Why do Parents always think ADHD?

Question

i work in a pediatric clinic and on a daily basis there are atleast 10-12 children on ADHD medication. why do parents always think adhd is the problem and oh quick we need concerta or adderall to fix our child. honestly a 5yr old does not have adhd maybe they're just hyper. doesnt anyone know that ADHD is the most misdiagonosed disorder. seriously parents get over the ADHD label.

Answer 1

I would guess that they don't know how a child should act at a given age, or they don't want to bother to be a parent and discipline the child.

I have a 5-year-old son who is really active, but I think it's normal at that age.

What's really bad is that Ritalin and other stimulants can kill! Ritalin, for example, is in the same drug classification as COCAINE!

EDIT: deedee, I completely agree with you. I try to give my son the most "natural" things possible--no aspartame, no MSG, no HFCS. I try to avoid these things. And he likes what I give him. Sure, it's a little more expensive...but it's better than having him drugged!

Answer 2

Probably because some people "self diagnose" their poorly behaved child as having ADHD. It's easier than the hard work of parenting a challenging child. ADHD diagnosis used to be tossed out at the drop of a hat Diet can make a huge difference in a kid who is sensitive, and can even cause behavior that mimics ADHD. When diet is changed, behavior and concentration can improve. Just as some children with autism respond well to GF/CF or SDC diets. I've seen kids with true ADHD and it's absolutely remarkable to watch. The total lack of control, distractibility and fidgeting was simply amazing. I'd seen the boy medicated previously, so it was one of those incidents that made me a big believer in proper medication for ADHD. It also made me realize that my son may have issues, but his high energy level wasn't really one of the bigger ones. Interesting as well because my 15 yr old daughter has inattentive/overfocused type ADD. No hyperactive component, but she's either as distractable as a butterfly in flight, or so focused it's obsessive and unable to stop. It's not her diet or parenting, it's her nature. I've read more books on the subject trying to figure out how to handle her unique issues.

Answer 3

I have an active 5 year old and I had an "expert" friend tell me that she thinks my son is ADHD. Since then I have had sleepless nights, self-doubts, and sheer paranoia that he's not just an active (and healthy) boy, but in need of tempering medication and control. I'm happy to say that I have seen changes in my son in the past month (since starting school) where he will sit quietly and read, and play independantly..etc.

I think why some moms reach for the ADHD diagnosis is self-doubt. As someone else pointed out a lot of people (myself included) don't necessarily understand what constitutes "normal" behaviour. We see the news stories, hear the advice of well-meaning friends and acquaintences..and then we worry. Every parent is full of self-doubt, and hearing the media constantly talking about ADHD and other behavioural issues and how x % of children are on whatever medication, makes it worse for us.. the parents.

Combine that with an overworked teacher who, perhaps with the best intentions, suggests that your child *might* have a behavioural issue, and then add the fact that most parents are over-worked to pay for their housing and bills, and have precious little time at home with their children... well, it's probably just as easy to accept the possible diagnosis and accept the px.

That's just my own theory. I have no proof for any of this, but I definitely think that there are no conspiracies (except perhaps the drug companies), just a lot of less than optimum situations.

Answer 4

Because it's much easier to apply a label to a child to have an excuse for the behaviour than it is to consider it as something that both parent and child need to work on. "Hyper" really isn't any better a label than "ADHD" - it's just a different excuse. It's normal for some kids to be more active than others, but if this is impacting on their ability to learn, they still need help with it. But it's much better to channel all that extra activity than to damp it down chemically. Drugs really should only come into it when there's something medically wrong (diagnosed by a doctor, not a teacher or parent) and they are needed to put the chemical balance in the brain right again.

Answer 5

Some parents are quick to diagnose kids with ADHD, but not everyone is. My son has ADHD and is on concerta. He is now 13 I finally decide to put him on medication when he was 10, in forth grade, out of his desk all the time,taking off his shoes while the teacher was talking, & not paying attention in class. Since Pre-k he had attention problems but always did well as far as grades, so I wasn't too concerned. I didn't want the label (parents so quick to need meds or in others words a parent that doesn't want to deal with her child). I always kept in contact with his teachers.His 4th grade teacher really cared, and was truly concerned. She would sit with him while he would take test so he wouldn't get distracted and he would make A's.If noone was there he wouldn't finish. My son isn't a bad kid either, he wasn't trying to get attention or disrupting the class he was just in his own world. After he started taking the med. his "b's" went to "A's" and he could finish his test without being monitored. I can see the difference. Now in 8th grade he is taking GT courses. He is so intellegent. I know there are some parents looking for a qiuck fix for their diruptive children but not all of us are. In fact I think it is more common these days just because of all the research there is today. His father has an attention disorder and dropped out of school in 9th grade, he is also very smart but 20yrs. ago there was no help or this disorder.My son never grew up around his father but I can see alot of similarities in the way their brain works attention wise- its genetic. I am also in the medical field and work with pediatrics and I have done lots of research on ADHD, I don't wish it on any child. In my opinion if any of these kids are misdiagnosed it's the doctors who are at fault. My son had months of monitoring from his teacher, me and his physician before he was put on meds.,now I do live in a small town and I know the reality of this going on all over the US is not the matter but the physician is the one with the power of the prescription, not the parents.

Answer 6

I am a very successful woman who was not diagnosed with ADD until I was 27. They didn't think little girls had such things years ago and are recently beginning to realize adult woman have such things. (not everyone grows out of it)

My childhood I guess was pretty hard. They say that everyone is forgetful, spacey, etc but it is when it gets in the way of your life that it is really a problem. I work twice as hard as other people to do the same thing, I had a great family support structure, and am blessed with a pretty high IQ and have no other learning disabilities, and a mother who worked very very hard to keep me on track.

There is a lot of shame that comes with the ADD label. Some people think I am taking the easy way out. I think my life is pretty tough with medication still. There is no magic pill but I find I am a better mother and wife when I don't have 4,000 worries and I can focus on one problem at a time.

I used to think too many kids took medication then I had a school counselor who reminded me that kids who struggled fifty years just dropped out. There were farm jobs and factory jobs. There was no help for kids that didn't fit the norm.

Would you want to have the only kid in class who couldn't read? Would you want your child feeling horrible about school?

I wouldn't. I would want my son or daughter to have ever chance to be a doctor or a lawyer not a HS dropout.

So until a person has walked a mile in those mother's and father's shoes let alone anyone who actually has the disorder I think they should be grateful the kids are getting the help they deserve and try to find out more.

Medication is a big decision for a lot of parents. There are side affetcs, down sides, ect. Parents are portrayed as if they are excited and more then willing to medicate but in reality we know their is shame, feeling of failure, medical concerns, and worry that go into that secession.

Those who know nothing and still pass judgment How many books have you read on the subject? How many classes have you had? How was med school? Should not talk about things they know very little about. Which is pretty easy to do since ADD and ADHD medication affects so much of our youth.

There is so so so much research out their to educate yourself. Unfortunately people normally only do that when they are forced to deal with the reality of the disorder in their own families.

Though I don't agree with your opinion. I think it is wonderful that you worry about the kids. It shows that you are a very caring individual.


For those who want to learn more I recommend
Chadd a great organization.

http://www.chadd.org

I also really like attitude magazine.
http://www.additudemag.com

Again let me be clear I think medicating a child is a serious decision. I am not advocating it. But I am saying that a mile in someones shoes is a very different day.

p.s. They say that behavior modification with medication is the most affective treatment and behavior modification without medication is also affective but medication should always include behavior modification.

Answer 7

Because everyone just expects kids to be calm and quiet especially at school! Any kid with a bit of spunk is classed as ADHD. It's crazy and there are sooo many side effects from these drugs eg. suicide tendencies in teenagers.
I really believe that the modern diet has a lot to do with kids being hyper and moody. There is a great website www.fedup.com.au and it's all about how preservatives, artificial colours and additives can cause children to behave in "ADHD like behaviour". I think a lot of parents are too busy to bother with a special diet as it's easier to get them to take a pill.

Answer 8

I have no clue. As a teacher I wounder the same thing. I use to tell a parents that their child is "active" or "has lots of energy", I usually found it as positive thing that 99% of the time posed little to no behavior problems. But some parents were quick to assume that their child had ADHD so I stoped telling parents that. Children have engery, they are supposed to use it. Not sit at a desk for an hour straight.

Answer 9

I understand your frustration, however- these kids have obviously been diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD by the proper institutions or there would be NO aderol or anything in the ball-park prescribed to them. To have your child diagnosed you have to take them to a developmental center or childrens outreach hospital. Then and only then can they legally be classified as ADD/ADHD/PDD/Autistic ETC......

Most teachers cannot handel these children and demand that they be medicated. The fact that a lot of these kids are so hyper active is the drugs and chemicals in their food to begin with....I know it's sad but we live in a hurried and "quick fix" impatient world.

Answer 10

To the question: Ask your boss - he's the one writing the prescription!

To all the teacher haters:
I have never, in my life, met with a teacher or knew a teacher that ever influenced a parent to think their child has ADHD.
Why is it that everyone blames the teachers?
Because they spend the most time with them? Huh, go figure?!

No one can give your child a prescription EXCEPT the doctor.
No one can have the prescription filled EXCEPT you, the parent.
Ignorance is bliss I suppose.
Parents, get educated and spend some time with your kid.
Unless you have documented medical proof of any condition, why the heck would you medicated your child?

Answer 11

If you read the questions on here you'll see how many parents say "The teachers says..." or "The school says I have to medicate or they'll kick him out" or "The principal says he has ADHD..."

Plus if the kids are being misdiagnosed - who is doing the diagnosing? The DOCTORS - not the parents. If there are a lot of misdiagnosis it's the doctors faults not the parents.

If it's not true ADHD then the doctors need to tell the parents that.