By Terri J. Andrews

Q - What do you think of the "alternatives to Ritalin" currently being advocated across the country?

A - "Not much. I haven’t heard a lot of good reports on them. People are pushing it but haven’t proven anything. The medication treatment, Ritalin, and other programs are people’s favorite whipping boy. Need to do studies and prove that they work."

Q - Ritalin is at the center of many major controversies. What is your opinion of Ritalin?

A - "Excellent drug for ADD - but it’s not the only one. The number one problem for Ritalin is that parents need to know it’s not the only game in town. Parents try it - it may not work - so they stop completely. There are other drugs equally as good as Ritalin and parents need to find the one medication and the right diagnosis for their child. It may take a lot of work but parents need to try to find the one that’s right for them."

Q - Why do you think there is such a controversy?

A - #1 - It is an emotionally jarring decision, for a parent to consider medicating children to help behavior in their children. It’s a hard and emotional decision. Parents wonder what they are doing, giving stimulants to kids? Parents don’t understand it and that makes it harder on them. #2 - The media likes conflict - claiming to present both sides. I told a reporter recently, who was told by their editor that they had to present pro’s and con’s to Ritalin, that he felt Ritalin was 90% pro and 10% con’s. Media can’t do a pro/con story because there’s very little cons to Ritalin. It works! Also, it is being both over and under prescribed. I think it’s the under prescribed that’s the biggest crime.

Q - Many people feel that ADHD is an excuse for bad behavior. What would you say to those people?

A - Yes, it has been used as an excuse for bad behavior. But there is a difference between an excuse and a reason. ADHD is a reason for the behavior. And it needs to be recognized as a REAL reason. Most ADHD kids don’t want to misbehave - it’s part of their disorder. It’s unintentional.

Q - Part of the ADHD controversy is the large number of children diagnosed with ADHD/ADD - why the sudden increase in diagnosis?

A - An interesting question. The increase is primarily due to public awareness. There’s no more ADHD than there used to be, the ADHD number hasn’t increased, it’s always been there. The growth of our national support group CH.A.D.D. (which Phelan was involved in starting in 1987) has grown to 40,000 members across the country. It’s more public awareness. I also question if we are training our children to have shorter attention spans. The average image on television is 3.5 seconds. Kids watch a lot of TV and video games today - with a lot of 3.5 second images. Then you stick them into school and by first grade they have been programmed with short attention spans. How can a teacher compete with that?

Q - What is behavioral management? It’s the 1-2-3 program (his book 1-2-3 MAGIC). It’s knowing what you're going to do. Find out your three biggest parenting problems (such as bedtime, getting ready for school and bathtime) and tell me how you handle it. Does it work? If not give me ways to deal with it. Reasonable strategies for dealing with stuff.

Q - What are some tips for parents whose children have just been diagnosed?

A - #1- Education. Educate yourself and everyone around you. Become an expert in ADHD. Read the books. Join a support group. #2 - Medication. Be aggressive about it. Medication treatment is parents' biggest problem. There is a lot of ambivalence toward medication in parents and professionals. Continue to try different medication, different dosages. Do it and do it right. #3 - Behavior Management - those are the three biggest tips.

Q - How closely should a parent of an ADHD child work with the school? More than normal?

A - It depends on the amount of trouble the child is having. The more trouble - the more closely the parent should work with the school. Get to know the teacher before class begins. It’s awfully hard to solve a problem with a stranger. Have a strategy exchange - tell the teacher what works with your child and they can give you tips also. If the teacher won’t cooperate and communication is exhausted, find yourself a mental health professional that understands your problem and ask to meet the teacher and the principal. The four of you can work something out. Keep it friendly.

Q - Do you think there’s enough ADD/ADHD training for teachers right now?

A - No, not enough, but it’s getting better. Since ADD was added to the list of disabilities for children in our schools, programs like IDEA are helping. But it needs to be better.

Q - If a parent feels pressure from co-workers, family, media etc. to quit medication - what would you tell them?

A - One of the long-term affects of untreated ADD is prison. 40% of people in prison grew up with an undiagnosed ADD disorder. Do you want that or medication? Medication is not bad. The alternative is learning disabilities, conduct disorder, hyperactivity, problems in school, anti-social behavior in adults. The long term untreated ADD effects far outweigh the effects of the medication.

Q- What, do you think, causes ADD?

A - It could be a chemical imbalance, a neurotransmitter deficiency, a glucose metabolism deficiency in the brain, the central nervous system may be understimulated - not enough stimulation in the brain. It could be one of these or all of them.

Q - Anything to add?

A - Yes, luckily, with successful behavioral, education and medication program - 25% of the children on medication can be taken off within 2 years.

** Editorial Note:

I have read and LOVED 3 of his 4 books - and I highly recommend them all (see below). Dr. Phelan understands this "disorder" from a professional and parental point of view - he is the father of an A.D.D. child. He is a nationally renowned expert in this field and, on a personal note, is a real to talk to - and interview - over the phone. Keep an eye out for anything that has his name on it! It's an invaluable tool!

1-2-3 Magic - This book is EXCELLENT! Not only is it positive and informative, it also made me laugh all the way through it. And I'll tell you what folks - this WORKS! I have used his 1-2-3 discipline techniques for a few years now - and it works not only on my ADHD son, but it also works on my older kids who are now 11 and 15! It's instinctive now - when I start counting, they start behaving! If you were going to buy any of his books - buy this one!

All About Attention Deficit Disorder - Another great book. This book takes you through all of the steps - from symptoms and diagnosis to behavioral management and going into adulthood. A great handbook - easy to read and just as easy to understand.

Self-Esteem Revolutions in Children - I have a child with low self-esteem and I thought this book was excellent. My son, who is 11, is the tallest and biggest boy in his grade. Even though he is very popular and loved by his peers (and the little ladies) it still caused him to have a complex about his size (he's supposed to be about 6'5 to 6'8" when he's done growing!) but this book helped me to turn his negative thoughts into positive ones. Though he still is a little self-conscious, he now focuses on sports, being a trendsetter, and his amazing artist abilities. If you have a child who needs a self-esteem boost - this is a great book to give the parents the know-how to get them there.

Lastly, Dr. Phelan also wrote "Surviving Your Adolescents". I have not read this book, but if it's anything like his other 3 - it is bound to be wonderful.