Re: severity of abuse

[<MariaR1947@xxxxxxx>]

As I posed some of the questions, can I say that I do believe there is such a 
beast as AD/HD AND that it is also a useful label to ascribe to children who 
present with troubled behaviour. The aetiology for the behaviour in different 
children may be different but the label given is the same.  Also the thorny 
question of 'abuse' which is a very emotive word and the assumption could be 
made that abuse is assumed to be 'gross' with the children being in highly 
troubled/dysfunctional families.  Children I have encountered who have (or 
are in the process of being given) the diagnosis of AD/HD nevertheless do 
seem to come from families where relationships are troubled.  This does not 
mean that there is no biological basis or that some children do not warrant 
being given medication etc. as it can be highly effective.  This does still 
not quite move away from my original general question about the seeming 
paradox between lessening figures for abused children and the (I freely 
admit) anecdotal evidence from teachers etc. as to the younger and younger 
age for children presenting with problems and the sheer number of children 
desperate for attention/affection in their classes.  Perhaps it was always so 
and the change in attitudes towards children have meant there are not the 
social constraints on the behaviour within the classroom even for the very 
young so more children are given 'permission' to 'act out' their feelings.

Sorry - ramblings over!!

Maria Robinson