Essay about Medication versus Alternative Therapy in ADHD

allergens(Gordon/Millichap 3)” While this may be inconvenient for an entire household, it is not impossible essentially if you can afford to feed yourself you can afford to do this(chicken,rice, and potatoes are all hypoallergenic and inexpensive). Another facet of the natural method is exercise. The study Adopting an External Focus of Attention Facilitates Motor Learning in Children with ADHD. In this study children who showed signs of ADHD were divided into two separate groups. One that partook in outdoor activities followed by learning in a clasroom. And another that only learned in the classroom. This study showed that the children who partook in the physical education prior to classroom learning showed increased learning abilities. These two studies into natural alternatives show that medication is not the only way to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD. That it can be brought under control in a health way that not only has little to no adverse and unhealthy side effects. But is also very good for your overall health.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is classified as a syndrome that is comprised of a variety of behaviors that often arises in early childhood and is characterized by extremely high levels of motor activity, difficulties with attention span and concentrating, and/or impulsive behaviors (Cook & Cash, 2011). It has been estimated in the United States that approximately 20% of children and adolescents display signs of a psychological or behavioral disorder according to Luthy, David, Macintosh, Eden, and Beckstrand (2015). ADHD is considered one of the more prevalent psychological disorders in children, with approximately 3-7% of school-age children with an ADHD diagnosis as mentioned by Luthy et al. (2015).

Not being able to keep still, talking out of turn, and not being able to resist temptation are many traits of a child under the age of twelve; also, the symptoms of a child diagnosed with ADHD. Though there isn’t a test to determine whether or not a child has ADHD many psychiatrists are quick to incline that the child may have this behavioral disorder even though they could just be acting like children. Not only are psychiatrists too quick to diagnose they’re also quick to prescribe medications that have high risks of causing behavioral changes and disruption of the chemical balance within the brain. Children under the age of twelve should never be diagnosed and/or prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity

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.

Abstract: This research paper describes ADHD and the treatments available. It discusses the different medications and their side effects and explains the opinions of some doctors for an alternative treatment. The main goal of the writing is to shed some light on the disorder and describe some theories about ADHD. This goal is stated in the thesis which talks about how ADHD cannot be identified exactly, the side effects to the medication are harsh, there are different alternative treatments, and research shows it may be caused from hormones and sleep deprivation.

Parents researching medication for their child with ADHD should have a high consideration for using complementary and alternative medicine. There are more and more parents who are asking their pediatricians about alternative ways to help their children other than the traditional stimulant medications. According to Dr. Chan at the Children’s Hospital in Boston,

Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD[, as the] National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that the twelve-month prevalence of adult ADHD in the United States is 4.1 percent.”(Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)).These results make it clear that this is an issue on at least a national scale and that there is a majority of people that need proper treatment. When it comes to different types of therapy, most are simple and cheap- treatments involving nutritional diet “can help reduce [behavioral difficulties] and eliminate the need for a medical consultation that might lead to [labelling children] with ADHD.”(Romm and Romm 45). Meanwhile, herbal medicine “is not a replacement for psychoactive medications[ nor will control or stimulate them, but can be used] to calm or sedate a child”(59-60). However, while these can be effective for a small minority of patients, from the book mentioned before, Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, states that “Psychosocial therapy, usually combined with medications, is the treatment approach of choice to alleviate ADHD symptoms[; whereas] psychostimulants, such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), pemoline (Cylert), and methylphenidate (Ritalin) are commonly prescribed to control hyperactive and impulsive behavior and increase attention span.” From this, it is crucial that for the sake of people with untreated ADHD, that these prescription medications should increase in numbers and in availability, as other forms of therapy are already common and

It is understandable for parents who have children who live with ADHD to have concerns about their children’s health. Practitioners inform that even though there is no cure for the health condition, there are several interventional strategies that can be used to help children who live with the condition to lead a happy life. It is upon every person who surrounds the child with ADHD to ensure that they offer any necessary intervention to help the situation.

According to Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco’s chief medical officer, seventeen percent of total drug cost spending last year was for behavior medicines; compared with sixteen percent for both asthma and antibiotics, eleven percent for skin disorders and six percent for allergy medicines. There was also a 369% increase in spending on ADHD drugs for kids under the age of five. A lot of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and many of their parents have opted to give them behavioral drugs. Some parents give the drugs because they are not aware of the long term effects or the psychological dependency, and lastly because they are not aware of the alternatives. As parents we have to be more cognizant of what these disorders are and how they

According to the International Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine, about 4% of adults in the United States are affected by ADHD. It’s a disorder that usually emerges in childhood and in the past was thought of as exclusive to a person’s earlier years. More recent research has proved this to be untrue, instead revealing that many people who are diagnosed with ADHD in childhood will continue to have symptoms into adulthood (Ramsay). It is primarily treated with stimulant medications such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, or Focalin; however, the long-term use of stimulants to treat ADHD may not be the best option. Through

KC(2007) parents who have chosen medication give mixed testimony. Some have had dramatic and outstanding results. Others have not had such good luck with many modifications in the child's medication with few results. Some parents mourn the loss of a spark that their child once had, and others say they noticed no personality changes in their child. Some people who initially decided against medication had poor results and realized a tremendous turn around once they decided to medicate. The outcome with medication is very individualized for the child as it would be without medication. Benefits of medication may include more control of a child's behavior, improvement in a child's ability to concentrate, and more

It is understandable for parents to be concern about their children which is diagnosed with ADHD, including the treatments. Parents have to remember that even ADHD can’t be cured, but it can be successfully managed. There are a lot of types of treatment options, so both parents and doctors should work closely with everyone involved in the child’s treatment. Medications is one of the treatment that can help a child with ADHD in their daily life. There are two types of medication may be used to treat ADHD, stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants are the best-known and most widely used treatments while the non-stimulants were approved for treating ADHD in 2003. Medications can affect children differently, where one child may respond well to

The purpose of this research was to describe and understand Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the most effective treatment options that are available today. ADHD is a mental health disorder that affects 3-9% of the population in ways that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the mind of the sufferer. It makes concentration difficult, large tasks seem insurmountable, and causes impulsive and hyperactive tendencies. Fortunately, research and experiments have led to new and effective treatments to help those who suffer from this disorder (Dupaul 8). This research examined journal articles and internet sources on the topic to help unlock the complexities of the disorder through scientific research. It also was a way to

ADHD is an abbreviation for attention deficit/hyper activity disorder. It is commonly referred to as a psychiatric disorder in need of therapy. The origination of the disease is in the neuro-physiological brain construct, and the main cause of the disorder is considered to be genetic (Wilson, 2012). Many children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention (Unnever, Cullen, & Pratt, 2003). According to McNamara, Vervaeke, and Willoughby (2008), “attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It affects between 3% and 5% of school age children” (p. 38). In a

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder also most commonly known as ADHD is one of the most common disorders among children and young adults. It is not only the most common but is on the rise in the United States over the past decade. Many people turn to the internet to find answers on such a disorder as ADHD. However, one has to be careful in what they read, because some websites are not accurate and have lots of bias towards one thing or another dealing with the subject of ADHD. Everyday Health’s webpage on ADHD is a very informative source and well put together by using authority, coverage and objectivity.