According to the National Institutes of Health attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood disorders (NIH, 2008). All Children show the same symptoms as they are clinically related, although children with ADHD show symptoms more severe and frequent. Children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should take medication as a part of treatment because it helps control the associated side effects of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The first reason a child should be treated with a medication is to control inattentiveness. Inattention is the predominate characteristic displayed by children. Often the child will lose things, makes carless mistakes, and is easily distracted. Inattention is caused by a neurological brain disorder in the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the central management of the brain and controls focus and memory. These are executive functions that control attention and willpower. These functions depend primarily on two neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. The release of dopamine promotes motivation from happiness. (Brown, 2005) Stimulant medications are made with one of these chemicals allowing for treatment. The second concurrent condition that should be controlled by medication is hyperactivity. Hyperactive children are constantly in motion. The tension at home and school can mount if the hyperactivity is not controlled. It can cause incomplete assignments, and the child can become disruptive to the entire class. (Steer, J. 2009) This can cause a pattern of suspensions from school perceived as bad behavior. The child will climb or run about, talks excessively, and have difficultly playing a quiet activity. This interpretation ultimately leaves the child with dramatic consequences of feeling isolated and a failure. Effort and activation are the impaired functions which affect hyperactivity. Stimulant medication will enable the ability to activate to work by organizing and prioritizing. A child’s impulsivity should be controlled by medication. A child’s impulses create them to act before thinking. This may leave the child blurting out answers before they are asked, or have difficulty in waiting their turn. A pharmaceutical medication would allow the child’s neurotransmitters to process information before responding. Emotions and actions are impaired functions. Not being able to manage one’s own emotions can create an imbalanced child that cannot put into words how they feel. Also, self regulation and monitoring are impaired without the proper chemical treatment. Allowing these side effects of ADHD to go untreated can lead a child to low self-esteem and a negative image about themselves.
As stated previously, medication is the most common option that parents choose for their children. The most common prescriptions are Dexedrine, Cylert, Ritalin, and Adderall. Medication is highly effective. For around 75%-90% of prescribed patients, these work to solve their issues. This is a definite advantage to taking medication is that it is almost guaranteed to work. There are drawbacks to taking medication however; the trial-and-error process, cost of medication, and the side effects that can come with medication. As with any brain chemical medication, there comes a trial-and-error process to determine the right balance and the right amount to really curb the symptoms that come with. Just like any medication that people need to operate, the cost does add up whereas with behavioral therapy, there is no medication to buy and thus no costs. Lastly, there are side effects that come with ADHD. These can be insomnia, nervousness, headaches, and weight loss. Despite all these drawbacks, medication is the fastest and most effective way to treat ADHD (“Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit
One of the main treatments for ADHD is the use of medication. Primarily the main medication used is stimulants such as amphetamines. Amphetamines have been used in this treatment due to its effects of reducing the symptoms of ADHD such as behavior and irritability (Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy, Sallee, 2012). A major concern though with the use of amphetamines is...
Just because your child is active, does not always mean to assume they have this disorder. Even though more and more kids are being diagnosed with ADHD, experts are saying that it’s often not the kid’s problem. Some cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are coming back on how well of parenting the child is receiving. “When I first diagnose a child with ADHD, I tell the parents they need to learn behavior techniques, whether I’m prescribing medication or not,” (Patricia Quinn, M.D.)
Stimulant drugs are widely used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. These stimulants dramatically reduce the hyperactivity of sufferers and improve their ability to focus, learn and work. Such medication may also improve physical coordination, for instance handwriting and sports. Research completed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that these medicines may also help children with an accompanying conduct disorder to control their impulsive, destructive behaviours. The three medications that have been proven by the NIMH to be most effective in both children and adults suffering from ADHD are: methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine or Dextrostat), and pemoline (Cylert). (NIMH 1999) Yet there is currently much research on the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as t...
Every day, doctors are diagnosing kids with ADHD. A diagnosis can come as early as four years old. Doctors evaluate the patient. They also read reports from teachers and or coaches, along with talking with the child’s parents. Typical symptoms of ADHD include: “being in constant motion, squirming and fidgeting, making careless mistakes, not wanting to listen, being easily distracted, losing things, and making careless mistakes” (WebMD, 2014). If a child is diagnosed with ADHD, they may be put on a typical ADHD drug. Medicines that are used to t...
There are several stimulant medications that are commonly used throughout the world to treat behavioral disorders for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Some of the medications used to treat this disorder are Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, Methylin, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. These are all stimulant drugs that help treat the symptoms of ADHD in very similar ways. I will specifically be focusing on Adderall. Adderall is constructed of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine which are central nervous system stimulants. Central nervous system stimulants affect the chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Not only can Adderall be a life changing medication when prescribed to a patient with ADHD,
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Everyone has heard of it. A few years ago every newspaper and weekly magazine had a feature about the disorder. The disorder was mostly associated with school-aged children because that was the time when most of the symptoms surfaced. Today ADHD is the most common behavior disorder diagnosed in children and teens. ADHD refers to a group of symptoms that begin in early childhood and can continue into adulthood, causing difficulties at home, at school, at work, and within the community if not recognized and treated (1). But what most people never hear was that ADHD also affects adults and if left untreated can have serious effects.
Political correctness and the constant fear of impending litigation from any number of sources has forced society to find other means through which they can control their children. Though other avenues for treatment exist, recent developments in educational and familial systems have produced a situation where children are over prescribed stimulant medications to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for educational purposes. For that reason, we must consider the appropriate treatment for ADHD in education. Four main aspects to this issue need to be discussed in order to fully understand the situation: a description of ADHD, the symptoms of ADHD, the statistical information regarding the over prescription and a description/history of stimulant use, and some possible alternatives to drug therapy.
ADHD, or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. There are many symptoms associated with ADHD but the most common include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. Scientists are not exactly sure of what causes ADHD but they are more comfortable with the idea that a lot of different factors play a role in its development, such as, genes, environment, brain injuries, sugar, and food additives. The most widely used treatment is the drugs but this is not the only way to treat ADHD.
As defined by Ministry of Health (2001), “Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in childhood are persistent overactivity, impulsiveness and inattention, although not all may be present” (p. v). Children may appear as though they are unfocussed, defiant, excessive risk takers or have difficulty performing simple tasks in comparison with their peers. In addition to a diagnosis of ADHD, children may also present with comorbidities such as learning deficits, mood disorders and antisocial characteristics (Ministry of Health, 2001).
Many children are diagnosed with a “neurobehavioral disorder” known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) it affects approximately five to ten percent of children around the world (Kolar, Kelleer, Golfinopoulos, Cumyn, Syer, Hechtman). What some people do not know is that it continues throughout a person’s adulthood. ADHD affects approximately six percent of the adult population (Kolar, Kelleer, Golfinopoulos, Cumyn, Syer, Hechtman). Treatment for this disorder is of course medication. The question is, is this an effective way to treat both children and adults? I believe that ADHD medication is an effective treatment for ADHD in children and pre-teens, but is less effective in adults.
The truth is within the past two generations a phenomenon has taken place in connection to children across this country. Today one and a half million children take medication to focus attention and control hyperactive behavior (Freed 216). Most of these children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. There are three types of ADHD the first consists of inattention only or the inability to focus attention. The second consists of hyperactivity and impulsivity. The third form of ADHD is a combined type where the child or adult has difficulty dealing with attention and hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with ADHD are typically prescribed a drug called Ritalin (or one similar to it), which is a methylphenidate (recently amphetamines have been used also) making it easier to control behavior.
The document states that an untreated case of ADHD can have serious effects on the lives of both children and their parents (Withrow, Hash, & Holten, 2011). Before treating children, physicians must look for a coexisting conditions which could affect the diagnosis and treatments of ADHD. Parents and children should aid their physicians by using the support of their community and the resources of their school (Withrow et al., 2011). Physicians should take several courses of action: educating the parents and patients, monitoring patients for the emergence and severity of side effects, and evaluating the treatment each year. Pharmacotherapy, or therapy using pharmaceutical drugs, is another accepted way for physicians to treat children with ADHD. The documents says that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves certain drugs for the treatment of ADHD (Withrow et al., 2011). The list of approved drugs include the psychostimulants D- and DL-methylphenidate, atomoxetine, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and a noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor (Withrow et al., 2011). To see if a child’s behavior demonstrates the symptoms of ADHD, an analysis of that child’s behavior is needed. According to this document, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasises classroom behavioral interventions and parental training in behavioral therapy (Withrow et al., 2011). The AAP considers both of these to be of
These symptoms prove to be particularly challenging to children and adolescents. Although they may be quite intelligent, their lack of focus frequently results in poor grades and difficulty in school. Children and adolescents with ADHD tend to act impulsively, without addressing the consequences of their actions until it is too late. Their attention spans are much shorter than most children?s are, thus they become bored easily and frustrated with ...
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD, is a chronic condition affecting millions of children, and often persisting to adulthood. Individuals with this mental disorder face struggle with concentration, and controlling hyperactivity along with impulsive behaviour. It seems that more and more children are diagnosed with ADHD in ties with bad behaviour, and the inability to focus; however, ADHD is a real issue which can be too often looked past. Although treatment will not cure ADHD, treatment is a great option for many individuals, and studies show that medication such as Ritalin or Concerta, and behavioural interventions or therapy can help a great deal. ADHD can lessen with age and maturity, and treatment provides that extra push to deal with the symptoms. Many believe that medication and treatment is not the best approach for children with this illness; yet in most cases, medication and treatment is a beneficial tool which eases the individual of difficulty with focus or concentration, resulting in improvements with social behaviour, academics, and lifestyle.