Argumentative Essay 6p6g3l

Katelyn Garbarino Megan Keaton English 112 20 April 2013 Does Medicating Children with ADD/ADHD Help or Hinder Them in School? The issue of medicating children with ADD/ADHD help or hinder them in school is an important topic that most people should be concerned with. Whether it is a parent, teacher, principal, or an average person, this is an issue that needs to be concluded with other alternatives. This is an important issue for everyone to be aware of because ADD/ADHD does not only affect the child but it also affects the parents of the child and the child’s surroundings and wherever they will go in life. Schools want to see their students succeed because it makes it a better school. Parents want to see their child succeed because it is their child, and all the other people should be aware and informed because it is untold where life takes anyone. In this paper, I will explain the signs and symptoms of ADD/ADHD, social aspects of a child with ADD/ADHD, the aspects of ADD/ADHD medication, and an alternative to prescribing children on medicine. ADD/ADHD is said to be a type of learning disorder that does not allow a child to pay attention to their surroundings. Most children have a hard time focusing to what is being said to them and they are very well not interested (Smith and Segal). Children with ADD/ADHD are often able to concentrate on activities they enjoy. But no matter how hard they try, they have trouble maintaining focus when the task at hand is boring or repetitive (Smith and Segal). Children sometimes can be easily thought of to have a learning disorder, but there are other

things that could be wrong. Learning disabilities or problems with reading, writing, motor skills, or language, Major life events or traumatic experiences, Psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, Behavioral disorders such as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, Medical conditions, including thyroid problems, neurological conditions, epilepsy, and sleep disorders (Smith and Segal). Medical professionals need to examine children more abruptly to make sure that these signs are not ed. This is one of the reasons that medicating children could not be such a good idea. Children can become limited because of the medication they are on when really, they did not need to be on it in the first place. ADD/ADHD has been around since the beginning of time. It is said that this disorder, is not a curse, but an insightful nature through which great actions are possible (Boyles and Contadino). A lot of author’s argue the fact that it is said “great actions are possible.” It is hard for someone to believe that a child with ADD/ ADHD can have such insight. Most people would claim that ADD/ADHD limits the victim. According to Smith and Segal, “children who have ADD/ADHD, can be marvelously creative and imaginative.” Willie, a child from Our ADD Nightmare article written by Ann Colin, was described as a four year old of terror. He was rowdy, disrespectful, and uncontrollable for his parents. Willie was by far “marvelously creative or imaginative.” Willie’s parents jumped on the fact that this child had ADD/ADHD, and wanted him on medication ASAP, but not realizing the fact that Willie is only four and “just because a child has symptoms of inattention, impulsity, or hyperactivity, does not mean that he or she has ADD/ADHD (Smith and Segal).” It is important for children at any age to interact with their friends and to be involved in school. Children need to let their mind grown and to want to learn and be around other children and people. An article written by DuPaul and Weyandt, explained the social relationship and

peer relationship of a child with ADD/ADHD in school. A study was performed on a child with the learning disorder and the child’s social skills were examined. The outcome concluded that children with ADD/ADHD become easily angry, which results in fewer friends, less like, and endearing, loving, and wants to be around their classmates. The children become excited to learn about school and excited to make friends. An answer to this opposition could be that, medication affects each child in a different way. There are many different side effects for the different types of ADD/ADHD medication (Bolyn, Michelle). If a child has ADD/ADHD and they are trying to deal with the disorder, and on top of everything, they have to deal with side effects of the medication, this could really effect the child. Children should be focusing on creativity and school and scheduling play dates with classmates and the point of being a kid. The Ritalin that was prescribed to Willie helped with his aggression and frustration (Colin, Ann). This does not mean that every child is going to be able to get the same positive outcome. An article written by Michelle Bolyn, discussed the cons of medicating a child with ADD/ADHD. The article argued that, medicating a child with ADD/ADHD could, in fact, increase their social level of awkwardness. It is important for children to be aware of their surroundings and their classmates so they can learn to develop who they are as a person. If children are taking medication and there are many different side effects to the medication, this could also be a reason for the social weirdness part. A child with ADD also appears silly and disruptive (Boyles and Contadino). If this is the case, then the child’s classmates will not be able to take the child seriously and nobody would want to befriend him because of this, they would rather just laugh. This can lead to lose of self-control of the child with the learning disorder. “His impulsivity tends to get him into difficult situations where he loses control.”

I have talked about medication and the social part of it, but there is more to medication and ADD/ADHD then just that. Medicating children can lead to different side effects as well as a child’s personality and the realization of who they are as a person. Medication can limit that. Children with ADD/ADHD are either labeled dumb, lazy, or unmotivational (Boyles and Contadino). When parents learn this or hear somebody say something like this, the parent automatically starts thinking it is their fault that their child is like this. Parents begin to blame themselves for their child’s poor behavior inside and outside of school and do not know how to handle it. they do not want their family to have a name so without thinking or researching, they immediately take their child to the doctor to be prescribed some meds (Boyles and Contadino). “Sometimes doctors and mental health professionals tell parents that their child needs medication for their ADD/ADHD without giving them information on other forms of treatment” (Bolyn, Michelle). Once a child is put on medication, most of the time that’s when the side effects happen. Side effects can impact a child on a regular day basis (Bolyn, Michelle). Some author’s like Ann Colin, believe that doctors and medical professionals know that they are doing and if they give the ok for a child to be put on medicine then the child should. This is not the case all the time. Parents still need to make sure they are doing what is best for their child. “The characteristics of ADD/ADHD are a result of how the brain is wired and not by poor parenting” (Boyles and Contadino), all parents need to reflect on this. Every child has different strengths that need to be recognized by parents and teachers. Medicating a child can result in the loose of their child creativeness. The parent should build up their child strengths as they grow up so by the time they reach high school, they have an idea of the type of person they are (Boyles and Contadino). Some children get the opposite side effect. Some child learn their talents on medication and it doesn’t always limit them, but it takes away the distractions in their life.

(Colin, Ann). Either way, children with ADD/ADHD need structure, consistency, clear communication, and rewards and consequences for their behavior. They also need lots of love, , and encouragement (Smith and Segal). We have come to the agreement that, medicating children with ADD is not the best thing to do in most cases. There needs to be other techniques for resolving this issue. Children need to be exploring themselves as children in order to learn and grow into an intelligent and driven adult. Medication is holding that back. The other solution to besides medication children with ADD/ADHD would be cognitive behavioral therapy (Bolyn, Michelle). Following therapy, implementing a better diet and exercise plan, and modifying the home environment to minimize distractions is also another alternative (Smith and Segal). Giving children less sugar or highly processed foods can help with their performance in and outside of the classroom (Smith and Segal). To go about this change, the school board needs to be informed. A letter stating how there needs to be revision on the meal plans for the school lunch, where there would be less bad carbohydrates, less sugar, corn syrup, and less highly processed foods. Children need more vegetables and fruit, as well as protein. In the letter there could also be a portion stating more gym time or required gym classes for children, where they get to run around and have fun as well as getting in some fun exercises. A letter out to the parents of the children making sure that their child is getting enough sleep at night, the required amount for children in Elementary school. And the most important part of the letter would state the “medical” part. Where there should be cognitive behavioral therapy tried out first before a child gets prescribed on medication.