Amid claims it has dangerous side effects such as abdominal pain anxiety, dizziness, psychosis, headaches, heart failure and death, thousands of children, some under six, are being wrongly labeled hyperactive and are being prescribed Ritalin. Many feel that giving these kids Ritalin is crazy because their brains aren't fully developed and they're being given a mind altering drug.
The reason for alot of this is parents being anxious,thinking they are to blame for the unruly behavior. It's not easy to diagnose ADHD because symptoms can be similar to other behavior problems. There is great concern that doctors are inaccurately diagnosing ADHD when many are just behaving as a normal part of growing up. The overprescribing of Ritalin and other ADHD medicines is leading to widespread abuse. Lack of a proper investigation by doctors and pressure from parents lead doctors to over-rely on checklists to diagnose inappropriately.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Interesting and thought provoking article..I being the parent of a child with ADHD...AND RELUCTANTLY PUT HIM ON MEDS...Only to help him in school...do you think that our schools are ill equipped to teach these challenging, perplexing yet smart children? I feel that teaching today is gender orientated, particularly to girls. Linear thinking with inadequate self motivated lessons and certainly NOT enough exercise....The solution has soooo many variables it makes my head spin...
I agree with the above statement. I have 3 boys, 2 with ADD and one with ADHD. I am a Pediatric Nurse and a mother so I have an interesting view. The frustration of having more than one child with attentional/behavioral disorders is overwelming, and at this point I believe diet, couseling, supplementation and medication (if it is still indicated) is best. There is no "right" answer for everyone. Not even in the same family.
I DO NOT AGREE THAT TEACHING IS LINEAR. If you have a child with ADHD the first thing to do is find a teacher who is accommodating, flexible, and teaches to meet your child's unique learning style. This would be the case if your child was deaf. AS A PARENT YOU MUST FIND THE RIGHT FIT! Don't allow your child to be labeled. There will always be those teachers in every school, but I can almost guarantee you that in that very same school you will find that teacher who empathizes with the way your son or daughter and only wants to encourage them and educate them. I KNOW, BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS WITH TWO STUDENTS JUST LIKE THAT IN MY CLASSROOM! Do they drive me nuts sometimes? ABSOLUTELY! But so do all the other students! I guess I know what my students are going through because I feel the same way. I wasn't diagnosed until later in life. Now being 29 I am wanted to throw my meds out the window because they are starting to have severely adverse effects.
Post a Comment