Are Children Over-diagnosed with ADHD?
With over 90% of children diagnosed with ADHD on the medication Ritalin, and some communities reporting a caseload of ADHD topping 600% over the national average, the question remains as to whether ADHD is being over diagnosed or whether doctors are just getting more efficient at identifying the condition. Ritalin is a stimulant, and some doctors are now warning against its overuse especially in small children as it is a mind altering drug and the long term effects are generally unknown. It is difficult to determine if a series of negative behavioral patterns in children with ADHD as they mature into adolescence, is due to the progression of the disorder or as a side effect of Ritalin. Until clinical diagnosis can be made, measuring the actual chemical levels in the brain, use of mind-altering medications, especially in children, will continue to be a topic of debate.
