Survey: 7 percent of elementary school children diagnosed with ADHD (Stupid Kid Alert)

Atlanta Journal Constitution | 5-22-02 | M.A.J. McKENNA

[Lance Romance]

White children are more likely than blacks or Hispanics to be diagnosed with ADD.

I be oppressed.

[Movemout]

I know you were just being flippant, but your "Stupid Kid Alert" is less than funny to me. One of my sons is learning disabled with a short term memory problem that we spent years dealing with. It is not fun by any stretch of the imagination. In fact it is a lot of work for parents, teachers, and child. He is no longer in school (he dropped out of HS) but the problem remains. So go easy on the name calling unless you've earned the privelege by living through it.

[Orangedog]

There was an article yesterday about a company making a powdered form of the drog to mix with applesouce pr cerial.

Funny, they will put adults in jail for using drugs anf threaten to take away their kids if they don't give them grugs. Hmmmmmmm.

[TomServo]

There was an article yesterday about a company making a powdered form of the drog to mix with applesouce pr cerial.
Funny, they will put adults in jail for using drugs anf threaten to take away their kids if they don't give them grugs. Hmmmmmmm.

Please tell me you were half asleep when you typed this. ;-)

[Izzy Dunne]

I think your "Stupid Kid Alert" is way out of line.

"Nearly 7 percent of elementary-age children in the United States -- more than 1.6 million kids -- have been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder"

That fact DOES NOT MEAN that 1.6 million kids ACTUALLY HAVE attention-deficit disorder, or that they're "stupid".
There is a LOT of mis-diagnosis of this (some pressured by parents, some pressured by teachers, some pressured by drug companies).
Don't blame the kids for what their parents do to them.

[TontoKowalski]

I don't doubt that some children have this problem (disorder?). But 7%??? That number is just too high.

But I don't doubt that at least 7% of elementary school children are undisciplined and unruly, and that there are those who have an interest in drugging them, rather than investing the time and patience and love necessary to correct the behavior.

[billbears]

Coming from a family involved in the education system for over 30 years, I have to say that the number of children prescribed this drug to calm them is a lot higher than 7%

[VRWC_minion]

As an adult with ADD my IQ is a bit over the stupid range and as a CPA my performance is a tad above average.

[VRWC_minion]

I don't doubt that some children have this problem (disorder?). But 7%??? That number is just too high.

On what basis do you make the claim "its too high" ?

How many people in the population benefit from corrective lenses ? Like eyesight, ADD presents itself across a range. Everything from blind to needing reading glasses.

Applying the range theory to the 7%, those at one end of the range may cope just fine while those at the other end may not.

[G.Mason]

Behave yourself!

He got the "Hmmmmmmm." right.;)

[TomServo]

Behave yourself!

Yes, dear. ;-)

[TontoKowalski]

My assumption, from reading the article, especially the end of it, is that 7% need (or have been prescribed) ritalin. Perhaps that is an incorrect assumption.

My statement that the 7% figure was "too high" is opinion and conjecture. Mixed with disbelief that 7% of elementary school children need ritalin.

You are correct in pointing out that I have no documented evidence to support this opinion. Is it your opinion that 7% need ritalin?

[Lance Romance]

Calm down. I have a problem with a study like this being released from the CDC. I see this article as yet another excuse for the medical profession to medicate kids. And another excuse for kids to sit in front of the TV zoned into the latest video game.

My dad had a cure for this, he would remove the plug from the TV and hand us a list of chores to be accomplished. If we still had attention problems, some cursing and a belt was utilized to help us regain focus.

[mountainfolk]

We are not told how many of these families are receiving a govt check because of this diagnoses. I know of children in at least four different states who were/are on drugs for no better reason than acting as children always have if not controlled by the teacher or parent as the case may be. No doubt there are genuine cases of ADHD but I am convinced from personal observation that additional cases have been piggybacked on to them because of govt checks and/or an easy solution to rowdy behavior. In some cases drugs are simply given to enhance achievement and not because of behavior problems. My guess is that this 7 percent is less than the actual number of students being drugged. School administrations probably view the use of these drugs as an alternative to being sued if they try to enforce discipline in the class room. In all cases, it is the child grown into an adult that lives with the consequences of taking these drugs in their formative years.

[Movemout]

"Calm down"

Believe me. I am quite calm. Your problem with the CDC and over medication of children may have a basis in fact. Your reference to kids, with real, honest to God learning disabilities, as stupid is feckless. I am trying to educate you so that your ignorance doesn't interfere with any points you might make that have merit.

[VRWC_minion]

Is it your opinion that 7% need ritalin?

First the word need I object to. Only a very small number of ADD folks actually NEED ritalin. That said it may be entirely possible that the entire ADD population would benefit from ritalin but the desicion tree is slightly more complex than simple yes or no. Before going too far, I believe that many ADD diagnoses are not correct and therefore whatever percent of diagnosed ADD'ers there are the actual number needs to be reduced for misdiagnosed but at the same time it needs to be increased for undiagnosed. For example, many children may have depression, alergies, simple behavior problems etc.

Whether drugs ae appropriare, some of factors include the fact that Ritalin and other drug therapies come with side-effects that must be weighed. In addition, ritalin and other drugs are not effective 24/7 and therefore the individual still needs to learn alternative coping mechanisms and use of ritalin can retard that.

At the other end of the spectrum are children who have very little likelihood of being able to stay focused long enough to teach any coping skills to.

In summary, of the total population of ADD'ers less than all could benefit from drugs. Some may need them all the time and some may need them at times.

But I have no predetermined idea how many are in the population. If I had to guess the population would mirror eyeglass wearers especially in that the needs for glasses change in response to age and tasks.

[gunnedah]

ADD comes from parents that do not watch over,take care and discipline their children along with a little use of drugs in the past.Now I know that isnt always the case but it is the majority.Also it doesnt mean in all cases the drugs were illegal.Then we turn around and put the children on Ritalin and what is Ritalin?

[VRWC_minion]

In some cases drugs are simply given to enhance achievement and not because of behavior problems

ADD is not a behavior problem. It is a performance problem.

[VRWC_minion]

Now I know that isnt always the case but it is the majority

How do you KNOW the majority of those diagonsed with ADD are not ADD ? Is there a study you can point to ?