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I'm writing this column to take issue with the P.E.I. Teacher's Federation viewpoint that ADD doesn't exist as outlined in an article last month in the Guardian entitled Inattentive pupil problem draws psychologist's viewpoint. The basis of this headline came from a speech given by school psychologist Frank Lechowick to members of the P.E.I. Teachers Federation at a convention in October, 1999. I have ADD, better known as Attention Deficit Disorder, while my brother, Matthew, has the impulsivity and hyperactive ADHD, also called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These are spoken of in an appalling article mentioned in a Nov. 2 letter in the Guardian from the president of the P.E.I. ADD/ADHD support group. In her letter, Sandra LeBlanc, president of P.E.I. ADD/ADHD, is correct in implying that M.R.I's, P.E.T scans as well as autopsies have clearly shown that this neurological, biological and genetic disorder does exist. I'm at the same mark she is in being puzzled as to why teachers should be ³uncomfortable² about ADD. Now I'll give you some of the history of how I've been able to struggle with having ADD and not being diagnosed at an early age like most children are, but when I was entering my early teen years. I was once like the student that Lechowick's speech refers to, with my behaviour disrupting class but none of my teachers, until about Grade 8, recognized that. In fact, the behaviour disruption was caused by my ADD disorder. ADD is one of the largest disability groups with 914 children and adults on P.E.I. being affected by ADD, which is not over-diagnosed on the Island, says well-known ADD expert Dr. Russell Barkley. In Grade 10, I found it hard to work on school material, despite earning a 100 per cent on an integrated science test. I ended up going into the alternate class,in grade 11 and it seemed to be easier. But then came the asbestos acknowledgment at Hants East rural high, so I was pulled from the school for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, the following year, I had to take Grade 11 over, not because my marks, but because I took the alternate class the previous year, putting me one year behind most of my friends that I would have graduated with in 1998. This made me lose some self-esteem, and affected some of my marks which were never higher than a 75 per cent. In my final year of high school, I had a pretty good year, with my teachers realizing that I had ADD and that would affect my work. This helped me out and them by understanding how to mark me. Last year, my marks improved. In my second year on Dexedrine, a prescription drug used to aid concentration, my marks rose to an average of 80. The letter states that only a medical doctor can diagnose ADD/ADHD, however, many teachers, at least in Nova Scotia, can recognize its symptoms and request that parents get their child tested by a neurologist for ADD/ADHD. I know my marks weren't good enough to get into this course. However, I was able to get in because of a system of not taking in applicants with the highest average but rather ones that make real journalists. An example of this would be the people in both years of our class. Complaints that students who are constantly up and not sitting, are making teachers frustrated, thus these students get punished for something they have no control over. The reason these students can't stay still is a result of the impulsivity and hyperactivity that ADD/ADHD brings with it. If they researched it and really took in the information they're given on professional development days, they would realize this. ADD has been treated for close to 50 years with the drug Ritalin, but now treatment can be made through many new drugs, such as Dexedrine, with side effects ranging from being tired after school to curbing your appetite for supper to being unable to have alcoholic beverages until it is out of your system at around 7 p.m. However, as long as a neurologist recommends the drug and you are informed of what the side-effects are, then there should be no problem. During the application process I was talking with one of my professors who said that he was willing to deal with me having ADD. He said there are many people out there who deny that they have it. There are many older teachers who no clue what ADD/ADHD is. The younger teachers are the ones who are lucky and can help out the students who would have fallen through the cracks, otherwise.
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