Mental Illness or Misbehaved Mental illnesses are used as excuses for bad behavior in children by parents who have not done enough research about their child’s disorder. Seven percent of children between the ages of three and seventeen are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder in the United States (Neef). Many parents with children who have this mental disorder take the route of giving them prescribed pills every morning in order to fix their behavior. But, how many parents choose to take different approaches to help their child instead of giving them drugs? Many parents would argue that their child would behave badly if not given their daily dose, but according to psychologists and some doctors, Attention Deficit Disorder can be controlled …show more content…
Michael L. Goldstein a child neurologist states, “As with most disorders for which multiple medications are available, there are no definitive comparison studies to show which ones work best in specific circumstances” (Goldstein). Children’s Attention Deficit Disorders will vary in severity of symptoms and will require different treatment approaches based on severity. A positive approach to relieving attention disorders in multiple severities is animal therapy. Animals provide curiosity and longer attention spans by getting the child to think for a long period of time because it is something unknown to them. Curiosity and uncertainty are key concepts for children to exercise parts of their brains that capture and hold attention span. (Lundberg 200) A trip to the zoo combined with positive attention from adults will benefit a child’s attention span just as well amphetamine-based medications (Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication). For children suffering with ADD, exercise is a treatment that is affordable and effective. Betsy Hoza, a professor of psychological science at the University of Vermont, explains how exercising can be beneficial to a child with …show more content…
A simple game of eight base and freeze tag will stimulate the brain and require no spending. Parents who are in a tight economic situation may opt for this approach over prescribed drugs because of cost. Exercise keeps children’s minds alert unlike some medications. Parents should test out different methods before giving their kids medications that may cause side effects such as drowsiness and nausea. Parents play a big part in the success children will have in the progress of their attention disorder. With help, children may be able to retain and improve their attention spans. Providing a healthy diet for their child alongside other treatments may be beneficial depending on severity. According to a study done in two-thousand and one, behavior in children improved with a controlled
therapy. Wiener also provides additional resources and a list of texts that focus on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this
The very first step in deciding if prescription medication is the right choice for a child is knowing with certainty that the child has a real medical condition. Studies show that close to one in five children are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (Sherlock, Tracy). If it is suspected that a child suffers from ADD it is important that the child receive extensive testing to make certain the diagnosis is accurate. There are several tests that can be administered by a specialist including: a general physical, a neurological exam, a comprehensive interview with the child and others in a position of care for the child, an observation of the child’s everyday activities, and psychological tests to measure IQ and social and
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.
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.
Last but not least you could implement talk therapy into your treatment regimen. When changing the diet of my seven year old cousin my aunt decided not to let him consume anything with sugar in it. He was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD but after the change in the food you have no way to tell that he suffers from it. But even though this was a very compelling point it is not the only reason why kids shouldn’t be on behavioral drugs.
I'm not only an educator working directly with these children but a mother living with a child with this challenge and a learning disability. My viewpoint comes from my direct experience on a raw and personal level. In the end we made the decision not to medicate our daughter for the ADHD, although we were highly encouraged to do so. If the same information was given to me five years earlier, I would have gone right out and gotten the prescription from our doctor. But, my experiences and research told me it wasn't the right path for us at that time. I wanted to try and help our daughter with a natural approach, using medication as a last resort. Of course, I'm in no way saying that medication is bad. I've actually seen it work incredibly well with many children over the years. On the other hand, I've seen the terrible side effects children have to endure when the medication is wrong or the dosage is not right. Treating attention issues is a personal decision every family has to make based on the individual needs of the child and family. There is no one size fits all cause or treatment for attention disorders. Every person is different and comes with individualized needs. In my next blog post I will outline the things I have tried as both an educator and mother to help children
It is estimated that between 3 and 12 percent of the population has to deal with conditions known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This equals approximately 3 million children in the United States alone. Both of these disorders (ADD and ADHD) exhibit the same traits leading them to be lumped together. Children affected by ADD or ADHD have behavior and emotional problems. Trouble concentrating on simple tasks, a short attention span, failing to give attention to details, and disruptive behavior are a few of the problems resulting from
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”) is a common childhood disorder that represents developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and overactivity. It occurs in 3% to 5% of the school age population as stated by (Craighead, Craighead, Kazdin & Mahoney, 1994). Another author (Barkley, 1981) stated that ADHD occurs in at least one child in every classroom. As a result of these statistics, ADHD has become one of the most commonly referred and heavily studied psychological disorders of childhood. Studies show that about 50-60% of children with ADHD in the age range of five to seven years are hostile and defiant. By the
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD), the most common of the psychiatric disorders that appear in childhood, are often the subject of great concern on the
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a complicated and interesting history and because of that it is important to understands this disorders implications and comorbidity to better treat and diagnose it. Research done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 11% of the US population between the ages of 4-17 are affected with ADHD; that’s 6.4 million children and the prevalence of diagnosis is only increasing (2016). It was generally assumed that ADHD was something children would grow out of but new studies show that approximately 4% of the adult population in the US are still suffering from ADHD or have developed ADHD (Breyer, J. L., Lee, S., Winters, K. C., August, G. J., & Realmuto, G. M. 2014). ADHD is
Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis and prescriptions given out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to a news report done by USA Today over the past five years use of ADHD medications have risen 40% totaling 39.5 million individual prescriptions ("New findings," 2009). When statistics like this are seen it is only normal for someone to ask questions. People are becoming curious about the legitimacy of the disorder, and whether or not the treatments being given to individuals are appropriate. The argument seems to be strong on both sides of the fence, but the extensive research done on ADHD leaves it hard for one to believe that it is a made up disorder.
Exercise can benefit those diagnose with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, and Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD by regulating the chemicals and function in their brain and giving them an outlet for their hyperactivity. In a study conducted by FITKids, children who used exercise to cope with ADHD saw an increase in the availability to focus and succeed in school, while also seeing 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.
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
"Hyperactivity with ADD, without treatment, often results in failure, rejection by peers and family turmoil, all of which can lead to developmental delays and psychiatric complications stemming from low self-esteem and frustration" (Jerry M. Weiner, M.D., Pres. Amer. Academy of Ch. & Adol. Psychiatry)