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Doubts have been raised as to whether the children diagnosed with ADHD are really suffering from this disease. Many experts now question the diagnosis and fear that ADHD has become a rubbish bin for all childhood problems and is a very convenient label. Parents are concerned that the ADHD label, so beloved by some medics and child care therapists,is becoming a convenient and fashionable tag to cover a multitude of sins, ie. bad behaviour in children. Their concern is shared by the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK where the number of prescritions for the drug Ritalin , used to treat ADHD, has rocketed in a ten year period from 4,000 to over 360,000! This has an annual cost of 28 million. Experts disagree and there are two camps. In one camp, we have those who say that the actual number of children diagnosed with ADHD is only a fraction of those really suffering from the problem and that the ratio is 1 in every 20 children. In the second camp, we have those experts who say that many children are misdiagnosed and that the problem is exaggerated. The fact that diagnosis of ADHD is notoriously difficult and relies on a questionnaire has fueled even more the doubts or parents and child carers. Interpretation of the answers remains somewhat subjective. One main difference however is whether the child displays problematical behaviour in certain situations or settings or in all of them. If the latter, s/he may well have ADHD. ADHD symptoms are divided into two groups:symptoms of inattention and symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity. There is a clear inability to focus. Disorganisation and restlessness are constantly present. The child will not sit still for one second ! Impulsiveness and inability to assess risks may be present. There is difficulty in following instructions and the child will be easily distracted. Problems with peers arise when it come to turn taking at play. A larger and larger number of parents are single and breadwinners. The family structure has changed and the single parent will find it a challenge in bringing up children. Social reasons too play a role in that the children themselves play outside less and less. They are glued to the TV and computers. This leads to more consumption of snacks which contain additives which may cause hyperactivity. Doctors have come in for criticism also.There are many cases of a misdiagnosis where the child does NOT have ADHD. The pharmaceutical companies are laughing all the way to the bank as they watch their sales of ADHD medications rocket! Side effects of some of these drugs are worrying. A popular drug, Adderall, was recently taken off the market in Canada because there was evidence of heart problems in children with a predisposed heart condition. Research recently published does stress that therapy rather than drugs is much more effective in the long term. Whatever the diagnosis for your child, you will need to come to grips with the problem of bad behaviour. A doctor whose two children had ADHD has shared his experience with other parents and the link is below this article.
Article Source: http://www.itempad.com
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