Are children too hastily being diagnosed with ADD? Holly R. Lusby Western Governors University
SST TASK 2: ARE CHILDREN TOO HASTILY BEING DIAGNOSED WITH ADD? A1 Twenty years ago children being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder was not as common as it is today. Are children too hastily diagnosed with ADD? Most children diagnosed are being treated and even medicated. Children should not be medicated unless the symptoms cause a significant strain on their life or ability to learn. Significant adverse
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side effects have been shown in children who are medicated for ADD, but the positive effects sometimes outway the side effects in true cases of ADD. Some people even find that their line of work will disqualify them if diagnosed with ADD so this is not a diagnosis that should be taken lightly. Three research questions will support the theory that many children are hastily diagnosed with ADD. What are the common symptoms? What is the common environment of the children? Who has input in diagnosing the children? A2 What are the common symptoms of children being diagnosed with ADD? Children cannot be tested for ADD like they can for Strep thoat. There is no test that comes back "positive" there are only symptoms and signs. The signs for ADD are like the signs of seasonal allergies. Do you have allergies or do you actually have a cold? Are the runny nose, coughing, and head hurting signs of allergies or actually a cold? There are several signs that a child may have ADD. Hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness are just a few on the long list. These symptoms can put a strain on the child's way of life and their ability to learn. Several of these symptoms over a period of time (Michigan State University, 2010) and also ruling out
SST TASK 2: ARE CHILDREN TOO HASTILY BEING DIAGNOSED WITH ADD? other conditions such as abuse and learning disabilites can lead the specialist to the correct diagnosis. What is the common environment of children being...