Parenting with Pills - ON DR.PHIL TODAY

I saw this. Not so sure about some of the info:
1. Is ADHD definitively tested on an EEG? I was not aware that the EEG was that definitive on anything. There was another spectral test that was mentioned but not really gone into.
2. Does biofeedback really work with ADHD kids? I thought either that the jury was out or that it was not.
3. Info on diet was that a good (nonprocessed) diet is better for ADHD. I’m sure it is better for ANYBODY, but does it specifically improve behavior and concentration.

BTW, esp on this controversial topic it is a nice idea to identify yourself.

—des

I didn’t see this program. I’m sure that hurtful title was designed to get ratings. Des, you are right- the EEG cannot be used to diagnose ADHD at this point, nor has biofeedback been proven effective for ADHD— though there is evidence that biofeedback can work to change an abnormal EEG pattern, which not every kid with ADHD has. I did a substantial review of the literature in 2001 on this topic for my master’s thesis.

I caught the last two-thirds of this program, saw the post at 5:15; thanks for the heads-up.

I was quite shocked by the “hand test”, which is pure snake oil “proved” by self-fulfilling prophecy. This Doctor Lawlis — if he is a doctor; this is irresponsible at the least — tells people that if you hold a food in one hand and clasp the little finger and thumb of the other hand together, somehow your muscles will weaken if you are just holding, not even touching through a wrapper, an unhealthy food, and so another person will be able to break your grip. Then they told the child that the food he was holding was bad and broke his grip, then gave him a bunch of veggies and didn’t break it. What a mishmash of superstition and trickery!

After that, needless to say I had rather strong doubts about any of his other scientific claims.

He did claim to have reviewed the kids’ medical records as well as giving eeg’s, and his diagnosis was not entirely in disagreement with others, so that part is at least rpossible.

I have always found previously that Doctor Phil at least had a good amount of common sense, but this program hit a couple of questionable points to say the least. He also raised a lot of questions without answering very many — I am wondering if this is intended to be a series of programs following these kids. If they get steady treatment and follow-up that would make more sense.

There is also the parent who claimed that his son was taken away by social services for the sole reason that he stopped giving the boy meds and the school complained. This sounds weird and there was no follow-up.

Despite all this, Doctpr Phil’s advice about applying consistency and order was reasonable and he does seem to have a positive rapport with the parents and kids. I am waiting to see if there are any sequels.

I did not sign in when I posted about Dr. Phil being on today.

I agree with you. I was a little confused at that segment. I do like Dr.Phil, yet do not live by what he says. What got me was it seemed as though it was a “book selling” segment.

The children on the show were ADHD, they showed more aggression than anything. One boy even lost his mother, moved in with his father, so yeah, of course the child has some problems.

Not impressed, but it was a good idea to inform parents that we have to make sure that doctors are not just putting a label of ADHD on a child who has a behavior issue.

As for that fruit / grocery thing they did, I believe you are what you eat. If you let your child eat processed food every day, artificial food colouring, there is going to be a problem. But my son eats healtheir than me at times, and he is still ADD.

Food for thought
:)

Ohh, in regards to that grocery thing, I mean to also say that it was a crock. How he did the tests with the boy by holding something in his had…

> was quite shocked by the “hand test”, which is pure snake oil “proved” by self-fulfilling prophecy.

I wondered if this so-called test was *if* the food is greasy then the hand will not be able to hold it’s grasp. So you touch potato chips and your hand slides, must mean they aren’t good for you. And as it happens they aren’t. But as some kind of “scientific test” it wasn’t. Of course the test would eliminate a LARGE number healthy foods as well, like olive oil, avocado, fish, poultry, etc!!! So much for the “test”. Maybe my interpretation was wrong. I thought the kid touched the food, but since I have a 13 inch screen and am nearsighted, I might have seen it wrong.

>This Doctor Lawlis — if he is a doctor; this is irresponsible at the least —

Well I wondered about him from the standpoint of his so-called test for ADHD; the statement that biofeedback really treated ADHD; etc. The “test’ was esp. silly, and I didn’t realize that he didn’t even touch the foods in question!!

I also think that the question of diet is really out. The Feingold diet has a lot more research behind it, and I think only works a very small no. of cases. At least Ben Feingold is a real doctor.

>He did claim to have reviewed the kids’ medical records as well as giving eeg’s, and his diagnosis was not entirely in disagreement with

Yeah that’s true, but the “tests” might eliminate real ADHD as well.

>I have always found previously that Doctor Phil at least had a good amount of common sense, but this program hit a couple of questionable points to say the least.

Yes, there was one kid that looked to be clearly a case of reactive depression.

>Despite all this, Doctpr Phil’s advice about applying consistency and order was reasonable and he does seem to have a positive rapport with the parents and kids.

Yes, I agreed with those comments. Not sure that they will solve the problems of ADHD children, particularly in school, but they will help any child in general.

—des