| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has | | | | high energy stages of childhood. |
| become the single most common diagnosis for children | | | | In all cases except that of this being a normal stage |
| with problems concentrating in school or who | | | | the child is going through, there are other medical and |
| consistently misbehave. The medical treatment for this | | | | behavioral treatments and therapies that could |
| condition consists of prescribed doses of stimulants, | | | | eliminate the symptoms and address the child's real |
| which increase mental activity and slow down the | | | | problem without prescribing unnecessary stimulant |
| impulsive outbursts associated with ADHD. However, it | | | | medications. |
| is estimated that this diagnosis is reached and | | | | Often, when a child is placed on medication for ADHD |
| medications are prescribed three times more often | | | | when it is not the real problem, the symptoms of |
| than is actually the case. Here, we will examine the | | | | ADHD go away, but so does the child's personality. |
| misdiagnosis of ADHD and what it can mean to you | | | | While this may be seen as an improvement to the |
| and your family. | | | | behavior problems that led to the diagnosis, it actually |
| There are several problems associated with a | | | | harms the mental development of the child and inhibits |
| misdiagnosis of ADHD. The first is that a child is often | | | | the normal development of social skills that are needed |
| prescribed stimulants that are not necessary and carry | | | | later in life. |
| the risk of serious health related complications. Taking | | | | Many parents of children who have been |
| these drugs when they are not needed can lead to | | | | misdiagnosed claim that their child is like a robot when |
| heart disease, cause liver problems, create or enhance | | | | taking the medication. He/she goes through the |
| mental health problems such as anxiety disorder or | | | | motions of every day life, but there is no spark or |
| depression, and much more. | | | | spontaneity to the child's activities. These children often |
| The next issue is that a child who is misdiagnosed as | | | | tend to play alone or to stop playing altogether. |
| having ADHD may not be receiving treatment for the | | | | Sadly, with so many homes where both parents have |
| real problem. Some things that can mimic the | | | | to work, these symptoms can go unnoticed for long |
| symptoms of ADHD include temporal lobe epilepsy, a | | | | periods. This means that the child often continues to |
| form of epilepsy that causes "absence" seizures | | | | take unnecessary medication for an extended time |
| where it appears the child is simply daydreaming, | | | | frame that allows for more damage to be done to the |
| depression, restless leg syndrome, learning disabilities, | | | | brain and organs of the developing child. |
| personality conflicts with a teacher, and even normal, | | | | |