Coping: Attention Deficit Disorder

Martine Miljkovitch is an associate professor of Psychology at
Laurentian University.

This book is intended for parents of children who are afflicted with
attention deficit disorder (add). These children’s characteristics
include a short attention span, impulsivity, and a lack of social
skills. The book describes the evolution of this clinical picture with
age. One chapter focuses on the possible causes of add. The next five
cover assessment and various treatment modalities, such as medication
and behavioral management. There is a chapter on add in gifted children,
and one on add in adults.

The book’s clear style and its many examples make it easy to read,
although it is sometimes repetitive. However, it has major flaws. Most
of the time it remains at a superficial, descriptive, or dogmatic level.
One gets no idea of the priority that should be given to the numerous
symptoms, or of the respective importance of various causative factors.
In addition, treatment recommendations do not seem to be entirely based
on scientific findings.

Because of its lack of in-depth analysis, the book at times conveys the
wrong impression about what add really is. Even the title is misleading:
“coping” is in big letters, with “attention deficit disorder” in
smaller ones underneath. Coping refers to the parents; add, to the
children. In addition, although Beugin states at the beginning that add
is not always accompanied by hyperactivity, the remainder of the book
gives no details about add without hyperactivity.

Another distortion is the rejection of family problems, child abuse,
and neglect as possible causes of add. This biased view is reflected in
the following statement: “And indeed, to some extent, discipline and
experiences can affect their add behavior, but poor discipline and life
experiences are never the cause of it.” The author’s purpose in
making such a statement is apparently to relieve parents from guilt and
afflicted children from responsibility. That may be a laudable goal, but
the author’s claim is not necessarily factual.