In the most recent chapters that we have been reading for this course it includes the topic of ADHD and the prescriptions that are prescribed to treat this condition. ADHD is a problem that hits close to home as my nephew has been diagnosed with such condition. Inaba and Cohen explain ADHD(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) "displays impulsivity, which means they fidget, leave their seats, run about excessively, have difficulty playing quietly, act as if driven, and talk excessively. Hyperactivity shows up as blurted-out answers, difficulty awaiting turn, and interrupting others." (Inaba and Cohen, 2011). I think one of my biggest concerns about this is that all those characteristics to me would seem normal for a 3 year old child since this is when the problem began with my nephew. He is now 11 years old and continues to be on medications for the condition. At 3 years old he was enrolled in school and it was more of a daycare but the teacher would complain about his lack of attention, disrupting the class and being able to sit still. His parents were not that involved in his school so would not take the time to go actually sit in and see the behavior for themselves but rather took the teacher's word for it. My biggest problem with that is that those behaviors were not displayed at home. I now have a 5 year old child of my own and constantly would get the same complaints from her pre-school teacher last year. The only difference is that I would go and sit in during class and observe her. While I was there she was an an angel and had the capability to control herself. While my nephew now has been held back from school for one year and has been placed in special ed classes, my daughter entered kinder and is doing great academically. Sure, she displays behaviors from time to time that I need to be told about, but my question to her teacher is, "Is she the only one, or do you see a trend in the classroom?" Most of the time she will agree that she is just mimicking another child's behavior and other times she states my daughter shows no interest in the school work. During her annual physical I always mention the concerns to my daughter's pediatrician who is not pro medicating children and always has more natural remedies. One of the things that she found with my daughter is that she enjoys a challenge. As she stated and proved to be true with my daughter is that if she is not being challenged at school she will find a way to self entertain and it's usually when she stirs up trouble. Right before posting this blog I found an article that was just published by Kate Henderson and she reports, "In this century alone cases of American children with ADHD have gone up by 40 percent. Yet does it even exist? A doctor from Chicago, Richard Saul, argues it does not. In his controversial new book ADHD Does Not Exist, he puts forward the case that not one single individual anywhere, is afflicted by this so-called disorder. Saul has now determined “There is no such thing as ADHD.” Inaba and Cohen state, "It is estimated that 750,000 to 1 million schoolchildren and a number of adults are receiving more than 2 million prescriptions per year for ADHD medications, and the figure is growing." (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). By reading and learning about the various effects drugs can have on a person's health, I can't imagine the problems being on constant medication will cause children so young in the long run. For now I look for ways to entertain my daughter and offer her small rewards such as a trip to the park or a new notebook for her good behavior during the school week. Meanwhile I look at my nephew and wonder if this is who he is supposed to be or has the medication already changed him so much to make his parents believe he is a special needs student. The CDC provides the following link for an interactive checklist to see if a child has ADHD: Signs & Symptoms
References:
Henderson, K. (2014, March 15). ADHD Mass Misdiagnosis and Children Drugged for No Reason. Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/adhd-mass-misdiagnosis-and-children-drugged-for- no-reason/
Inaba, D., & Cohen, W. E. (2011).Uppers, downers, all arounders: physical and mental effects of psychoactive drugs(7th ed.). Ashland, Or.: CNS Publications.
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