3.2.2 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a quickly growing problem in the United States. Last year alone, 3.5 million people were diagnosed with ADHD. That is not the problem however, the problem is that many people see prescribing Ritalin as the solution. In 1993, 6 million prescriptions of Ritalin were dispersed. Two years later, in 1995, 11 million prescriptions of Ritalin were given. In two years, we almost doubled the amount of Ritalin given out to the people in our society. Now, Ritalin does help children and adults focus. But it should not be used as the only cure; instead, it should be part of a multimodal treatment approach. Also included should be accommodations in the classroom or job environment and behavior management, stress reduction, and self-esteem.


What causes ADHD has not been determined but it may be environmentally based. Most doctors perform an exhaustive examination to see if the child fits within the definition, but one sure way is by using am MRI, a PET scan, or a CAT scan. An MRI for a normal child will have lots of yellow and orange regions represented in the brain, while a child with ADHD will have lots of blue because there is a decreased amount of neurotransmitters. Ritalin helps to balance the neurotransmitters in the brain.

Ritalin has been around for about 30-40 years and has been used as a panacea for numerous disorders. Its two biggest advantages when compared to other medicines is that for most people it has minimal side effects and does not bioaccummulate. Once Ritalin is consumed it takes about 45 minutes to act and then lasts for about 3 1/2 hours. One myth is that it stunts growth, but in reality Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite. So if a student takes it just before lunch, that can lead to a problem of not eating on a regular basis. If Ritalin is not effective or creates problems there are other medical options. One category of medicine is called pyschostimulants of which Ritalin (Ritalin is official name for speed) is included. Cylert, which has a lot of side effects on the body's organs, and Dexedrine, which is harsher than Ritalin, are also included in that category. The next category contains Clonadine that is often used for more aggressive behaviors. The third category is the antidepressants that can help decrease the side effects of Ritalin and help with other behaviors. Imipramine and Anafranil are two examples of antidepressants commonly prescribed for ADHD.

Teaching children with ADHD involves an attitude shift in the teacher. The reason is that oftentimes, a student with ADHD doesn't know why he/she is disobedient and in fact can't physiologically control his/her behavior. Often teachers do not realize this, take it personally and respond with anger which then pushes the student to experience more failure. Another problem in the schools is that the dispensing of medication is commonly done by the office staff and it is often not locked up or properly supervised. This has the huge potential of a lawsuit in the near future. One child in a school in the region took another child's medicine and had an allergic reaction. Luckily the child was okay and the school was not sued but think of the possible consequences. My last thought to pass on to you is that the children should be educated about what they are taking and why they are taking it because this leads to them having a sense of empowerment for their own lives.


How are the brains of people with ADHD different from those without it?

Mrs. Wilson teaches a classroom full of twenty-five second graders. She notices that one of her students, Kara, cannot stay in her seat and often acts out when assignments are given. She begins to suspect that Kara might have A.D.H.D., and she wants to know what she should do in order to get Kara the services that she will need for success in school. She asks Mr. Williams, the teacher next door, what she should do. If you were Mr. Williams, what would you tell Mrs.Wilson to do about Kara's behavior?