Ritalin: Good or Bad?
Ritalin is a tradename for Methylphenidate hydrochloride, an antidepressant stimulant. It was created to stimulate the central nervous system and is used to treat increased compulsion to sleep and hyperactivity disorders in children.
According to University of Miami pediatric psychologist Dr. F. Daniel Armstrong, despite recent bad press regarding Ritalin, sometimes children need the drug to keep them safe and healthy. "Sometimes it is the safest way, especially if the children are at risk to themselves or others," said Armstrong (The Miami Herald).
However, a recent article in USA Today magazine points out that physicians are too quick to diagnose attention deficit disorders and dispense stimulants to children who exhibit normal activity levels. "The difficulties in finding a panacea for entrenched, maladaptive behavior in children do not provide sufficient justification for plunging into a nationwide pharmacopoeia for solutions." (USA Today)
THESIS
While many physicians and researchers tout Ritalin for its helpful effects on children with DD or ADHD, it should not be used as a first or only step in helping children with behavioral probes. Parents, educators, and family doctors should first rule out other causes for behavioral problems at school or at home.
In many cases, problems that look like ADHD are hiding other issues, suh as language or memory difficulties, learning disabilities, emotional disorders, or even hearing and vision problems. This can result in children being misdiagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Ritalin, which can be dangerous to them. Before prescribing Ritalin so freely, researchers need to produce evidence that Ritalin is not harmful to small children.
SUMMARY #1
The USA Today article discusses a recent study that exposed...
Ritalin: The Case History of a Drug One of the most noticeable and prevalent disorders occurring in children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is commonly diagnosed when the child begins to attend school or kindergarten, and occurs in 3 to 5% of the population. A chronic condition, it normally carries over into adolescence and perhaps into maturity as well. ADHD children can be hyperactive, inattentive, distractible, aggressive and impulsive,
Thus, it is easy to see why the use of medication to treat ADHD is controversial, especially in students who have the disorder in only mild amounts (Boyd and Bee, 2009). However, an option other than medication is available in the form of parent training programs. Boyd and Bee (2009) note that parent training programs intend to help parents who are having trouble controlling their ADHD affected child. According to
References Breggin, Peter, R. "Psychostimulants in the Treatment of Children Diagnosed with ADHD: Risks and Mechanism of Action. International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine 12.3 (1999): 3-35. Hyman, Steven E. "Statement for the Record on Methylphenidate (Ritalin) for Children with ADHD." Meeting of the Committee before the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth, and Families. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, 2000. 5
Pedagogic Model for Teaching of Technology to Special Education Students Almost thirty years ago, the American federal government passed an act mandating the availability of a free and appropriate public education for all handicapped children. In 1990, this act was updated and reformed as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which itself was reformed in 1997. At each step, the goal was to make education more equitable and more accessible to
(Bower, 129) The Hyperactivity involves fiddling with hands or feet or squirms in seat; does not continue seating when is expected to; excessive running or climbing considered not appropriate in adolescence and adults; feelings of restlessness; find it hard to play quietly; seems to be continuously on the move and talks excessively. Impulsivity includes blurts out answers prior to the question has been completed; becomes impatient waiting his turn; interruption
Are children overmedicated in regards to ADD and ADHD? Introduction According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10,000 children could be receiving psych stimulant medication, e.g., Methylphenidate referred to as Ritalin. This report lead was reported by among others, the media indicates that children are being overmedicated, because of mainly the notably high numbers (Insel). Also, a study by the University of Florida College of
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