Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Stimulant or Non-Stimulant Medication to treat?
Jennifer Meadows
Axia College of University of Phoenix
COM 220 Research Writing
February 28, 2010
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Stimulant or Non-Stimulant Medication to Treat?
With so many children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) today and even though the media believes ADHD is a myth and just another way for doctors to make a buck (Jaska, 2000), many studies have been done on different ways to treat the disorder. Along with a diagnosis of ADHD comes the controversial decision of how to treat ADHD. While testing done on certain medications indicates that they could be harmful to children, there are many different medications used to treat ADHD, which one should parents chose for their child?
What is ADHD and how is it diagnosed?
ADHD is a disorder that affects millions of children and can even continue into adulthood. Children diagnosed with ADHD have problems paying attention, are hyperactive, and may also have impulsive behavior. The main causes of ADHD are not known but doctors say that the disorder has inherited genetic factors.
In order for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD they must meet criteria set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DMS), which is a manual that is published by the American Psychiatric Association (Mayo Clinic, 2010). According to Wiener (1999), “Being able to tell if a child has ADHD is much harder than diagnosing mumps or chickenpox” (p.1). One way doctors are able to diagnose ADHD in children is by using an imaging test. The most common way of diagnosing ADHD in children is to gather information from teachers and parents of the child. This information comes from a questionnaire that is given to the parents and teachers of the child to answer (Wiener, 1999).
Some in the media have said that ADHD is a myth and it is believed that doctors are diagnosing children with this...
Jennifer Meadows
Axia College of University of Phoenix
COM 220 Research Writing
February 28, 2010
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Stimulant or Non-Stimulant Medication to Treat?
With so many children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) today and even though the media believes ADHD is a myth and just another way for doctors to make a buck (Jaska, 2000), many studies have been done on different ways to treat the disorder. Along with a diagnosis of ADHD comes the controversial decision of how to treat ADHD. While testing done on certain medications indicates that they could be harmful to children, there are many different medications used to treat ADHD, which one should parents chose for their child?
What is ADHD and how is it diagnosed?
ADHD is a disorder that affects millions of children and can even continue into adulthood. Children diagnosed with ADHD have problems paying attention, are hyperactive, and may also have impulsive behavior. The main causes of ADHD are not known but doctors say that the disorder has inherited genetic factors.
In order for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD they must meet criteria set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DMS), which is a manual that is published by the American Psychiatric Association (Mayo Clinic, 2010). According to Wiener (1999), “Being able to tell if a child has ADHD is much harder than diagnosing mumps or chickenpox” (p.1). One way doctors are able to diagnose ADHD in children is by using an imaging test. The most common way of diagnosing ADHD in children is to gather information from teachers and parents of the child. This information comes from a questionnaire that is given to the parents and teachers of the child to answer (Wiener, 1999).
Some in the media have said that ADHD is a myth and it is believed that doctors are diagnosing children with this...