The Struggle of ADHD Medication and Over Diagnosis

This is a question many parents struggle with. Should I be medicating my child for ADHD? Will the drugs cause other problems for my child? You’re not alone. Many parents have these questions. Some parents choose to give their child medication all the time, some only give the medication when the child is in school, and others choose not to give their child medication at all. ADHD diagnosis has increased dramatically over the last several years. [Over diagnosis and over medication for ADHD needs to stop.] ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are many symptoms that are related to ADHD. Some of the more common symptoms in toddlers and preschoolers are the inability to sit still, control actions, follow simple†¦show more content†¦Encourage teachers in your school district to move to more hands on learning for student in preschool through high school. Middle and high school students can benefit from doing experiments. â€Å"Encourage your child to study in several short blocks of time, instead of one extended time period† (Hutton). While it’s not a quick fix, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is shown to have greater long-term effects on children then medication. â€Å"Parents or teachers would be trained to reward a child with praise or small treats for paying attention and responding to requests, for example† (Shute). This helps teach children to calm down and listen rather than yelling at them all the time to pay attention. â€Å"Although CBT doesnt cure ADHD, it does make it easier for children to get along in a world thats often intolerant of typical ADHD behavior, explains Richard Gallagher, an associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine† (Shute). Diet can also affect the way your child is able to deal with ADHD. Avoid giving your child packaged and processed foods. â€Å"Feeding your child wholesome, natural foods instead of packaged or processed foods eliminates additives, such as preservatives, artificial flavorings and colorings, which have been shown to impact children with ADHD negatively† (Vale). To go one step further feed your child organic foods. It’s never been proven, but parent testimoniesShow MoreRelatedAdha1079 Words   |  5 Pagesthe causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that can affect children and adults. ADHD in children can cause trouble with focus, patience, and over activity. ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and usually appear early in life often between the ages of 3 and 6. Children that are diagnosed with ADHD usually have problems at home, school and in their social life. 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We hear so much about the raise in medication and think about our own childhood where the children were not taking medication or labeled as having Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But what a lot of us don’t know is that it was always with us. Lack of knowledge is a part of the reason for our debate over medication. In this review we will look at the pros and cons to med icating children