Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

The increase of ADHD diagnosis has raised many concerns among doctors in the United States. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported new data that showed the number of children diagnosed with ADHD grew by 22 percent in a four-year period Brown University, (2013). The information from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) raised questions and concerns about the growth of ADHD diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stated that the percentage of children with a diagnosis of ADHD continue to increase in the United States. This information was provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to inform the public and raise awareness for ADHD. Researching the growth of

This article is written by an educator in Mississippi who has worked with K-12 children

When dealing with adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD may become a challenge for many parents. Knowing the facts about this disorder and how to treat the problem is the key to a healthy lifestyle for adolescents as well as families. Many therapies and medications are available to families with children with ADHD but many questions that parents have with their children with ADHD is which therapy is best and what would work best with their children and their quality of life. The question of which therapy, alternative versus medication therapy would improve adolescent’s quality of life and behavior modification.

Being able to find answers, and enlightening material without searching through a plethora of biased data can relieve concerns as well as offer hope. The Mayo Clinic’s website is inviting to those who come looking to research ADHD. The website’s format is open and easily understandable. The sub-categories are listed on the left side of the webpage. They include the most common topics including symptoms, treatments, complications, and most important a comprehensible definition. There is an abundance of statistical information on alternative medication that is not usually found when researching Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. “But ADHD medication is seldom all that's needed to control oppositional behavior”(Flippin, 2015). The website also has a limited amount purchasable advertisements. The information listed fit into each subcategory

In 2005, the CDC estimated the annual cost of ADHD to the United States to be between thirty-six to fifty-two billion dollars. This estimate takes into account not only medication costs, but those doctor’s visits and lost productivity. Cost of medication is the most significant factor, however, productivity lost by adults with the condition, or having to take off work to address a child’s behavioral incidences account for nearly four billion dollars (CDC 2015). The state of Indiana alone has more than eighty percent of youth diagnosed with the condition on pharmaceutical stimulants (CDC 2015). This provides evidence that a therapeutic approach that reduces the use of these costly stimulants and teaches individuals with the condition a viable, sustainable coping mechanism for their disorder is again a worthwhile pursuit.

Over medicating students with ADHD can affect their mental health. The medications that are commonly used to treat the condition are considered as a stimulant. Stimulants are defined by drugabuse.gov as increasing alertness, attention, and energy as well as elevate blood pressure heart rate, and respiration. Although the child is appearing to be attentive during class, are they mentally healthy and stable? The side effects of the medications range from

Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher anxiety and stress levels. A large number of children, almost half, will exhibit signs of ADHD by the age of four. However, most children are not diagnosed until he or she reaches elementary school. The behaviors that are associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a host of other problems and complications such as completing their education, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk for delinquency. There has been much research on ADHD in recent years and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be quite helpful. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general.

I chose to research Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD, in culture and child development for the following reasons. First, it is important as educators that we understand the difference between restlessness and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. Secondly, we must be conscious of the origins of ADHD, how to recognize it, the myths and prejudices against it, and know the most appropriate intervention strategies. Educators must also realize that even if a child has ADHD that does not mean they are unintelligent or lazy.

Sibley’s article differs from the other articles that make up this annotated bibliography in that this journal article extends and updates the findings of a prior one article on the previous 15 years of research. Updates include an expansion of pharmacological treatment options and developmentally appropriate psychosocial treatment packages for adolescents with ADHD. In addition nonstimulant medications like atomoxetine are now approved for the treatment of ADHD in

Everyone has an opinion about the role of medication in treating ADHD symptoms which leads to this controversy. The results from the Multimodal Treatment Study (MTA) show that medication was the single most effective treatment (Peacock, 2002) . For more than 40 years, stimulant medication has been prescribed for ADHD. There is a lot of research showing that they are safe, effective and reduces the symptoms of ADHD while they are being taken (Dudley, 2005). On the other hand, results from the study also suggested that a combination of psychological and behavioral counseling with medication is the most effective overall treatment (Dudley, 2005). Although the study suggest the use of a combination of treatments, stimulant medication should be the first line of treatment based on effectiveness. In the past, ADHD treatment has typically focused on medications. The specific class of medication most commonly prescribed for ADHD is stimulants (Martin). Stimulant medication is the best and safest way to control ADHD symptoms. Eighty percent (80%) of children respond well to one of these medications ("ADHD Children and Medication", n.d.). Stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall are commonly prescribed, well-tolerated, act quickly and in most children, have few side effects

It’s normal for a child to occasionally forget to do their homework, get fidgety when they lose interest in an activity, or speak out of turn during class time. But inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are all signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neuro-development disorder and can start as early as three years old throughout adulthood. People with ADHD have trouble focusing on tasks and activities, this can have a negative impact on the individual in different ways. It can make the child feel alone, incompetent, and powerless and those that don’t understand this behavior only intensified their struggle. Family and schools have a major impact on the life of a child suffering with ADHD. Parents who

The participants for the study consisted of 915 youth between the ages of 6 to 19, most of which were recruited from the local schools. 242 of these children were sibling pairs, 484 siblings in total. Out of the total 915 students, 389 were diagnosed with ADHD (27% of which who were taking a prescribed medication) and 384 without. The last 142 students were classified as having some ADHD symptoms, but not enough or too infrequent to be diagnosable. Parents and teachers were asked to complete multiple surveys asking them to rate and identify observed symptoms and behaviors of their child/children. The researchers made sure that diagnoses regarding ADHD and other similar disorders were made carefully and professionally. (Among all the various tests and surveys, the parent’s and teacher’s ratings were looked at the most, pertaining to ADHD symptoms and behaviors.) The participants were then asked to complete an IQ test and various academic assessments to get a sense of their academic levels. Additionally, the researchers obtained information about past disorders and health complications from both the children’s and their family’s history. Each student’s parent/guardian was asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about the pregnancy, birth, and early development of their child. They were also asked about the mother’s substance use, specifically tobacco, and

Despite the beneficial aspects of stimulant medication, there are drawbacks to this treatment method. Graham et al. (2011) combined data from 102 studies in their meta-analysis on stimulant medication and its effects on ADHD patients. They found that approximately half of the 170, 000 participants’ experience highly symptomatic and unpleasant side effects from the medication. To understand why, Graham et al. (2011) apply a quantitative design to determine the central problems associated with stimulant medications. Findings reveal that appetite loss, sleeping problems, and weight changes

Children today are affected by a number of developmental and behavioral disorders. One that has become very common over the years is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. This disorder is diagnosed to individuals who cannot focus well and have apparent restless behavior. Those who are diagnosed with this disorder seem to be young or adolescent, and the numbers are continuing to increase. Due to the increase in numbers, many alarmed parents are quick to jump to giving their kids medication. This method is quite controversial and has some advantages and disadvantages to it. Some believe that today’s physicians will over-diagnose children with ADHD, leading to normal kids receiving unneeded prescriptions of powerful stimulants. However, there is still a large need of medication for children who are truly suffering from this mental disorder. When one is properly diagnosed with ADHD, there are many advantages to treating with medication.