Anyone else feel that we are lumping our kids in certain categories?

Question

I am a teacher and am amazed truly by the number of kids who are being lumped into "ADD/ADHD" ,"learning delayed", "auditory processing delay", "autism", and others as an excuse... (not saying all are this way) In my day of childhood, we would have just acknowledged that some kids need to play more than others.. or are "a little different" - I wonder if we are trying to get all kids to fit the same mold and if they don't, we slap a label on their head and tell them there is something "wrong" with them... what do you think?

Again, I'm not saying all - I've met 1 child in my years of work I really think is add/adhd.. and several children with autism that are obviously autistic.. but what about the others...

my utmost respect to you - I've read your postings of your child... and know you speak with knowledge from a parent's position - but are they truly treated? Many of the kids I see are medicated and labeled, but somewhere the child is lost?

Answer 1

Hello,

I very much agree with you. Thank you for putting it so eloquently. Far too many children are being labelled, and then drugged. So few seem to really want to take the time and make the effort to try other manors to deal with the "different" child. And to see one the the needlessly drugged children is truly heart breaking. I have seen too many children that were bright, funny, energetic and happy become somewhat dulled by these serious drugs that Dr. 's are somewhat handing out like candy on Halloween. I agree that this is not always the case and some children really do need their problems noticed and addressed, but it just seems too easy to label and medicate. It's a shame.

What about diet modification, exercise, extra time and attention...

I won't let this happen to my children and I guess that is something.

Thank you for your message/question.

Answer 2

With both my kids I knew something was wrong with both of them from an early age. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 6 after barely passing kindergarten. Yes she learns differently, but she also can't sit still or pay attention long enough to absorb what the teacher is saying. She just finished grade 6 and is still stuck reading at a grade 3 level. Schools WILL NOT accommodate these types of children. Most teachers(sorry if I lump you all together) have so many students that they can't take the time to help students that are struggling. If you don't fit the cookie cutter norm, you just get left behind. On the other hand my son has also been diagnosed with ADHD, but I'm certain he has something else. Medication isn't working for him and he is much more aggressive and has mood swings. He was suspended 6 times last year, in kindergarten, because his teacher didn't know what else to do with him. So either I'm imagining all these things or my kids really do have problems that aren't being addressed through the school system.

Answer 3

Yes I feel that way. I think that as a society we are quick to medicalise our children and less tolerant of personal differences. They are scrutinized to much, expectations are often too high and they are often not allowed to just be kids anymore. There is a huge "therapy" economy that has developed. Obviously we all want what is best for our kids but I think the pendulum has swung too far. I have two children with labels and I have to work hard to get the world to treat them as regular children and not dysfunctional inconveniences.

Answer 4

I think some parent do this, just because they may want attention. And doctors are so quick to write prescriptions these days.
My son Michael is of special needs. We are not set on a daignosis yet, but he is 2 years old, and does not walk, does not do much of anything really. He is improving however with speech therapy, physical therapy, and soon he will have an occuptational therapist. It makes me when however when they cannot come up with a diagnosis for him. Our 1 year old son is further advanced than our two year old, and that normally doesnt happen. Its really frustrating though.

Answer 5

yes... i feel like every one has a problem these days!!! especially since i moved to t he south... go to a resteraunt, school church family reunion... everyone is so sick,,, im surprised they can sit and talk about it... even in my sons day care... he stutters, they say he is anxious... i believe that too...(the doctor will have the final say next week) but these women... everything is a problem!!
i believe there is too much medication on the market, too many commercials describing problems... every one sees this and WOW !!!! all of a sudden,THEY HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION!!! and SO DO THEIR KIDS!!! not a role model, but paris hilton... all of a sudden a.d.d.???? every one seems to adapt their problems to a MEDICAL DISORDER!!! what happened to HELL... IM A SCREW UP WHO CANT DEAL WITH EVERYDAY **** IN MY LIFE??????????? noo... its so easy to (like you said) slap a lable on it...no wonder why the rest of the world laughs at people in the united states.........even the criminals...church goers drug users stay at home moms people who work extra long hours... everyone wants to blame their screwed up lives on a medical disorder... and the phamicutical companies and the doctors and lawyers are eating it up and reaping all the profits while the sickly people are letting them... without a clue to whats going on...
probably because they have a MEDICAL CONDITION..............

Answer 6

ADD/ADHD has a series of different subtypes with different presentations and different treatments. Look up Dr. Amen and the SPECTRA analysis he has been doing.

Autism is a spectrum disorder. This means that a person can exhibit some of many characteristics and be 'on the autism spectrum' or classically autistic.

This doesn't seem to me like lumping children into categories. It seems more like addressing their specific needs, strengths and challenges so as to give them the earlies opportunity to make the best of them.

I am also a teacher - with ADHD! I wasn't diagnosed until I was 21. If my family had known what was going on with me things might have been easier on all of us.

You and your students might benefit if you took some inservice training on how to teach to the ADHD child (because we learn differently.) 10% of Americans have ADD/ADHD. This means that you've met more than one, you just didn't recognize it as such.


**WOW** kim t, I'm supposed to be the one with impulse control issues (I went off medication five years ago). Maybe you should go talk to a doctor, you seem a little unhinged.

Answer 7

Unless you have a child with any of these disorders you will never understand. If a child is labeled "different" they are ostracized. If their problem is given a name , it can be focused on and treated.

Answer 8

i tottally agree, i was labeled ADHD, i think i just learn differently, i think different people were created differently to be better suited for where their life brings them. i hate labels. thankyou for recognizing that. we don't need to put all our kids on drugs just because they have more energy or can't focus as well!