ADD/ADHD Predicament
ADD/ADHD Predicament
ADD/ADHD is considered to be a physiological disorder involving
neurological transmitters in the brain that are either working
overtime or undertime or are an insufficient amount. Since 70
percent of the brain is meant to restrain the other 30 percent,
if there's an imbalance of those transmitters, emotional and/or
psychological difficulties or less than proper behavior might be
apparent.
To understand the subject, one has to understand the confusion
surounding it. ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder. ADHD is
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADBDis Attention
Deficit Behavior Disorder. ODD is Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
And CD is Conduct Disorder. If little Jason forgets what you
told him four seconds ago, he might have ADD. If he has
forgotten what you've told him four seconds ago and he's
climbing all over the chair he's been sitting in, he might have
ADD/ADHD. But, if he's forgotten what you told him, is finished
climbing all over the chair, and is now picking it up and
throwing it to hear what kind of noise it makes as it hits the
floor, he could have ADBD. Then, finally, if little Jason has
done all of the above and is standing in front of you, with
every molecule of his being fixed in protest, saying, "So!
Whatta ya gonna do about it?!"...there's a great possibility
that he has ODD. This seems clear enough.
However, it isn't all that clear due to the diagnosis being so
lax and the medicines being so quickly prescribed. Ritalin has
often been prescribed for a child or adult with ADD/ADHD.
Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant. It amplifies the
release of a transmitter. But it is also on the US Department of
Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration's "DRUGS OF CONCERN"
list. Right beside Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, Ecstasy, PCP,
Steroids, and Methamphetamines. It's on their "DRUGS OF ABUSE"
list and the "SCHEDULE II STIMULANTS" list as well. So, Ritalin
hangs around with a serious crowd. And remember little Jason?
Well, he's the kid who might be given this Schedule II drug.
Among the other medications that have been used to treat
ADD/ADHD are Cylert, Dexedrine, Concerta, anti-depressant
Wellbutrin, chewable Methylin or non-stimulant Strattera.
Confusing Symptoms
The main symptoms of ADD/ADHD include: forgetfulness, not being
able to focus, restlessness, impulsiveness and depression. But
thyroid or hearing problems, hypoglycemia, lousy nutrition,
anxiety, depression, or a stressing homelife can each cause
similar symptoms. Also, since allergic reactions reduce the
levels of neurotransmitters and even they can be the cause for
the symptoms. Or the ice cream bar with it 12 or so teaspoons of
sugar or the 12 ounce soda with its 6 or more teaspoons of sugar
might cause little Jason to go haywire, if he has a sensitivity
to sugar. And then there's giftedness? A gifted child does not
have to be a genius. They can be way above "average" in one area
and be average or struggling in others. If the giftedness is
overlooked it can leave the child with the exact symptoms of one
diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. So, it's easy to see that there are a
number of things that could be causing Little Jason's problems.
Serious Statistics
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 3-5
percent of the general population has ADHD. There are 2 million
children with it and that number doubles every 3-4 years. The
American Psychiatric Association reports that "28 percent of all
children under 18 years of age live with one parent, and 84
percent of those live with their mother." And according to the
National Institute of Drug Abuse, "5.5 percent of women used
drugs while they were pregnant, 10.8 percent drank alcohol, and
20.4 percent smoked." There are a lot of factors to be
considered when diagnosing someone, especially a child, as
having ADD/ADHD disorder.
With all that said, it is easy to understand why some people
feel that prescribing drugs is a bandwagon many have jumped on
without knowing the cost of the ride, the destination of the
trip, or even if the journey was necessary in the first place.
Finding a Balance
The main positive thing about the situation is that more people
are becoming aware and are asking for better diagnosis and more
broad-range treatment of ADD/ADHD. If little Jason actually does
have the disorder, chances are one of the medications might be
the "wonder drug" that helps. But alternatives such as
rearranging his diet, biofeedback and giving him extra attention
in order to help him deal with a world that he feels out of step
with should also be considered, because simply handing him his
pills everday is never going to be enough.