- In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications. In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%. How come the epidemic of ADHD—which has become firmly established in the United States—has almost completely passed over children in France?
You hit the nail on the head as I see it. ADHD is a symptom, a set of observable behaviors. That's that. Can a person give blood and have a lab report back that they have the ADHD virus? Nope. ADHD is a set of observed behaviors that are ascribed to a persons actions. Causes are too rarely considered in diagnosis before medical intervention is prescribed. Unfortunately, as I've seen teaching public elementary and middle school students, the causation of ADHD behaviors is overlooked as too often we jump to medicating. Why spend the time and energy adjusting a child's sleep routine, diet, and behavioral expectations when an MD will, often all too happily, hand over prescription medications? Medications that will evenly regulate the emotional state of a child who instead might need a different diet, an improved sleep schedule, or some behavior support in the form of defined boundaries, expectations, and incentives for excellent behavior. Medication for ADHD comes too often, too easy. Some cases, of course, may only be treatable via medical intervention. In my experience, though it is far too uncommon to speak with a parent that has run the gamut of searching for environmental factors that have lead to their child's ADHD. Most often a parent hands me a doctor's behavioral observation checklist to fill out, and then has the same child medicated two days later. Having a sedated child in my class may be easier than having a side-tracked wild-child, but it's just not the right way to do things. I'm a bit ashamed to say that we ought to learn a bit from the French in this situation.
I've never taught in a public school system, but I have taught in other contexts and dealing with students is always a challenge. I have boundless respect for dedicated teachers. If you could see system wide reform to improve the teaching/learning experience, what kinds of things would you want to see implemented, if you don't mind my asking?
I used to be scout leader. The most active kids we're always thin and they always ate candy and drank lots of coke. Could the reason for ADHD be simpler than we think? Just sugar and caffeine. Combine that with no fat reserves, you know how kids go wild when they are tired.
I don't eat sugar or caffeine and I have adult ADHD. Though i am very thin so perhaps there is something to your theory.
Is there any actual medical evidence that ADHD is real and not just something we've dreamed up to explain the behavior of children? Should we be giving behavior-altering pharmaceutical medication to children in non-emergencies? Questions to think seriously on if you are a parent contemplating taking your kid to the doctor.
ADHD is also present in adults not just children, it's a real thing. Saying that, i also believe it is often used as an excuse for a child's inappropriate behaviour and i definitely agree about medication being used way to often.
Do you mind me asking how long you have been diagnosed with ADHD? Also, do you take medication for it, if so what? If not, how do you manage it otherwise? Or... do you find you don't need to manage it? Is it detrimental to your well being? Lot's of questions because I have a family member that was diagnosed with ADHD and it's nice to be able to ask someone these things that isn't related.
Within the past year or so, though once i was diagnosed it became painfully apparent to me and my family that i had been demonstrating the symptoms since I hit puberty; we just didn't notice until it was pointed out. It just stops me from being fully effective because I'm constantly moving around and stopping in the middle of tasks to do other things. When i try to force myself to concentrate it works for a while but then i just lose concentration anyway and find myself walking around. I don't take medication, but that is a personal choice. When it was offered I just said no. Sounds silly but I just don't like taking medication for things that aren't dangerous. Maybe i should have inquired further. I also find myself losing my trail of thought a lot, rambling and talking too much in conversations. I'm fully aware that it happens i sort of just can't help myself. Like i said i can sort of prevent myself but it just isn't possible sometimes (which is the very nature of a disorder i suppose). When considering my well-being it makes it incredibly hard to put on weight because something is always moving; I'm never still. Just remember there are different types and degrees of ADHD (the adult one is best defined by the symptoms listed here so my experiences may be, and likely will be, completely different from your family member. Lastly i suppose as a bit of a meta end to this long and bloated paragraph, I got up and walked around once while writing this paragraph and tabbed out a few times to do other things too; it's quite ridiculous when i notice it, this post has taken me 10 minutes to write. If you have any other questions feel free to ask, but i feel that you would be better off asking your family member, because their view on the situation will be way different. Though if you are wondering on how best to deal with it, I'd say that without medication, I'm really not sure.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Though if you are wondering on how best to deal with it, I'd say that without medication, I'm really not sure.
Based on what I've seen, I would likely agree. I know some people that take Adderall for ADHD and it seems to have a positive effect, but they all seem to abuse the drug too. In fact, I think they use it more recreationally than they do medicinally. I've actually tried it myself and it has a tremendous effect. I really do feel I can concentrate more effectively.