Tom,

This was brought to my attention by one of my readers a week or two ago. I googled for lyrics and looked at about a dozen different online sources. Only one said "attention deficit" so I brushed it off. I didn't actually listen to the song (seems logical that I would have). I listened to the song at the link you provided and it's very clear.

What is so troubling is that the song is equating ADHD to being a "freak." And that ADHD behaviors deserve some sort of retaliation and that ADHDers don't deserve friends (or love interests I guess, in this case).

I am thinking of writing a flaming rebuttal directed at Nickelodeon and posting it online (and sending to Nick). I suggest we all show them that this is not okay.

Penny http://aMomsViewOfADHD.com

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I have to agree. I was watching the program with my 12 year old dd and when this song came on and I heard the lyiics I was shocked. Nick has really crossed the line in dealing with it's audiance and the message it is sending. I turned the program off and explained to my dd why I did it. She hadn't noticed what had been said at the time and of couse was upset with me. But sitting and listening to this type of message over and over (as kids do when the programs are repeated over and over and then the songs are sold and listened to over and over) that feeling of worthlessness is passed on.

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I have ADHD non hyperactive and my 15 year old son has ADHD (along with Aspergers) as do a couple nieces and a nephew. Coming from that, I don't find the song offensive. I think instead it presents the frustrations that parents, friends, siblings, etc. all experience when dealing with others who are different. They could just as easily have substituted several disorders in place of attention deficit. And I'm not convinced that the song is really meant to slam ADHD but rather the whole concept of preoccupation with other things and not focusing on people and/or relationships in particular. Have you seen the show Victorious? In particular, have you seen the episode that this song comes from? So many times videos that make sense within the confines of the show seem crass or inappropriate when taken out of context. As for the freak part, again, before I pass judgment on it, I would like to see the entire episode. Words our kids are using these days do not mean the same thing as they did when we were young. My almost 13 year old talked about "failing" in school one day and that other kids had failed too. I was baffled because he wasn't talking about grades failing now means to embarrass yourself in front of your peers. So freaking the freak out might not really mean something offensive but could mean something like doing something drastic to get the person's attention. Please don't think I'm insensitive it's not that at all. I just think that possibly all is not what it seems at first glance...

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Music is art. The people who live with us and love us have a right to vent their frustrations no matter what the forum. If they were having laugh at our expense it would be one thing but, these are real feelings. Keep the song the way it is. If anything, it might cause someone who hasn't sought treatment to understand how this disability affects those around them.

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I think that anybody who has direct contact with this disorder wouldn't be saying the same things that the previous two people just did. We are talking about very impressionable young people and to just pass it off as art is ridiculous. All the songs on these type of shows have nothing to do with art. They are all written by the robot hand of a large corporate machine. I have also seen the episode from which this "song" aired and although it didn't have anything to do with ADD at all that doesn't take away from the negative effects that this can have on young lives.

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I'm a psychotherapist and also a mother of two ADHD kids and have adult ADHD. I'm not offended by this video - well, by the lyrics of this video (let's talk about the 'music'...) I didn't listen to the entire song, as it was too offensive musically, but I think the song is a statement about male/female relationships, rather than someone with ADHD. They've written an adult song for a girl to sing - sort of a men are from mars, women are from venus theme. I would say the lyrics offend my identity as a woman more so than my identity as a person with ADHD.

thanks.

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I happen to believe that information through music is a fabulous medium to present opinions and views, regardless if we agree with them or not. It's a wonderful starting point to bring topics to light such as this.

I live with ADHD daily as I have it, my son has it, my husband has it, and my daughter has it. I can vouch for being an individual that has DIRECT CONTACT with the disorder that did not find the video or song offensive (a little generic) but, not offensive. Most of all, what you might find surprising is that I could relate to those exact same feelings of frustration in dealing with "Attention Deficit" that she was singing about. Quite honestly the symptoms suck and can be quite aggravating.

That being said, I continually work on teaching my children self-awareness about their diagnosis and that a disorder does not define them. I share my short-comings and how I accomodate myself in order to facilitate daily life. There is significant research that children with learning disabilities that learn to compartmentalize their weaknesses and build on their strengths eventually lead more successful lives. (Frostig Center) This includes identifying yourself as some who lives with a disorder but, is not THE DISORDER.

If you are a caregiver of a child with ADHD, please place effort in teaching your child to be self-aware of his diagnosis so that he/she may learn to separate behaviors/symptoms from who they are as individuals. I ask that you spend your time helping your children understand how the diagnosis affects them and how they can empower themselves in dealing with these frustrations as opposed to being hurt over the hand they have been dealt. There is always going to be some ignorant person and it is our job to educate them.

If we truly want to expand our sensitivity to our disorder we must also practice sensitivity towards ignorance. I fear that our defensiveness may limit our ability to teach and broaden understanding in others. In fact, there are many days I want to get my freak out when dealing with my children because of these symptoms!

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!) Im ADD and she never said attention deficent DISORDER, she was talking about in generally how guys never seem to pay attention. Wether or not they had add/adhd in this song is erelevent. 2)this is art ! 3) musics allways going to offend someone we cant go around singing twinkle twinkle little stars allday

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It could be worse. Don't allow a senseless song like that get you in an uproar. ADHD is nothing to be ashamed of, so if it's referenced in song lyrics, big deal. Well, now I must go so that I can go into one of my ADD fits of trying to make some decisions on last minute Christmas shopping.

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I sent a concern in to Nickelodeon. How about if the song talked about being different and said "Are you Adopted" I would be offended then too. Since my son is ADHD and ADOPTED. Why don't we open the song up to "Are You Autistic" This is a childrens program, correct?? My son watches Nickelodeon and is very intelligent and will ask 100 questions to something he's heard. How should I explain that the lyric is not negative about ADD? I've seen plenty of offensive material, but wouldn't expect it from a children's station. I'm trying to teach my son tolerance and understandign of all people. Whether they have a disability or not. I think they could have thought of another word that rhymes with "it" for this song.

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The song is annoying. If you are offended by it I would suggest you are being a tad insecure. Tell your childredn how you feel about it and move on.

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I have a son with ADD. I think part of the lyrics with "attention deficit" wasn't necessarily referring to a person with ADD/ADHD. I think it is more a person not paying her attention (thus being deficient). I can see if one sees ADD/ADHD as a major problem in their life that the lyrics can be a sensitive issue. ADD/ADHD is just life & we all need to just live life and focus on the positive.

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I have a 9 yr old son with severe ADHD and I do find the music video to be disturbing(not to mention annoying) in many ways and neither of my children will ever watch it. However, I don't think Nickelodeon was referring to ADD. But as it can be seen as offensive, Nickelodeon should invest in better quality control and choose their words more wisely.

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I have very, very, very, very (you get it) severe ADD! I like to think I do not SUFFER from it (my husband might suffer from my ADD though). You are already doing your kid a dis-service by letting him think he is suffering from his ADD/HD. Our brains just function differently. Yes, it's extrordinarily frustrating to remember things/words or to have a conversation with someone and pay attention to it; but we still need to focus on the positive. I hate it when I tell someone about my ADD and they get this weird look on their face and say sorry or something like that as though I just told them I was dying from cancer ( that's suffering). My ADD is like a partner in crime; I don't use it as an excuse and I definitly don't suffer from it. I use it as an explanation when my medication wears off and I'm home and start making sounds and start doing about 12 things and don't actually do anything all while watching a movie and talking my husband into making dinner and how we are going to eat peanut butter sandwiches if I'm cooking. You can see where sometimes we might drive those close to us completely nuts but we're sure not suffering. You starting a forum about how that video is keeping up a negative stigma for ADD/HD and using the term "SUFFERING FROM ADD" as to why you have a problem with it in the first place is just as bad as anything that girl says in that video. We're not lepers, we have ADD. So, some girl in a show on t.v. compares us to freaks, big deal. We are, but let me tell you a secret, everyone on this planet is. YES, EVEN "YOU HAVE A FREAK FLAG. YOU JUST NEED TO LEARN TO FLY IT." When you figure that out, feel free to criticise all the crap on all the t.v shows in the world. I didn't hear anyone... any of you concerned parents... getting outraged at "Family Guy" when they did a song called "Prom Night Dumpster Baby." If you got outraged by that, I wouldn't do anything but agree. But I would still watch "Family Guy" because it's as equally hilarious as it is offensive.

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I was shocked the lyrics were in the song as well. I don't think it's Nick's fault someone wrote a song with those lyrics in it, but perhaps they should have picked another 15 or so seconds of the song to aire to premiere the song.

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