Posted on 11/19/2006 9:59:54 AM PST by paulat
DON'T DRUG THEM
Parents' obsession with their children's self-esteem plus profit-driven diagnoses create a dangerous prescription
Lawrence Diller
In our zeal to help our children feel better about themselves, are we really doing them any favors, or could we actually be hurting them?
[snip]
Several years ago, I treated an 8-year-old patient who had an IQ of 130 but was getting only B's and C's at his private school because he wouldn't turn in his homework despite his teachers' and parents' best efforts. He was more focused on reading adult level texts about the Sahara desert, his current interest. But he was feeling worse and worse about his less-than-stellar grades, so I ultimately prescribed Ritalin for him. After that experience and many similar ones, I began to wonder if someday I'd be seeing "the last normal child" in my office.
[snip]
ADHD has become the ubiquitous way we view problems of children's behavior and performance. While the Centers for Disease Control report 2.5 million children take a medication for ADHD, most research epidemiologists say the number is closer to 4 million. A more precise gauge comes from a medication insurance clearinghouse report that shows nearly 1 in 10 11-year-old white boys is currently treated with a stimulant such as Ritalin.
[snip]
First, we should make a concerted effort to involve fathers more immediately and directly in the evaluation of their children's behavior or school performance
[snip]
Father's involvement is critical. He often has a different perspective than the mom (he generally sees less of a problem because he's around less and also stereotypically is more effective with discipline). His participation with any behavior plan (or medication treatment for that matter) makes its success far more likely than without him.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It should be a crime to give this drug to children.
I have a special needs kid. From an illness when she was a baby, she got brain damage as seen on an MRI.
Anyway, I know kids that are on ritalin for very minor behavior problems.
I can understand putting a kid on ritalin if when they are 5 & 6 and they still cannot talk. I can see trying ritalin if your kid is 10 and still having problems learning how to read.
A lot of other conditions have the same symptoms of ADD/ADHD. My daughter at times can be very inattentive. Well, my daughter has speech problems, and she will avoid speaking at times (especially when she had only a few words). She also has auditory problems and can get very distracted in noisy environments.
Anyway, I wouldn't say no to medication in every instance, but too many kids are put on medication before trying other interventions.
Excuse me but I think we have the same parents though we never met.
Bill...you started goin' off on me toward the end...but we agree...they lock the boys up and wonder why steam is comin' outta their ears....
LOL!!
The way I balance that is I don't give my sons the meds on the weekends or when school is out for holidays, etc... or I just give him half of it during some of that time, but only when he is at school is he on the full dose. So far he does well going on and off and there is never any signs of problems with him when he is off of it.
IF we do agree to dose my Andy, that's what I intend for us to do. He has quite the personality, and I don't want to subdue it just so he can make some teachers happy.
Does the fact that they are not allowed to enlist in the service give a clue? Disfunctional for life.
When he wandered around with nothing to do, I suggested that he could read his library books. He quickly found something to do. When we finished a book together, I asked if he wanted to write a summary to tell other kids about the book. He always declined.
He struggles with reading (which is why we went to the library and read the books together). Being a huge reader myself (along with his older brother), I'm hoping that the encouragement and good example with go further than forcing the issue.
I was glad to have the opportunity to remind him that he wasn't interested in any of these things, but next summer, if he wants the prizes maybe he'll make a different choice.
Yep...I'm somewhat of an old coot going into a new career....
I think you have a point. I know one boy who takes a lot of these drugs. I think he'd have been better off with more parental firmness and a spank or two when he was young -- that would have been a healthier alternative for him than years and years of taking drugs.
Yep. I wish I could do better at the "consistent" part. Our lab is very sweet, low energy which is perfect for us. However, she's got a few habits that need breaking. We're hissing and practicing calm assertive (dammit). It WILL get better. LOL.
My 8 year old has trouble in school, but to talk to him, he seems quite bright. His teachers were postive he had ADD.
Instead of having him tested through the school, we took him to a private psychologist. The psychologist found visual processing problems and short term memory issues.
This tactic backfired on me because the testing instruments used were not on the approved list for the school district and so they couldn't accept the results. We would have to test again privately using approved tests, or wait for it to be done through the school.
Luckily, with his teacher's understanding that there are issues, we are able to just help him without having to wait for the testing and getting an IEP written. Eventually, he will get a teacher who is less cooperative and we'll have to do it all again.
My pediatrician commented that she never prescribes meds without the testing being done. She's lost some patients over it.
I believe the truth is a little more complex. Those who have had a disgnosis of ADD/ADHD can join the military if they haven't been taking medication for over a year, and if they don't show signs of ADD/ADHD while at the Military Entrance Processing Center.
I'm getting my information here:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/asthma.htm
For applicants with a previous history of ADD/ADHD who have been off medication for more than one year, and they do no demonstrate significant impulsivity or inattention during MEPS processing, the MEPS examining official may find them qualified for military service without submission of a waiver.
Nothing wrong with that! Good for you.
I've been reading the thread all along, and it is sad to say that I am thankful we only have a daughter. She is not exactly shy and retiring, but I would imagine the grief I would be getting had she been a he instead.
when her report card came home this week, I was not at all surprised that under the category "citizenship" (what we used to call conduct) was the letter "N" for needs improvement, primarily because she likes to talk, but also has a bit of a problem controlling her emotions. OTOH, her grades also did not surpise us in the least, straight "As" and Honor Roll (3rd grade is first eligibility).
I truly feel for parents in the same situation, but have sons instead of daughters.
My dad's belt cured me of that ADHD stuff.
While that is true, as a mother, I wouldn't leave him hanging though. I'd sit with him and help him with his homework, and better yet, help him to learn to look up information and teach himself.
There's nothing wrong with that -- I'm not being critical. I just think it's an interesting difference.
"First, we should make a concerted effort to involve fathers more immediately and directly in the evaluation of their performance."
Great idea. Perhaps as a society we should return to the notion that bear and raising children with the constant presence in their home of the man who sired them and is married to their mother is a model greatly to be desired, both for the better health of the children in all its aspects and for improved health of the collective society. We've tried the alternative for several benighted decades, and it doesn't seem to be working well.
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