ADHD
Dear Doctor,
We have been told by the school that our fourth grader has ADHD.
At a meeting they insisted we see our pediatrician and put him on medication. We are not comfortable with that recommendation and want to see what the school is able to do.
They seemed to be saying they could not do anything except tell us to get him on medication. Is this common practice?
Not Too Happy
Dear Not Happy,
I am about to go public with a new invention, spray aerosol medication for ADHD.
Think of it. A teacher will be able to open the door of a classroom and spray the students with medication. Once the class is subdued, teaching may commence without any interference from annoying questioners or students who do not toil respectfully over the curriculum.
The human factor will be reduced to near zero and a room full of automatons will do as they are told. This fantasy is not too far from the truth. ADHD is a complicated diagnosis, much more than we like to think.
Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) has three features for labeling, the characteristics of ADHD youngsters. Most of the attributes listed would fit many, many youngsters, possibly even you and me! In fact, ADHD may be a collection of many disorders, all of whom produce similar behavior.
Further, we may be making the symptoms worse by the methods we are using to teach, discipline or lack thereof, and excessive stimulation from television and video games, to name a few.
All this should not make the school into a medical diagnostic center. You are correct in feeling the school should not recommend medication.
The school might begin by a fair and thorough testing protocol to rule out other factors. Then, patterns of instruction might be adjusted.
You, as parents, should work along with the school to insure a concerted effort. Mere pressure will not do the job, but a careful plan often will.
All factors aside, medication often works but should only be utilized where the treatment road map is clear and defined.
Look for expert help outside the school when that choice is considered.
Tags: adhd treatmeant, ahdh medication, excessive stimulation, medical diagnostic center
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