Adhd Breaking News- What Every Parent Should Consider

Is it really ADHD or are the children just being naughty? Parents and child care therapists are beginning to ask this question. The fear now is that many doctors and parents are using the term ADHD as a general dumping ground for kids with problems.

Just looking at the figures for Ritalin - the most common drug for ADHD in the UK- makes you wonder. In a ten year period, the number of cases rose from 4,000 to 360,000. The costs to the National Health Service are a cool 28 million ! But many parents are querying whether this term is being abused and that disobedient behaviour is being labelled as a medical condition.

Some experts argue that the number of children with ADHD is underestimated and that at least 1 in 20 children are suffering from it. Other experts say that the problem is exaggerated and many children diagnosed with ADHD do not actually have it !

Diagnosis of ADHD has always been difficult and remains so. A questionnaire is used and its results are anything but objective so the diagnosis can be hit and miss at times. Experts say that there is key distinction to watch out for and that is, if the child only misbehaves in certain situations or in all settings. They do point out that this is a medical condition and may well be present since birth.

Most symptoms of ADHD are well documented although there will be differences from child to child. Usually they will fall into two groups, that of inattention and impulsiveness coupled with hyperactivity. He or she will have difficulty in concentrating, even for a very short period. There will be problems of impulsiveness coupled with inability to assess risks. When playing with peers, he or she will have problems with taking turns.

A larger and larger number of parents are single and breadwinners. The family structure has changed and the single parent will find it a challenge in bringing up children. Social reasons too play a role in that the children themselves play outside less and less. They are glued to the TV and computers. This leads to more consumption of snacks which contain additives which may cause hyperactivity.

The problem of misdiagnosing ADHD has come under scrutiny and medics have been criticized for making mistakes. As medication sales for ADHD rocket, the pharmaceutical companies are not going to complain. Some side effects are worrying and the Adderall drug for ADHD in Canada was withdrawn because there was a link with heart disease. Therapy with counselling remains more effective in the long term treatment of this condition than drugs.

Whether your child has ADHD or not may be hard to decide in some cases. Whatever the diagnosis, you will need advice on handling children. The site below has been written by a doctor who has two children with ADHD. He shares his expertise in dealing with difficult children.