ADHD Misdiagnosis in Children. (3806 hits)
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Submitted by Malone (View user info) at 2004-04-13 16:49:53 EDT
I wanted to vent about Attention Deficit Disorder. Then I had a personal epiphany. I had already written about this subject some time ago for a 400 level Abnormal Psychology class. I will submit my research paper into the ether of the internet right here on Ubersite. It is my belief that in today's America we are trying to box everbody into some kind of category. Music, fashion, politics, and behavior. We don't have individual traits anymore, we all exhibit traits to a greater group. We all must be labeled. I stand firmly against this trend. My research (APA FORMAT, w/ doublespace removed for Ubersite):
Abstract
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of America's most predominant disorders among our nation's children. Prescription drugs are the most used method for treatment of this disorder. That fact combined with the fact that ADHD is difficult to isolate in a child as the sole cause for behavior issues, make misdiagnosis more common than with other disorders and is an issue to be addressed.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a learning disorder that impairs people's abilities to focus on tasks and function in a normal fashion. The primary symptoms include some combination or form of inattentiveness or distractibility, impulsivity, and in some people physical restlessness or hyperactive behavior. It is most frequently diagnosed in children at a young age. ADHD is one of the fastest growing disorders in America among children as far as diagnosis goes. This is not to say that adults do not have this disorder. Children are less expressive as individuals than adults tend to be so ADHD behavior is more recognizable in children. There is often difficulty diagnosing a child with this disorder because many of the symptoms can be generally attributed to normal child behavior. However the American Psychiatric Association provides extensive criteria for making the diagnosis of this disorder. A child has to have more than age appropriate difficulty with most daily tasks such as sticking with projects without distraction, paying attention, and physical over activity. For people with ADHD, their behavior is severe and consistent, so much so that it has detrimental affects to school, work, relationships and daily function. Surprisingly, in spite of severe activity problems, some children do very well in school. The majority of hyperactive children, in spite of average of above-average intelligence, are unable to work to their full potential (Rapp, 1979, p. 34).
Diagnosis of ADHD had risen dramatically primarily over the past 3 decades. P. Jaska (1996) points out that based on epidemiological data, ADHD occurs in 3 percent to 5 percent of children in this country. Roughly half of those children continue to have significant levels of ADHD symptoms as adults, which means perhaps 2 percent or 3 percent of the adult population has some levels of ADD/ADHD. While there is no consensus on exactly how many children have ADHD, the AAP estimates that the actual rate of infliction within the American population in 6 to 12-year-olds is between 4 percent and 12 percent. High or low, these figures are significant and warrant the research happening since the 1970's.
With greater research into ADHD comes the ability to better diagnose children inflicted with it. This no doubt leads to increases in the numbers of diagnoses over time. However another factor may be involved and that is total misdiagnoses of the ADHD condition altogether. This is a serious problem and one of heavy debate, not only in professional circles but around dinner tables across America as well. The fact that diagnoses of ADHD is occurring in younger and younger children, some as young as 2 or 3 years old, and the fact that prescribed medications, often more than one, are given to these children makes this a serious dilemma.
There are several medical conditions which may cause inattention or hyperactivity. Some of these are hyperthyroidism, anemia, and various sleep disorders. An asthmatic child may be on various stimulating medications to assist breathing, which make it hard to sit still. Just to make it through a normal day, the child with sleep disorders might be trying to compensate for his lack of energy by focusing on anything that will keep his attention, which is most often not the teacher or the day's lesson plan. There are several neurological conditions which may mimic ADD and/or ADHD. One of the most common is Tourette's syndrome. In Tourette's, the child has multiple motor tics. This means a child will exhibit sudden movements such as jerks of the body and extremities. They have vocal tics where they will typically hum or make coughing noises or animal like sounds. Many of the parents of the children notice the child has a "call", frequently making a chirping, growling, or whooping noise (T. Shafer, S. Shafer 1998). A hearing problem can be less obvious to people and has explained why many a child does not pay attention in class, instead focusing on what's happening outside the classroom in the hallways or outside the windows. T. Shafer and S. Shafer (1998) go on to point out that depression can also play a role in similar symptoms of ADHD. For example, some depressed kids can be sluggish and apathetic just like depressed adults. Young children who show recurrent periods of agitation, and hyperactivity may be exhibiting the early stages of a manic-depressive illness. A traumatic event in a child's life will leave them unable to concentrate on anything they don't care about at the time. Often in these cases a child may be exhibiting symptoms of the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A growing problem in society as of late has been the mass consumption of pop and carbonated beverages by children in placement of water or juice. Caffeine can over-stimulate a child's brain and nervous system causing hyperactivity for periods of time. This problem is compounded when children who react to caffeine in this way add more to their system by continuously drinking pop after hyperactive behavior is already in effect. Pop has become a favorite of households across America, especially with children over the past couple of decades, due to a marketing explosion by beverage corporations and the availability of pop in mass quantities in every restaurant, fast food chain and gas station across the nation, in increasingly larger containers. My personal experience with this was my ability to purchase over 60 ounces of a pop of my choice at a gas station if I purchased a special mug, which I did.
There are gender differences in ADHD, with males being two or three times more likely to be diagnosed than females. That doesn't mean that ADHD is rare in girls, but boys definitely get diagnosed more often -- they tend to be more active, aggressive, and disruptive. It is interesting to point out that dyslexia, stuttering, delayed speech, autism, and hyperactivity, are all neurobehavioral disorders, all occurring with greater frequency in males (Restak, 1984). This evidence can be taken numerous ways, and it no doubt has. One of the problems with diagnosing ADHD in children is the diagnosing process itself.
The majority of evidence for symptoms with this condition comes not from patient observation, but through testimonies from family members and teachers. Diagnosis is mostly based on solely what people observe. Consistent with social sciences, when any information is interpreted by an individual, processed, and passed on to another individual, ones personal filters alter the original input, so what comes out in the end cannot be taken as an absolute. What this means is that parents might think their child is ADHD and be actively looking for symptoms for it, or interpret some action by their child as ADHD and head off to the clinic. This could be why boys, who are active, loud, silly, and sometimes mean, are diagnosed with ADHD, just by them being young boys. Since the diagnoses of ADHD come down to a faithful judgment call by the clinician, there is a large margin for error. This is why some view ADHD as a cultural disease more than an actual medical condition - and argue that boys are diagnosed with it three times more frequently than girls because society has become intolerant of behavior that used to be dismissed with a simple "boys will be boys." Other critics have suggested that diagnosing unruly children with a medical condition is merely an excuse for uninvolved parents who don't know how to discipline (G. Williams III, 2000). Certainly that is the case for many children diagnosed with ADHD. Parent's who do nothing to curb a child's maladaptive personality traits and behavior, will wean a child who is inconsiderate of others in his surroundings and will make little concern for his own involvement or betterment in life activities.
Our society as a whole has become more scrutinizing of everyone. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look in the media there is talk about who has what medical condition, and gossip about which celebrities have problems. More than just ADHD, across the board there are more people diagnosed with various conditions now than ever before. Naturally, the better science is at being able to detect a condition, the more people who have it will be labeled and get the appropriate help they need. On the other side of that coin however are the facts that just because a condition exists where there are symptoms involved that could pertain to multiple conditions, people will be diagnosed with it when they are not inflicted. There is no argument from anyone that this is certainly the case with ADHD as well as any other condition, however the rate of increase with diagnoses over the past several decades with treatments involving heavy medications, and the fact that it is children who's behavior is unpredictable in the first place make ADHD misdiagnoses a hotbed for discussion and further research.
References
Jaska, P. (1996, October). What is ADD/ADHD? [Interview with D. S. Bond] AOL, Online Psych Forum. Retrieved April, 13, 2003, from http://www.add.org/content/interview/peter.htm
Rapp, D.J. (1979). Allergies and the Hyper-active Child (p. 34). New York: Simon & Schuster
Restak, R. (1984). The Brain (p. 244). New York: Bantam Books Inc.
Shafer, T. G. & Shafer, S. V. (1998, May) Child Behavior: All That Wiggles is Not ADHD Parts 1-3. SelfHelp Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2003 from http://www.shpm.com/articles/child_behavior/adhd1.html
Williams III, G. (2000, September) Hyperactivity Hype? A riot of
conflicting claims threatens to bury the truth about ADHD.
Here, what every parent needs to know. [Electronic
Version]. Parenting Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2003 from
http://www.parenting.com/parenting/article/article_general/0,8266,6552,00.html
User Reviews
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2005-07-19 14:03:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
When I was a child, i was told that I had clinical depression and ADD. They began pumping me full of meds at age ten, and didn't stop until a year after my mom dumped me at age 16. They (my psychiatrist Dr.s Bird and Lyle) had me on anti-depressants and Ritalin, methylphenidate. It worked... I was a good little zombie for seven years.
No one stopped to consider the fact that my stepfather was severely abusing me. Or that I had no friends because i was a generally quiet, slightly nerdy kid. No one thought that perhaps I was having trouble in school because we moved at least once a year. These factors and many others were ignored or flat-out by my mother (who pushed for medication and sat-in on psychiatry sessions).
Since being off the meds, i am soooooo much happier, i do not obsess about suicide (a common side effect i'm told) i respond when the phone rings, i have a real life with friends and work and school.
Life is beautiful. I lost that for seven years.
Submitted by gretablubyu (user info) at 2004-10-29 21:37:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I read it, I watch my kids live it.................and so the story goes!
Submitted by Eric_Rice (user info) at 2004-10-17 14:56:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-19 10:34:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
**Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of America's most predominant disorders among our nation's children.**
Hmm, probably not. I think obesity is a bigger issue right now.
**Prescription drugs are the most used method for treatment of this disorder.**
Only if your doctor is a hack. The drugs are a part of an entire treatment package that includes adequate rest, healthy diet, regular exercise, and behavioral and environmental modification. What I mean by that is that there are little mental tricks that you can use to keep from "acting out" or giving into the usual impulse control issues associated with ADD.
**Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a learning disorder...**
It's actually not a learning disorder, it's a malfunction of the hypothalamus that results in an under production of dopamine in the brain. To call it a learning disorder implies that it is mental and not physical more like say post traumatic shock.
As for why it is diagnosed more often in children than adults, that is probably because the condition is more likely to manifest itself in a classroom type setting that requires extended periods of concentration. Adults who do not learn how to cope or compensate on their own probably do not work in environments of that nature. Think of it this way, I don't bother taking my medication when I'm not at work because quite frankly it makes no difference whether or not I'm manically stir crazy if all I'm doing is screwing around with my friends or say working in the yard. Wait, that's not entirely true. I have been threatened with physical violence for not taking Adderall before I go to the movies.
**Some of these are hyperthyroidism, anemia, and various sleep disorders.**
Here again, only if your doctor is a hack. I changed doctors about two years ago and she insisted on running some thyroid and other tests just to make sure that I had been diagnosed correctly. Maybe you have a point about the increase of caffeine in children's diets leading to ADD-like symptoms, but it should be noted that generally if someone had ADD, caffeine calms them down because it acts as a stimulate which stimulates the brain to produce dopamine.
You are onto something with the gender issues. There are different types of ADD and from what I've read and seen, boys tend to act out more whereas girls will just space out so it goes somewhat unnoticed. I don't know why that is the case, it could be a simple matter of society being more tolerant of disruptive boys than girls in a "boys will by boys" type of way.
That's really it. You don't really come to any conclusions or say what can be done about it. Over diagnosing is probably a problem and most likely leads to legitimate cases of ADD being treated as behavioral and not physical maladies. If you do another paper on the topic, I think it is very interesting to see the number of diagnosed and treated cases by economical demographic. Kids with insurance are more likely to receive proper treatment and therefore, do better in school than underprivileged kids. Ah the never ending cycle of poverty.
Submitted by I_have_a_Malone_fetish (user info) at 2004-04-16 22:03:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have also done an ADD post.
It's a clue...see? OOOO! Find me out! Find me out!
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-04-16 18:55:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
blitzwhateverbob-
ritalin will not work for you if you don't have add. If you do have it, the effect is entirely different.
Submitted by MakisupaPoliceman (user info) at 2004-04-14 02:12:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have ADHD... i couldent finish reading it.
Submitted by Lucifer_Industries (user info) at 2004-04-13 22:50:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I would like to add that I appreciate the level of discussion taking place on this post. I always thought this was what Ubersite was for. I'd like to see more of it and I think Ubersite would be brought up a notch. It is refreshing compared to what takes place most posts.:
Submitted by GenericUSER
Ranking: -2
STFU
Submitted by GenericUSER
Ranking: -2
GO KILL YOURSELF
Submitted by GenericUSER
Ranking: +2
No Comment
Submitted by Lucifer_Industries (user info) at 2004-04-13 22:44:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh yeah! Thanks for pointing that out too Jon. I had to look it up myself when I first read that in her review. I was thinking how I wasn't aware that I used fake words to get my point across.
Bob, when doing the research for this subject I found a wealth of information. Much of the sources I used to align with my argument I found through online resources. I would suggest you start there. Apparently, I have touched upon a raging discussion in the psychology profession that is currently being tossed around the water coolers. While my paper isn't large in size it is packed with information and some of the topics I could have expounded upon for another page or two alone. True, there are some generalizations made for the purpose of making a point. Our professor did talk about how many current therapists are already set in their ways and the diagnosis of ADHD (once ADD) is ever evolving.
It has been suggested that perhaps there is no such thing as ADHD at it's core, but it exists as a morphing or grouping of other abnormal psychological behaviors.
Personally, I agree with Bob in that I would be VERY sceptical about any ADHD diagnosis in today's science and would be hard pressed to let my children swallow anything from these labs that the therapists like to push.
Malone
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 21:45:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You're right Jon. Damn my lack of impulse control. I still contend that prevalence is a far better word in light of the definition you quote.
Submitted by jonukah (user info) at 2004-04-13 21:32:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Spike......perhaps you should pick up a dictionary before you proclaim that something is not a word.
Infliction (n.) An excessive, unwelcome burden.
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2004-04-13 20:26:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I tried to read it all but kept getting distracted...
Can you summarize it?
;)
-Turtle
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-04-13 19:28:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I can relate to this from a parent's point of view. My son was misdiagnosed with ADHD(as was I when I was his age). ADHD is a cop-out that people, who allege to have credentials in education, psychology, and medicine, label children with that are unruly and can't be easily managed. So what - my kid told his teacher to go fuck herself? After being in the same room for five minutes with the sweaty bitch, it took me every ounce of restraint to not tell her the same thing. Imagine the blow to the self-esteem of a five-year-old that had his mom and dad told that he was somehow defective by a teacher that he has still show respect to tomorrow.
The instant, on-demand, three-second-sound-byte, no-frills answer is always Ritalin. Let me tell you what Ritalin does. Ritalin makes you feel like you mainlined a pot of strong coffee, but, you can only see through a two-inch diameter piece of piping. I took one of the pills that were prescribed for my son, and I felt as if I could burn a hole through the wall with my mind just by looking at it (think of Cyclops from the X-Men). There was no way that I was about to give this so called medicine to a child who is 1/4 my size. I threw the pills out and told the doctors that they had no effect on him. Have there been any studies regarding the long-term effects of this medicine?
I could have probably been awarded a fat settlement over this, if I were the type of person that did that sort of thing. I also feel that people get into psychology for one reason: So that they can figure out what is wrong with themselves emotionally or mentally.
Then again, what do I know? I'm just an engineer...with an anti-authority complex, according to my profile in my old military records.
I realize that this is only a post on Ubersite, so I apologize for making a huge review out of this, but it felt good to get this off my chest.
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-04-13 18:59:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool.
Submitted by Lucifer_Industries (user info) at 2004-04-13 18:40:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I would also like to add that the Tourette's syndrome misdiagnosis has occurred on a few occasions in children, which led to this factor being included in my paper.
I recieved a bachelors in the Arts and Sciences of Television and Motion Picture Production from Ferris State University so as you see, this is not my field. It is possible that the grade I received in the class was somewhat a mercy grade due to this fact. I was like a fish out of water in this class.
Malone
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 18:35:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You're welcome, Malone. (Is that your preferred form of address? Or should I call you Lucifer_Industries?) And thank-you for tolerating me. I know that sometimes I am like an irritating little fly buzzing around with my ideas.
It's good exercise for my brain to evaluate someone else's arguments, and it's good for people to be exposed to this topic. Are you a psych major?
Submitted by Lucifer_Industries (user info) at 2004-04-13 18:22:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Spike, thanks for your insights. I really appreciate the input on this. Although I recieved an A on this report, there was never any deeper discussion about my arguments. This is a first and I wish discussion like this was part of the class environment.
Tourette's syndrome is a compounding factor which in the early stages of diagnosis, must be considered depending on the degree of the infliction and symptoms observed. Mild Tourette's syndrome may be indistinguishable from possible ADHD symptoms. This is usually discovered and ruled out of the analysis as it's own conditions. Not all Tourette's symptoms are indicitive of the popular and publicly known outbursts. A child unable to focus, or who does make boisterous outbursts in class or similar settings could be hyperactive or he could be showing forms of Tourette's syndrome. My point was that when trying to diagnose from an objective position, all things must be considered, and then the elimination of inconsistent symptoms may commence.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-04-13 18:13:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Personally, I find it funny that people will desperately vent their opinions and points of view on something that most people don't even have the time to scroll all the way down on.
That being said, the two paragraphs I read seemed good.
Submitted by Donitsu2002 (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:53:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cause you had to put up with spike *cold shiver*
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:44:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I <3 Spike.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:43:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WTF I READ ALL THAT.
This plus two is for stating your stance in a clear manner and acknowledging the existance of ADD/ADHD. Most people that argue against ADD/ADHD deny its existance and blame it on not enough discipline or something like that. I like how your arguments against the misdiagnosis states various other maladies that could cause ADHD related symtoms. I would be very interested in what Loki has to say about your post. To bad she's killing braincells in mexico this week.
Have you read her post about it?
http://www.ubersite.com/m/12768
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:39:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I agree with everything Spike said except the sleeping disorder thing.
Sleeping disorders that are silent and seemingly uneventful often go undiagnosed in children and adults. I researched this alot a short time ago when i was looking for causes and more info on ailments I myself was suffering that my doctor was unable to find answers for after a battery of tests. Sleep disorders are now being heavily researched and being linked to all kinds of things ADD and ADHD just being 2 of them. Children as well as adults may have a problem reaching stage 3 and stage 4 sleep. You would never know it because the afflicted person appears to sleep normally. I am one of those people who has this very problem and it has wreaked havoc on me mentally and physically over the years. I won't go into any more detail because I think you can see what I am saying without all the technical stuff.
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:38:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for the effort and for putting up with me. :-)
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:38:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"There are gender differences in ADHD, with males being two or three times more likely to be diagnosed than females. That doesn't mean that ADHD is rare in girls, but boys definitely get diagnosed more often -- they tend to be more active, aggressive, and disruptive. It is interesting to point out that dyslexia, stuttering, delayed speech, autism, and hyperactivity, are all neurobehavioral disorders, all occurring with greater frequency in males (Restak, 1984). This evidence can be taken numerous ways, and it no doubt has."
No doubt? Elaborate, please. Don't assume your reader knows.
"The majority of evidence for symptoms with this condition comes not from patient observation, but through testimonies from family members and teachers. Diagnosis is mostly based on solely what people observe. Consistent with social sciences, when any information is interpreted by an individual, processed, and passed on to another individual, ones personal filters alter the original input, so what comes out in the end cannot be taken as an absolute. What this means is that parents might think their child is ADHD and be actively looking for symptoms for it, or interpret some action by their child as ADHD and head off to the clinic. This could be why boys, who are active, loud, silly, and sometimes mean, are diagnosed with ADHD, just by them being young boys. Since the diagnoses of ADHD come down to a faithful judgment call by the clinician, there is a large margin for error. This is why some view ADHD as a cultural disease more than an actual medical condition - and argue that boys are diagnosed with it three times more frequently than girls because society has become intolerant of behavior that used to be dismissed with a simple "boys will be boys."
Now you're on to something.
"Other critics have suggested that diagnosing unruly children with a medical condition is merely an excuse for uninvolved parents who don't know how to discipline (G. Williams III, 2000). Certainly that is the case for many children diagnosed with ADHD. Parent's who do nothing to curb a child's maladaptive personality traits and behavior, will wean a child who is inconsiderate of others in his surroundings and will make little concern for his own involvement or betterment in life activities."
This paper is not the place to preach about parenting. You have nothing to base your assumptions on, either. You tend to make broad generalizations with nothing to back them up.
"Our society as a whole has become more scrutinizing of everyone. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look in the media there is talk about who has what medical condition, and gossip about which celebrities have problems. More than just ADHD, across the board there are more people diagnosed with various conditions now than ever before."
Is this true? Where is the data to back up that more people are diagnosed with psychological disorders than ever before? Once you produce that data, how can you attribute 'more research' as the causal factor of the diagnosis, and moreover, how can you infer that more diagnoses naturally means more MISdiagnoses? For example, doesn't society's increased tolerance and understanding of depression as a medical condition lead people to be more likely to seek treatment who would have previously thought of themselves as being "morally weak" for being unable to feel better on their own?
"Naturally, the better science is at being able to detect a condition, the more people who have it will be labeled and get the appropriate help they need. On the other side of that coin however are the facts that just because a condition exists where there are symptoms involved that could pertain to multiple conditions, people will be diagnosed with it when they are not inflicted. There is no argument from anyone that this is certainly the case with ADHD as well as any other condition, however the rate of increase with diagnoses over the past several decades with treatments involving heavy medications, and the fact that it is children who's behavior is unpredictable in the first place make ADHD misdiagnoses a hotbed for discussion and further research."
There IS argument about whether this is the case with ADHD!!! That's the reason it is a "hotbed for discussion".
Your paper needs a tighter focus and you need to stay away from gross generalizations.
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:38:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"There are several neurological conditions which may mimic ADD and/or ADHD. One of the most common is Tourette's syndrome. In Tourette's, the child has multiple motor tics. This means a child will exhibit sudden movements such as jerks of the body and extremities. They have vocal tics where they will typically hum or make coughing noises or animal like sounds. Many of the parents of the children notice the child has a "call", frequently making a chirping, growling, or whooping noise (T. Shafer, S. Shafer 1998)."
This doesn't belong in your paper. These symptoms are not part of the DSM IV criteria for ADHD, so why are you listing them here as confounding factors?
"A hearing problem can be less obvious to people and has explained why many a child does not pay attention in class, instead focusing on what's happening outside the classroom in the hallways or outside the windows."
That alone will not qualify someone for a diagnosis.
T. Shafer and S. Shafer (1998) go on to point out that depression can also play a role in similar symptoms of ADHD. For example, some depressed kids can be sluggish and apathetic just like depressed adults.
"Young children who show recurrent periods of agitation, and hyperactivity may be exhibiting the early stages of a manic-depressive illness."
This is a valid confounding factor, as hypomania in a child will look a lot like ADHD. You should expound upon this instead of the Tourette's. Still, the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder is about 1%, with most patients showing onset in their late teens to mid twenties, so this is going to be a rare misdiagnosis.
"A traumatic event in a child's life will leave them unable to concentrate on anything they don't care about at the time. Often in these cases a child may be exhibiting symptoms of the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)."
In children, Acute Stress Disorder is more common. You should leave out the PTSD reference and simply say, "reaction to trauma".
"A growing problem in society as of late has been the mass consumption of pop and carbonated beverages by children in placement of water or juice. Caffeine can over-stimulate a child's brain and nervous system causing hyperactivity for periods of time. This problem is compounded when children who react to caffeine in this way add more to their system by continuously drinking pop after hyperactive behavior is already in effect. Pop has become a favorite of households across America, especially with children over the past couple of decades, due to a marketing explosion by beverage corporations and the availability of pop in mass quantities in every restaurant, fast food chain and gas station across the nation, in increasingly larger containers. My personal experience with this was my ability to purchase over 60 ounces of a pop of my choice at a gas station if I purchased a special mug, which I did."
This is a good point, as diet and exercise habits contribute significantly to behavior. However, your last sentance is inappropriate for this paper.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:29:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I couldn't read this. my ADD kicked in.
seriously though, When I'm not too busy, I'm gonna read and respond.
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:21:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"ADHD is one of the fastest growing disorders in America among children as far as diagnosis goes."
Cite the epidemiological data here.
"Children are less expressive as individuals than adults tend to be so ADHD behavior is more recognizable in children."
Less expressive as individuals? What does that mean?
"There is often difficulty diagnosing a child with this disorder because many of the symptoms can be generally attributed to normal child behavior. However the American Psychiatric Association provides extensive criteria for making the diagnosis of this disorder."
The criteria for diagnosis of any psychological disorder is that behavior is some combination of personally distressing, statistically abnormal, socially unacceptable, or dysfunctional. Normal childhood behavior is not indistinguishable from ADHD in light of these criteria. The problem lies in where the line is drawn for what is "socially acceptable". I believe that your thesis really is about the idea that we are defining behavior that is not personally distressing, dysfunctional, or statistically unusual as a psychological disorder because we find it socially unacceptable. You seem to want to say that society wants its children to be more subdued, and are pathologizing behaviors that fall within the range of normal.
"the AAP estimates that the actual rate of infliction within the American population in 6 to 12-year-olds is between 4 percent and 12 percent. High or low, these figures are significant and warrant the research happening since the 1970's."
Infliction----not a word
I think you're confusing it with "affliction", but a better word is prevalence. Are you talking about point-prevalence, prevalence during the period of a year? And what's going on with the second sentance?
"With greater research into ADHD comes the ability to better diagnose children inflicted with it. This no doubt leads to increases in the numbers of diagnoses over time."
This is completely untrue. Increased research does not lead to a greater number of diagnoses. Where do you get off making a statement like that? It is true that pressure from drug companies, for example, influences research and that there is often much more work done on the benefits of pharmacological treatment than on CTB therapy, for example, but research doesn't seek to expand the nature of a diagnosis until it fits as many people as possible. This is preposterous.
"There are several medical conditions which may cause inattention or hyperactivity. Some of these are hyperthyroidism, anemia,"
Easily ruled out with bloodwork.
"and various sleep disorders."
Far more rare than ADHD, and would be obvious to a parent.
"An asthmatic child may be on various stimulating medications to assist breathing, which make it hard to sit still."
The diagnostic criteria for ADHD specify that the symptoms must not be traceable to a specific factor, such as the ones you have listed. These points are moot. Only inferior clinicians would overlook such things, and in that case what you're writing about is a handful of inferior clinicians who are NOT working within the guidlines of the DSM IV, not an inherent problem with the nature of ADHD diagnostic criteria.
Submitted by jonukah (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:20:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It is a good thing you didn't put hugafuckingmongous paragraphs like thins into a school paper or anything like that.
....oh.
However, rom what I gathered through glazing through this, I do agree with you.
Except that I don't believe in ADD or ADHD. I would call a condition in which a person finds it hard to concentrate after doing the same monotonous unstimulating work for 40 hours or more a week and has about 13 minutes of physical activity a week...
Normal.
Am I way off base here?
Submitted by I am so smrt <s-m-r-t.at.let.the.simpsons.refer> at 2004-04-13 17:18:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
it's peter jaksa, not jaska.
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:06:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
On the uber scale, I give it a -1. On an academic scale, I give it a 75%. My comments will follow.
I should be in my Adult Psychopathology class right now, so I may as well work on this and feel that I'm being somewhat productive.
Submitted by Deisangua (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:05:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Lucifer_Industries (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:02:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Lick me Christpuncher.
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2004-04-13 17:02:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Donitsu2002 (user info) at 2004-04-13 16:58:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
decent.
Submitted by ChristPuncher (user info) at 2004-04-13 16:53:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Man dude, this post is good and informative, which means you stole it
THIEF THIEF
GO BEARS WOO!!!