Adhd And Its Effects On Children

ADHD is a very common neurodevelopment disorder of childhood. It is usually diagnosed in late childhood, around the age of seven by the teachers. The symptoms are typical during ages 3-6 and if not treated properly becomes chronic and persists even after entering adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, staying organized and controlling impulsive behaviors. It is very difficult to diagnose and when undiagnosed the children can grow to be mislabeled as trouble makers in their adulthood.

ADHD is a treatable learning disability, though there is no “cure”. Many people only have ADHD during childhood and teen years but then grow out of it. Most

There is no real evidence of what causes ADHD. There have been many theories and hypothesis on the subject but no real concrete evidence of what causes the disease or how to prevent it. According to WebMDHealth (2004) inherited genetic factors is the most common theory on the cause of ADHD, certain brain activity lead scientist to believe that a certain abnormal

Garber, Stephen W., Ph.D, Marianne Daniels Garber, Ph.D, and Robyn Freedman Spizman. Beyond Ritalin. New York: Villard, 1996. p 56-59.

When taken as prescribed, Ritalin is a valuable medicine. Research shows that people with ADHD do not become addicted to stimulant medications when taken at prescribed treatment dosages. However, because of Ritalin’s stimulant properties, in recent years high levels of abuse of Ritalin by people who are not prescribed, has been reported.

Marginee` was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder); however, her parents opted not to use medication. Marginee`’s pediatrician informed her parents that Ritalin may decrease her impulsivity and hyperactivity and were safe and effective. However, research refutes the safety and efficacy of this medication in children with autism because it has not been proven. Nonetheless, her parents chose not to use this medication. Health Care Providers

Since the 1950s, Ritalin has aided in the treatment of hundreds of thousands of patients affected by ADHD, and is less commonly used to treat narcolepsy, depression and obesity. Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant, and is effective by affecting chemicals in the brain and nerves that are contributed to ADHD symptoms. Specifically, it works as an enzyme toward the chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline in areas of the brain that play a part in controlling attention and behaviour. The original patent for this drug was held by CIBA but has been transferred to the Novartic Corporation. It became licensed in 1955 by the U.S. Food and and Drug Administration.

Despite Ritalin reducing the symptoms of ADHD, the disorder is normally first diagnosed in children as this is when symptoms first start appearing. This causes problems as children may not understand the side effects of the drugs (e.g. anxiety, nausea, insomnia, psychosis) and are too young to give informed consent. This means that the parent or guardian would have to give consent on behalf of the child which relies on the child having a parent and a parent that is not neglecting of the child. Questions arise such as, how do we know the parent has the child’s best interest at heart? Who makes the decision if the child is orphaned? What if the child doesn’t want the drug, but the parent does - who makes the decision? Another problem with treating children with ADHD is the risk of depending on medical fixes

ADHD is indeed a part of the Western Culture. People are familiar with the term, treatment and some behaviors that ‘shows’ its existence; and since it has become part of the culture itself it is considered as something relatively normal -or at least common. Both sides of the debate agree on the fact that the behaviors called ADHD do exist, but is it a biological disease? A conduct disorder? Or are we as humans trying to narrow our behaviors in the way where anyone who is not as ‘efficient’ as us are considered to be ‘sick’?

Ritalin is a prescription drug used primarily in the treatment of behavioural problems in children such as Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (National Drug Intelligence Centre 2006). It is estimated that 11 percent of Australians between the ages of 6 to 17 are affected by ADD or ADHD and the amount of Ritalin being prescribed has doubled in the last 10 years ( Schriever 2012).

Ritalin is another example of a prescription ADHD stimulant that is misused frequently with a high mortality rate from overdose. Ritalin, which is more prevalent with high school age students, is primarily misused for weight loss and a feeling being high. The majority of children misusing prescription drugs such a Ritalin are under the impression that it is safer then illegal street drugs (CCHR, 2013). Ritalin is the most common stimulant drug prescribed to children with ADHD, but is also prescribed for other disorders, such as cancer, brain injury and pain management (Morton & Stockton, 2000). According to Morton & Stockton (2000) the effects of Ritalin are similar to the feeling of using cocaine, which may be one of the reasons that the ADHD drug is misused. According to research done by Musser et al. (1998) most school aged children using Ritalin did not think that Ritalin or any other prescription medication for ADHD could be abused. This ignorance may be part of the overwhelming reason that drugs such as Ritalin are becoming more widely

ADHD is a developmental disorder of self-control. The disorder is not caused by a failure in the parent to discipline or control their child. The disorder can also have negative effects on the parent. Also a child can have many troubles learning and treating this disorder. ADHD can have many effects and causes, but it is how a person copes and monitors themselves or their child. The physical, social and cognitive consequences of this disorder reflect an impairment in the person’s ability to reflect on their own behavior.

Methylphenidate, more commonly known as “Ritalin” was synthesized in 1944 (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002). By 1954, it was being tested on humans to treat “chronic fatigue, depression, psychosis associated with depression, narcolepsy, and to offset the sedating effects of other medications.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) The intent was to use Ritalin to treat the “hyperkinetic syndrome.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) Which was later named Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but wasn’t introduced until the 1960s. Many studies have been conducted in order to determine the effects that it has on the brain, as well as the tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal that may be endured with being prescribed Ritalin. Within the studies, the effectiveness that this medication had on children and youth was considered. This research has shown that Ritalin does in fact have a negative impact on health. It is overprescribed to children, and it is actually unnecessary.

There are many negatives involved in ADHD, but what’s often overlooked, are the positives. One of these positives is the fact that this disorder is very manageable and treatable. We have an extended amount of knowledge from numerous studies that have been done since the disorder was discovered. From these studies we now know that this disorder can affect people in many ways and be a burden on someone if not treated properly.

According to the research conducted by Dr. Laura A. King, the Frederick A. Middlebush Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia, “ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral disorders of childhood, in which individuals show at least one of the following: impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention.”