User:Clpalmer/sandbox

Children with ADHD

As classrooms become more crowded in schools today, there is an increased amount of these children on medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). However is it necessary that each of these children take the medication? A teacher cannot recommend that a child take this medication or even diagnose a child with the diseases, only a doctor can do this. Teachers spend most of the time with our children so they do see actions that parents may not see all the time or even at all, yet it has been reported by Science Daily that over a million children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD. Doctors prefer to evaluate children between the ages of three and seven for ADHD, however how can this be an accurate evaluation? Children during this age group can be more immature or even behaving as children do. If a child likes to talk more or even chew on his sleeve or collar, does this mean automatically that they have ADHD? No, it does not but the child is considered to have it and given a prescription for medication. There are three forms of medication; they include pills, capsules, and drops for under the tongue. With all the children that are on these, it is reported that Medicaid is covering approximately eighty to ninety million dollars. If a parent makes the decision to give their child any of the medication, there are severe side effects that need to be considered. They include: loss of appetite, sleeping problems including vivid dreams, even including suicidal thoughts. Studies have shown that five hundred sixty four children have died while taking this medication.