The author presents a "working model" approach to use with parents in explaining the nature of their reading/learning disabled child's problem, with particular emphasis on medication intervention. Ten misconceptions regarding attentional deficit disorder (ADD) are addressed: (1) a neurological examination and a brain wave test are essential in making the diagnosis of ADD; (2) all ADD youngsters should be put on stimulant drugs; (3) no ADD youngster should be put on stimulant drugs; (4) stimulant therapy will cause the child to become addicted to drugs; (5) "the medicine didn't work, so we stopped it;" (6) all children on drug therapy should have drug holidays; (7) stimulant drugs will stunt a child's growth; (8) there are other bad side effects to stimulant therapy; (9) hyperactives outgrow their problem and need for stimulant therapy; and (10) the prognosis for ADD individuals as they approach adolescence and adulthood is poor. (SB)