Over medicated and over diagnosed children with ADHD

After thirty years in a clinical mental health center for children my observation of children who are over-medicated or improperly medicated are those who have been medicated without a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by a pediatric psychiatrist. Family physicians do not have the background or understanding of the disorder to make a diagnosis and then follow that with proper medication. A school should never be making the decision to place a child on medication - they might recommend an evaluation but that is all. The child on psychiatric medications must be evaluated and monitored regularly. There needs to be an open and unprejudiced line of communication between the teacher, the parents, and the psychiatrist. A child of four is too young to be diagnosed. There may be indications of hyperactivity but these must be differentiated from the normal accelerated activity and behavior of a four year old. Medications for hyperactivity were designed to help the truly hyperactive child to be able to concentrate on school work while in school. They were not intended for any other purpose. ADHD has become a boutique disorder. It is nice to label children with the "in" disorder rather than determine what is making that child behave the way the child is behaving. Often it is poor or lack of proper parenting. It may be a teacher with no tolerance for normal childhood behavior that is interfering with the demands put upon her by the school to bring a class of diverse shildren all to certain unrealistic standards.

I have one son. My opinion is that ADHD should not even be thought about with children at such young ages. Seriously though isn't a 4 year old suppose to act this way? Small kids are suppose to be hyper and have short attention spans. A teacher suggested this with my son when he started school. And I was totally against even getting him tested. School was new, he was young, i knew he would eventually settle in. And I was right. 2 months later the teacher told me he was a totally different kid. He just had to get use to the whole school thing.. A lot of this can also be controlled with diet. If your kid is overly hyper with no attention span maybe its time for him/her to start eating a little healthier. Junk food can do a lot to a kids system. Have you ever looked at the amount of sugar on a candy bar. It amazes me how some parents say their 5 year old had A.d.d or a.d.h.d. And when you look at the kid the kid is sitting there with a candy bar in one hand and a soda in another. No wonder their kid can't stay still or pay attention. their all hyped up on sugar.

when my daughter was in grade 2 the teacher wanted to have her tested for adhd...now mind you she was a very busy little girl (she learned to run before she learned to walk) she was just busy... BUT the i believe the teacher to be at fault! my daughter didnt fit into the mold that the teacher wanted...she wasnt a cute little girl that sat still... sadly she is still teaching but at a different school (i was determined to make sure that my younger daughter didnt have her!!)

Parents give them the meds because someone with a degree says it's okay. Parents don't take the time to research the meds, the side effects and the problems associated with the meds. Long term usage has been known to cause dependancy and a reaction among brain functions. If you eliminate all simple sugars, dyes and other preservatives out of the child's diet, chances are the hyperactivity will be reduced to nothing and no medications will be needed. Children are supposed to be hyper. Back in the day, parents weren't afraid to pop that butt when needed. NOw it's all about the ME generation with kids. They don't care about others, they just want it. All I hear when I go to the store is me this and me want that. First of all, teach your child proper grammar. ME want is not proper. Secondly, spank them if they start throwing a fit. Medication is a quick fix. So many parents just want quick fixes and don't stop and think about what is causing the problem in the first place. A pill or a shot is a quick fix rather than FIND OUT what is causing the problem in the first place. Treat the whole body, not just the symptoms.

I have always felt that the diagnosis of ADHD has been overused and that medication has been over-prescribed. I feel that many behavioral issues are passed on as "ADHD" and continue to feel that way. However, my 9-year-old is a classic example of ADHD. It is ironic that I have a child that manifests almost every ADHD symptom except that she does not have behavioral or social problems. It has greatly affected her school experience since day one. I have gone to great lengths to help her adapt to her inattention. We have used multiple teaching modalities, I have kept her in private school since 1st grade, I have even held her back a grade because her reading progress was severly impaired, I have also spent thousands of dollars to have her tested for learning disabilities and all have come back that she is very gifted but has "clinically significant" ADHD. After 4 years and many struggles I began to see her self confidence and self esteem suffering as a result of her poor academic achievements. It was at this time that I felt I would be negligent not to try a medication (I am also a registered nurse and felt I could monitor her closely). Needless to say she has been medicated for the last 2 months and is progressing very well in 3rd grade. Although her reading is not at grade level, her improvement has been rapid and she reports she feels much more capable in school. She would say "I don't know why I can't get my brain to listen" It was heartbreaking. So, overall, I continue to feel that children are over-diagnosed and over-medicated but I am proof that as a parent if you are certain beyond all other reasonable doubt that your child truly suffers from ADHD and you have gone to all other lengths to help modify your child's behaviors (whether academic, social, behavorial) medication may ultimately be the best option. I know I did everything I possibly could to avoid medicating her but when she comes home from school now and has had a "good day" and is not crying and saying how she "hates school" I know I made the best decision for her.