ADHD Proposal
Nakeim, a young African American male, was always fidgeted and never could concentrate. He was so young that his mother, Sandy, never paid his behavior any attention. She always thought he was just an active child. At times, his behavior was somewhat disturbing, but because of his age, it was normal. Nakeim was finally enrolled in school at age five. The teachers would always send notes home complaining about Nakeim’s behavior. No matter what activities they involved him in, he would always find a way to get into something else. He spent most of his days in time-out. As a mother, Sandy became concerned. She didn’t want Nakeim excluded from his classmates, let alone be excluded from an education. Finally Sandy took Nakeim to the doctor. Because of his “conditions” he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD. He was immediately put on Ritalin. Ritalin caused Nakeim to hallucinate, loose his appetite, and become somewhat of a depressed child. Sandy noticed his change in behavior and immediately took him off the medication. She took matters into her own hands and decided to place Nakeim on a nutritional diet and get him involved in activities that interested him, such as video games. Today, Sandy continues to see better improvement in Nakeim’s behavior.
Five percent of children in America are diagnosed with ADHD. More white children are diagnosed than African American children. Many children are misdiagnosed with this disorder. Studies show that most children are diagnosed because of their behavior in the classroom. Many parents are ignorant to the real reason of their child’s behavior issues and the child is left to fall victim to years of unneeded ADHD medication. Not only are these children misdiagnosed, but misunderstood.
Dr. Scott Saunders, a medication reduction specialist and ADHD activist, has come to the conclusion that ADHD medication is unnecessary. He has come up with a plan of his own and recommends it to many parents and victims today. Many doctors do not prefer his way of curing ADHD and instead prefer medication. Dr. Saunders’ research provides evidence that ADHD can be treated by using techniques other than medication. Our group would like to reach out to the children in Greensboro who are diagnosed with the disorder. We plan on visiting local elementary schools and the local YMCA to implement the techniques discovered in Dr. Saunders research. Our goals consist of channeling the energy of these students into productive activities and providing the children with healthier options for snacking. The students we visit will be exposed to a recreational baseball league in the inner city of Greensboro. During our visit we will do a healthy snack activity using peanut butter, apples, and raisins. The activity will show the students that you can have fun while eating healthy. We hope that the students will continue to use the tips we offer them.
Annotated Bibliography
Kutscher, Martin L., and Douglas Puder. ADHD- Living without Brakes. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008.
Martin L. Kutscher and Douglas Puder redefine Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD. They describe ADHD as an “executive dysfunction”, meaning it is a problem that can easily be solved with the correct guidance. ADHD can also be an inherited disorder. Kutscher explains in the first chapter of Living without Brakes that ADHD is not always “ADHD”. Some children are diagnosed only because they are hyperactive. Sometimes, a parent knows better than a doctor only because they know their child better than the doctor does. Kutscher and Puder inform parents about nutritional diets and daily activities that help prevent or slow down ADHD behaviors. Puder explains that there are good and bad results from ADHD but overall positive. Positive interaction with your children can be helpful in treating ADHD. Kutscher and Puder recommend parents to educate themselves on the problem before acting so quickly. They also advise parents to minimize their frustrations and understand the child’s point of view.
Saunders, Scott. ADHD/ADD Natural Remedy Report. Brandon: Barton Publishing, Inc., 2008.
Dr. Saunders, a 15 year medical veteran and natural health expert, informs parents that medications such as Ritalin, Straterra, and Concerta are all ineffective drugs used to treat ADHD. Such prescriptions are only temporary and can causes long-term traumas. In 2007, a group of American scientist conducted a research on children with ADHD. The results of their research concluded that such drugs can stunt a child’s growth and do nothing, what so ever, with improving the child’s behaivor. This research project sent “shock waves” through medical departments. Dr. Saunders recommends The Feingold Diet. This is a nutritional diet that places the child on a healthier eating plan. Milk is a part of this diet. Dr. Saunders also recommends that parents place the children on a strict day to day plan and also involve them in activities of their own interest.
Pastor, Patricia and Reuben. "Racial and Ethnic Differences in ADHD and LD in Young School-Age Children: Parental Reports in the National Health Interview Survey.”
Patricia Pastor and Cynthia Reuben report on a study done by the National Health Survey. The study shows the difference between how ADHD affects ethnic groups. Parents of African American children are less likely to turn to the diagnosis of ADHD for their children’s behavior than parents of white children. White parents are also more likely to administer the prescription drug for ADHD than African American parents. When African American children do take the medicine for ADHD the responses differ from that of white children on the medication. The study provides stable information on how white and African American children with ADHD differ. Along with the information it provides, there is also provides statistics.
Association of Schools and Public Health Aug 2009 383-392. 11 Feb 2009. <http://0-www.jstor.org.sheba.ncat.edu/stable/info/20056811?seq=1>
A research was done on the effect of ADHD on African American children. The study shows that race plays a factor in how teachers respond to hyper activity in the classroom. Studies also find that ADHD is more prevalent in white children than in African American children. Evidence shows that African American children have more severe cases of ADHD than other races. The researchers have concluded that the environments that African American children are exposed to are more likely to induce symptoms of ADHD. The research gives good information on the effects of ADHD. All parts of the research will help to develop a better understanding of how African Americans are affected by the disease. Each study backs up the argument of how African American children face bias when being diagnosed with ADHD.
Tynan, W. Douglas. "What is ADHD?" Nemours Foundation 09 2008 1. 12 Feb 2009 <http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/learning/adhd.html>.
This article written by W. Douglas Tynan is very informative for parents trying to deal with kids who have ADHD. It starts out explaining how a parent originally did not know that her son had ADHD due to the simple fact that she thought he was just extremely hyper and pro-active just like many young boys. However as he got older his behavior did not change. He was still as hyper and she could not understand why. She would later find out why this was. The article also shows parents how to know if their child has ADHD or not. It explains many of the symptoms, the causes for ADHD, related problems, and ways to treat ADHD.
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)." Tools for a Healthier Life. Feb. 16, 2007. Mayo Clinic. 12 Feb 2009 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275>.
This web site gives you a brief definition on what ADHD really is. Strictly informative! Explains how ADHD is mostly said to be for kids, however many adults suffer from it as well. Problems generally associated with ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. It goes to explain how ADHD can affect not only your life, however the lives of people around you as well. However, the website states that the matter of the best treatment for ADHD is still a matter for debate. It shows how some say the best treatment is psycho stimulant drugs is the best treatment for the disease. While others say this is not a cure, just a temporary treatment.
Burkley, Russell. ADHD & the Nature of Self-Control. 1. New York: The Guilford Press, 1997.
This book, written by Russell Burkley, shows the difference between people who have ADHD, and people who simply have very little self-control. He explains how ADHD is more of a genetic fact, oppose to something based off of environment, parental control, etc... He goes to say that 80% of cases were caused from birth and not later picked up due to other factors. However, he also states that many kids are seen to have ADHD when in reality, they are just regularly hyper kids. Kids are normally easily bored so we can’t be so quick to assume they have ADHD. He gives a good argument on how ADHD is true; however he also shows that many people, who are believed to have it, are actually pretty normal kids and adults who lack basic self-control.
Lawson, Shelia. "Medicating America's Children; The Truth about ADHD." Epinions. 27
Apr 2006. 12 Feb 2009 <http://www.epinions.com/content_4731674756>.
Lawson describes, from personal experiences, the side effects to medicating children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. She discusses how many of the children prescribed medicines such as Ritalin and Adrenal do not meet the criteria set out for people who should be taking the drug. She criticizes the diagnosis process and goes on to say that we are ultimately drugging our kids because at times they may have a little more energy than we may like. She points out that the side effects of Ritalin include: increased blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and temperature; stomach pains; weight loss; growth retardation; facial tics; muscle twitching; euphoria; nervousness; irritability; agitation; insomnia; heart palpitations; and more violent behaviors like psychotic episodes and paranoid delusions. What it comes down to is that we are not properly educated about what ADHD really is and are using the drug as a way to cover not cure the problem.
Webster-Stratton, Carolyn H. "Treating Children with Early Onset Conduct Problems: A
Comparison of Parent and Child Training Interventions." Journal of Consulting
and Physical Psychology 65(1997) 1-17. 12 Feb 2009
This article attempts to provide alternative treatment methods for children with ADHD. It identifies ADHD as a problem of self-control that needs to be treated with behavioral therapy and not medication. Webster says that curing/treating ADHD takes a whole lot of patience and identifies that the whole family needs to be willing participants in the process. Webster’s claims are backed by a series of scientific studies that take in to account all the possible situations for children with ADHD.
White, Gladys B. “Splitting the Self: The Not-So-Subtle Consequences of Medicating Boys
for ADHD”. American Journal of Bioethics. 5.3 May/June 2005. 57-59
The article discusses how medicating children with drugs such as Ritalin are ineffective in treating children diagnosed with ADHD. The main problem is that there is such as broad spectrum of behaviors for ADHD that a lot of the time the children are wrongly medicated. White also discusses how medicating a child makes them question themselves and who they really are. Ritalin and other drugs bring a fractured image of “good boy/bad boy” to the United States society. White gives four suggestions of alternatives to medication.
