Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that typically presents in early childhood. In 1975, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) was created to ensure that each student gets an equal opportunity to obtain the same education, regardless of disability (Special Education News par. 1). An IEP outlines what accommodations are necessary for a child to succeed in their education. Most children with ADHD need to have special considerations to successfully complete their education. Should ADHD children be held to the same standards as other children? Children with ADHD often struggle with the typical structure of public school. The diagnosis of ADHD often includes accompanies additional disorders, most commonly:
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Despite that the concept was first mentioned in 1902, and it has been an accepted mental condition since the late 1960s, arguments are made that children are just lazy (Barkley 5). While it is extremely difficult for an ADHD child to complete a task, it is not necessarily because he does not want to. Within mere moments, he has already forgotten what he was doing. His desire to complete the task is not in question, but his ability to follow through is nearly nonexistent. ADHD children are far from lazy, they often do more in a day than almost anyone, their hyperactivity frequently causes them to execute more movements, utter more words, and think more thoughts.
Another accusation against the concept of ADHD is that kids are just ‘being kids’.
The diagnosis is based on a checklist, found in the “bible” of mental health, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), of 18 possible symptoms, any of which could describe the average child—even the average adult—some of the time. They include acting before thinking, being unable to delay gratification, staying motived to finish a boring task, keeping strong emotions in check, remembering an assignment and how to complete it, or planning ahead (Foley par. …show more content…
In some rare cases, they can damage the heart. Since many of the drugs are appetite killers, some parents have to entice their children with small meals all day long. (Foley par. 11).
Other common side-effects of ADHD medications include headaches, high blood pressure, irritability, moodiness, tics. One unexpected side effect of an ADHD medication I have personally witnessed was a happy little boy with ADHD who was medicated and went an entire week without smiling once. There are parents who will try out medications and experience a terrible side effect like this and give up on medications all together.
Schools are not legally permitted to request that a child take medication to receive an Individualized Learning Program (IEP). Only the doctors, mental health professionals, and parents are able to make the decision to medicate children. If parents choose not to medicate their child's ADHD, the school is still required to provide any modifications requested and agreed to in an IEP. (Cohen, Matthew par.
Despite that the concept was first mentioned in 1902, and it has been an accepted mental condition since the late 1960s, arguments are made that children are just lazy (Barkley 5). While it is extremely difficult for an ADHD child to complete a task, it is not necessarily because he does not want to. Within mere moments, he has already forgotten what he was doing. His desire to complete the task is not in question, but his ability to follow through is nearly nonexistent. ADHD children are far from lazy, they often do more in a day than almost anyone, their hyperactivity frequently causes them to execute more movements, utter more words, and think more thoughts.
Another accusation against the concept of ADHD is that kids are just ‘being kids’.
The diagnosis is based on a checklist, found in the “bible” of mental health, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), of 18 possible symptoms, any of which could describe the average child—even the average adult—some of the time. They include acting before thinking, being unable to delay gratification, staying motived to finish a boring task, keeping strong emotions in check, remembering an assignment and how to complete it, or planning ahead (Foley par. …show more content…
In some rare cases, they can damage the heart. Since many of the drugs are appetite killers, some parents have to entice their children with small meals all day long. (Foley par. 11).
Other common side-effects of ADHD medications include headaches, high blood pressure, irritability, moodiness, tics. One unexpected side effect of an ADHD medication I have personally witnessed was a happy little boy with ADHD who was medicated and went an entire week without smiling once. There are parents who will try out medications and experience a terrible side effect like this and give up on medications all together.
Schools are not legally permitted to request that a child take medication to receive an Individualized Learning Program (IEP). Only the doctors, mental health professionals, and parents are able to make the decision to medicate children. If parents choose not to medicate their child's ADHD, the school is still required to provide any modifications requested and agreed to in an IEP. (Cohen, Matthew par.