The course of treatment for various disorders has been altered hundreds of times since the discovery of the disorders. Not only this, disorders themselves have changed. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is no different. Just as how all treatments have their pro’s and con’s and one must weigh each heavily before deciding on a course of treatments, ADHD also has its pro’s and con’s. This paper will dedicate its mass to discussing the controversy over the types of treatment available for ADHD – specifically the use of medication in treating the symptoms of ADHD, and the concept of over diagnosing and overprescribing children who show symptoms of ADHD. This will be discussed, as there is much controversy as to whether or not ADHD
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According to Graham, et al., there have been hundreds of trials of ADHD medication and all of them indicate some level of adverse side effects. These are mostly dealt with because they are not severe and are not long lasting. (Graham et al., 2011) Parents are not living in myth when they express the belief that medication is giving their children side effect, nor are thy living in myth when they express the concern that diagnosis for ADHD has risen dramatically since they were children. In fact, it has been documented that the rate of treatment for ADHD – specifically medication as treatment – has increased for elementary and secondary school children in the last 18 years. (Jensen et al., 1999) There is no clear cut evidence as to why this increase exists, but scholars and parents alike turn back to the fact that the prescription of medication for ADHD, methylphenidate especially – is significantly higher in the US than in other countries, bringing back the argument that the disorder is mostly an American phenomenon. Others argue however, that diagnoses of ADHD and the prescription of medication for the disorder is higher in America, not because it is a culturally created phenomenon, but instead, because there is a heightened public and professional awareness of the disorder that has increased the levels of identification and it turn – treatment. (Swanson et al., 1995) It does not help the case of ADHD being a real disorder that information gathered about ADHD largely depends on the clinician parents see and information gathered from the internet and
According to Graham, et al., there have been hundreds of trials of ADHD medication and all of them indicate some level of adverse side effects. These are mostly dealt with because they are not severe and are not long lasting. (Graham et al., 2011) Parents are not living in myth when they express the belief that medication is giving their children side effect, nor are thy living in myth when they express the concern that diagnosis for ADHD has risen dramatically since they were children. In fact, it has been documented that the rate of treatment for ADHD – specifically medication as treatment – has increased for elementary and secondary school children in the last 18 years. (Jensen et al., 1999) There is no clear cut evidence as to why this increase exists, but scholars and parents alike turn back to the fact that the prescription of medication for ADHD, methylphenidate especially – is significantly higher in the US than in other countries, bringing back the argument that the disorder is mostly an American phenomenon. Others argue however, that diagnoses of ADHD and the prescription of medication for the disorder is higher in America, not because it is a culturally created phenomenon, but instead, because there is a heightened public and professional awareness of the disorder that has increased the levels of identification and it turn – treatment. (Swanson et al., 1995) It does not help the case of ADHD being a real disorder that information gathered about ADHD largely depends on the clinician parents see and information gathered from the internet and