Who Do You Tell About Your Child’s ADHD?
"Do you shout it to the world, share openly when relevant, share only when asked, or have you kept their diagnosis to yourself?”
1 Comment: Who Do You Tell About Your Child’s ADHD?
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I am a guy in his late 60s and has only recently been diagnosed with ADD. For me ADD is no gift. It has ALWAYS been a handicap and an embarrassment that damaged my reputation too many times in both my private and professional lives. This is just one man’s opinion so take it FWIW.
The only time I would divulge my child’s ADD or ADHD condition is to a school psychologist and teachers. They understand the full spectrum of learning disabilities and are expected to help children in the education process. And they should be trusted to keep private information private.
Back when I was in grade school, middle school and high school there was no name for ADD but I exhibited all of the symptoms. This made me a target for bullies. Most of the respondents in the above article are women and they have no clue about male bullying. I was shoved, punched, slapped, kicked, spat on and one time a bully tried to dunk my head into an unflushed toilet bowl.
By publicly announcing your child’s ADD diagnosis to the world you will expose him to physical abuse from his peers. What are you trying to prove? It might feel good to rail against an injustice but your son will pay dearly for it. There is a well-defined borderline between high minded principle and inspired stupidity.
Taken to adulthood, one respondent above mentioned job offers being rescinded when a hiring company discovers that an applicant has ADD. This will send their HR director scurrying to the internet and the bosses with think that the applicant has a strong propensity to blurt out something stupid in a critical customer-facing meeting.
No law requires one to publicly reveal details of his/her personal life, especially health conditions. Even gang members in handcuffs don’t go blabbing unless they are totally naïve and stupid. A martyr complex is a profound form of self-harm.
What to do? If you need help, get professional help. Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your mental healthcare provider. Read ADDitude.