Nat’l Institute of Mental Health: ADHD Most Common Issue among Children
February 1st, 2010
Though a majority of children live through their youthful years without experiencing symptoms of metal health concerns, many are affected at some point by any number of issues that can have a negative impact on their quality of life. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has long been identified as a mental health concern frequently experienced by children, but a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health has found at over eight percent of the population, ADHD is the most common concern among children. The survey may help draw greater attention to treatment and prevention options.
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The basic problem is that people do not talk about and are not very well-aware of these things, anything related to mental health in general… it becomes very difficult to identify a problem if we are unaware of things associated with it. A child may show symptoms but how many parents can actually read them?
If this problem is so wide-spread then it may well have to do with a deficiency of something in the diet of people in the geographical location… finding and fixing this problem may solve the critical problem.
Where did this increase in numbers come from? When I was a school nobody has this problem but now it seems like it is an epidemic that has quickly spread! There are at least three kids in my sons class that are on medication for ADHD (hey word spreads) and that concerns me. It makes me wonder if my child misbehaves will he be the next one who is “diagnosed”? I just don’t feel too good about how often that this seems to be cropping up in the American classroom.
I guarantee you you could ask any large gathering of parents about ADHD and if they knew anything about it and several will either have a relative whose child has it or will know someone that does. Parents are more well informed than you think.
That the problem is being recognized at all is a gift in itself. Whenever awareness of a condition is heightened, the public becomes more informed, the press take an interest, and so does the healthcare industry. Of course it’s showing up as more of a concern. More people have heard of ADHD than ever before and are getting their kids to the doctor’s office faster when they suspect it.
ADHD. An excuse to drug your kids into compliance instead of parenting them. Way to go Mom and Dad, way to go.
Dylan. I’m guessing you’re not a parent. If you were you’d understand that no parent wants to drug their kids as you put it. But if medication is a necessary part of their treatment and it helps them, so be it. It’s one tool. Therapy is another. Diet is another. This is a medical condition. All approaches are carefully considered and weighed up for their usefulness by the doctors and the families of ADHD children.
Please, don’t throw unfounded accusatory remarks around. These families are under enough pressure.
And will the ADHD funding increase to cover this increased caseloads? Let’s hope so.
I do believe that most adults are aware of ADHD. I also believe that most just think it has to do with being “hyper” and may not fully understand the full criteria and how it needs to be observed in different forums (i.e., not just at school). ADHD is a true disorder and those who experience it may not fully understand what is happening to them. They need support and treatment, which may or may not involve meds. Stuart A. Kaplowitz, MFT
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