| Many parents naturally feel anxious when they learn | | | | fact that his children had problems concentrating and |
| that their child has ADD or ADHD. Both of these | | | | getting good grades in school, Receveur saw them as |
| diagnoses (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention | | | | highly creative and intelligent. He knew the potential |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are frequently given for | | | | harmful side effects of ADD/ADHD drugs and did not |
| children who have trouble standing still, are impulsive | | | | want to place his children on the medication. Instead, he |
| and have short attention spans. The diagnosis is very | | | | came up with a real treatment plan that works with |
| controversial as it is thought to be over-diagnosed, | | | | the condition instead of fighting it. |
| especially in young children who are just starting out | | | | Many parents get upset when they have a child who |
| their school life. Parents will normally follow the advice | | | | cannot follow directions, has a short attention span, |
| of their doctor and go with the diagnosis. In some | | | | constantly loses their belongings and does not seem to |
| cases, the doctor will recommend that the child see a | | | | be able to concentrate in school. Teachers, who often |
| pediatric psychiatrist. As a matter of fact, ADD cases | | | | have 30 kids in a classroom, want all of the children to |
| account for more than 40 percent of all referrals to | | | | behave in the same way, listen, be quiet and learn. |
| pediatric psychiatrists. | | | | Children who do not "follow the program," such as |
| No parent wants to hear that there is something | | | | ADD children, are often labeled as "troublesome." |
| "wrong" with their child. A "disorder" that must be | | | | Pressure is put on the child by the teacher as well as |
| treated with mind altering drugs. Many parents are torn | | | | other students to "be like everyone else" and |
| between wanting to follow the advice of the doctor | | | | "conform." |
| and give their children drugs, or love their children for | | | | The truth of the matter is that children with ADD are |
| who they are. The truth of the matter is that many | | | | not like everyone else. As a matter of fact, no one is |
| parents are realizing that there is nothing "wrong" with | | | | "like everyone else." We are all unique individuals and |
| their child with ADD or ADHD. That they are who they | | | | many people, including those like Dr. Receveur, feel this |
| are. They have rejected the notion of drugging their | | | | should be celebrated and not quelled. Children with |
| children to conform and have sought alternative forms | | | | ADD/ADHD are usually highly creative individuals. He |
| of therapy for their child's ADD. | | | | feels that instead of trying to drug them so that they |
| Ron Receveur is one of those parents. A dentist who | | | | can "conform" we should learn to work with their |
| is very familiar with pharmaceuticals, he was naturally | | | | special talents to get the best results. Many people are |
| reluctant to drug his children when they were | | | | following the advice of Dr. Receveur and others like |
| diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. As a matter of fact, | | | | him who feel that ADD therapy without drugs or |
| Receveur himself feels that he might also have had | | | | herbal remedies can help children with ADD learn, |
| the same condition as he often found it hard to sit still | | | | grow and thrive. |
| while studying for exams in dental school. Despite the | | | | |