Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids are often bright and able, but for some reason unable to concentrate. The repercussions, for all involved, can be devastating. The current, controversial treatment, Ritalin, is a powerful amphetamine. This sensitive, uplifting documentary shows what it is really like to live with ADHD, and investigates the new science that is giving hope to its victims. To some doctors, ADHD is merely an excuse for bad parenting. They blame too much television, poor diet and parents who just don’t bother. Try telling that to the Fischer family. Two of the children have ADHD, as does Charlotte, their Mum. Charlotte’s life was blighted by years of people refusing to believe anything was wrong with her. It led to failure at school and drug abuse. But now she is determined to make sure that what happened to her won’t happen to her kids. Those children are bright and able but, for some reason, unable to concentrate. They cannot make friends because their hyperactive behaviour puts others off. They are often teased and bullied, suffer from low self-esteem and experience prolonged bouts of sadness and even depression. As the years go on, this inability to forge relationships can be heart-breaking. It is all the more tragic as, in many cases, children can learn to manage their hyperactivity. But by then, the damage to their personalities is often already done. Follow the Fischer family as they cope with these pressures, and are helped to make sense of the condition by a team of paediatricians and child psychologists. This film shows that ADHD need not be a disaster for its victims. One of the key revelations is that strong, early intervention can transform these children. And what effect does the powerful drug, Ritalin, have on the children? A powerful amphetamine, it would make most people manic, but actually calms ADHD kids down. Ritalin is highly controversial, with allegations that some doctors subscribe it to children whom many would regard as simply annoying. But parents of true ADHD kids say it gives them a crucial window of opportunity in which a child can learn how to behave, build relationships and lay the foundations of a normal life. Other available drug treatments are also explored. The cameras also follow another family going through the traumatic, shocking process of diagnosis, and captures the gradual transformation of their lives as science, in the form of new treatments, comes to their aid. Full of love, tears and laughter, this is ultimately an uplifting tale of real people triumphing over tough situations. The fact is that the Fischers are a happy family. They may be different but, in their words, “That’s your problem, not ours”.

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