put in a skip with his hands tied behind his back with a cable tie and a lit cigarette put in his blazer pocket and litterally left there to burn(and people say kids with A.D.H.D are animals). He lasted six whole weeks at that school and then i had to argue my case against a panel of 15 do gooders before i litterally told them i would name every single one of them if my son hurt or damaged another child and that i would tell the parents of that child the lengths i had been to to try and get a special school placement for my son. Anyway needless to say my son now attends a school called cloughwood in northwhich, which is fab and has really brought him on, he is a warm sensitive loving and caring young man who starts colege in may on a building and construction course! These kids can come out the other end with the right encouragement and support. I never allowed my son to use his condition as an excuse for bad behavior and it was a real stuggle but he does know what is right and wrong and the consiquences for being bad. All to often these kids are pigeon holed and informed that they will end up in prison or drug addicts....we should'nt write them off....they have brilliant minds and bags of enthusiasm...its only when they are taught low self worth that they slip away from normal life. Tell your friend good luck and she can email me any time if she feels she can't cope my email is sam.collier@hotmail.com

regards

sam.

there are some kids diagnosed wrongly but adhd is real and so difficult for the kids themselves and for families and teachers....he is likely to struggle with not only school work but also friendships because other kids are often worn down by the behavior and the parents of other kids often dont want them around...ok thats some of the downsides...now the positives....these kids really need a routine,and very clear rules and then they can learn how to fit in...they need structured exercise-team or individual....again with clear rules for participation and imediate consequences(time out or loss of tv time or whatever) for outbursts or inappropriate behavior...real food - as opposed to junk - can help - its not just about cutting down the preservatives etc its also just more structure-sitting down to proper meal and eating the kind of food that keeps us healthy...a good teacher who will stick to a plan is essential-clear instruction(visual schedule) about what the class will do and what is expected of him will make a huge difference then they can start to see the good side of this...channelling that energy and putting it to good use in sports and enthusiatic participation rather than disruptive outbursts...it can be done and there is sometimes a place for medication....i wish them luck-hard work will pay off and help their beautiful boy reach his potential