Kids on ADHD drugs score higher on tests

[DisgruntledVirus]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...us_adhd_drugs_learning

CHICAGO (Reuters) ? Children given stimulants to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms score higher on math and reading tests than children with the condition who do not get drugs, researchers said on Monday.

A study that tracked 594 children diagnosed with ADHD from kindergarten through fifth grade found the 60 percent who were prescribed drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall performed better on standardized tests than peers with ADHD who were not given medication.

But the scores of children treated with drugs for ADHD still lagged children not diagnosed with the condition.

"We're not promoting drugs as the answer. But we did find medication does improve standardized math and reading scores in the long term," said Richard Scheffler of the University of California, Berkeley, one of the researchers.

"Our study found that the children with ADHD who used the medication were several months ahead of their nonmedicated peers in reading and math, which is significant because early progress in school is critical to ongoing academic success," Scheffler said.

Scheffler said children with ADHD who are left untreated do poorly in school, with higher dropout rates and more substance abuse, arrests and social isolation.

"They're labeled as bad kids," he said in a telephone interview. "Drugs are part of the answer. But we need parent involvement, understanding what this is and how to work with the kid. We need the school to be involved. We also think that special services like tutoring need to be made available."

Of nearly 8 percent of American children, or 4.4 million children, diagnosed with ADHD, 56 percent are prescribed medications, mostly stimulants, according to the report published in the journal Pediatrics. Boys are more commonly diagnosed with the disorder than girls.

There are some 30 medications used to treat the disorder, including Novartis AG's Ritalin and Focalin XR, Shire Plc's Adderall XR and Daytrana patch, Johnson & Johnson's Concerta, Eli Lilly and Co's Strattera and Celltech Pharmaceuticals Inc's Metadate CD.

The study was government-funded and did not have links to companies that make the drugs.

Scheffler said the study showed the importance of recognizing and treating a disorder that affects millions of people, including adults who are increasingly being prescribed the drugs.

ADHD is a widely accepted but still controversial diagnosis, he noted, citing the understandable reluctance to medicate children with powerful stimulants.

But he said the drugs have been proven safe, with few side effects. Those can include loss of sleep and appetite and, in rare cases, temporary hallucinations and psychosis.

Anybody want to bet that this will help reduce the over diagnosed ADD/ADHD crap.

 

[bbdub333]

They're giving these drugs to kindergarteners? I'm not a doctor, but that just seems like it's going to screw the kid up long-term.

How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway? Doesn't put the blocks in the hole fast enough?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

 

[halik]

I perform better on test when I take adderall, faux-disease notwithstanding...

They should've included a focus group of non-"adhd" kids and pump them full of neuro stimulants, I bet they would show the same improvement.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: bbdub333
They're giving these drugs to kindergarteners? I'm not a doctor, but that just seems like it's going to screw the kid up long-term.

Its all a trade off. A kid with ADHD might have social problems if left untreated. Each case is unique.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

Yeah, or maybe people that just don't want to motivate themselves end up getting diagnosed. Some people are driven, some people aren't... diagnosing them with diseases probably isn't the best solution.

 

[aphex]

I have mild ADHD and Adderall has been a big help for me even though I was diagnosed fairly late in life. For me, it does wonders. Previously I was so easily distracted I had a hard time getting anything done, with the Adderall its the complete opposite. I feel considerably more efficient since I can focus on things much longer, while keeping everything organized and prioritized in my head. It really was interesting once I started taking it to see how I adjusted over the years to my little idiosyncrasies, including setting reminder timers to keep myself on track throughout the day, or even removing things from my life that proved to be distractions (only to have them replaced with other distractions).

I was able to make it through 20 years of school without any medicated assistance, but since I started taking the meds it really has made a difference.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: halik
I perform better on test when I take adderall, faux-disease notwithstanding...

They should've included a focus group of non-"adhd" kids and pump them full of neuro stimulants, I bet they would show the same improvement.

Aderall is widely used in universities by non-adhd students to give them an extra boost, because it really does work.

The new thing things days is modafinil/Provigil, which is a narcolepsy drug, that's supposed to give you a great boost, increased concentration and clarity.

 

[Atheus]

Is there something new here? If you give someone speed they're going to think faster and concentrate harder... that's the whole point of speed...

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Is there something new here? If you give someone speed they're going to think faster and concentrate harder... that's the whole point of speed...

It doesn't work for everyone though, I know people who took it sans ADHD and for them it made life more hectic and confusing, making them less efficient. For me it slowed me down and let me concentrate on the things that were important, rather than having 800 thoughts running through my head at one time.

 

[bbdub333]

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

Yeah, or maybe people that just don't want to motivate themselves end up getting diagnosed. Some people are driven, some people aren't... diagnosing them with diseases probably isn't the best solution.

But why don't they want to motivate themselves? If drugs enable them to concentrate and succeed, what's wrong with that?

 

[bbdub333]

Also, I have a feeling that with lessand less physical education in public schools, the rates of ADHD are going to be going up at about the same rate.

"I took a drug for attention deficit disorder... but I'm not afflicted you see... so i had an extra long attention span. Somebody would be telling me a story, the story would end, and I would get all mad and shit. Like, 'Come on man... there's gotta be more to that story. I'm on pills here!'".

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: aphex
I have mild ADHD and Adderall has been a big help for me even though I was diagnosed fairly late in life. For me, it does wonders. Previously I was so easily distracted I had a hard time getting anything done, with the Adderall its the complete opposite. I feel considerably more efficient since I can focus on things much longer, while keeping everything organized and prioritized in my head. It really was interesting once I started taking it to see how I adjusted over the years to my little idiosyncrasies, including setting reminder timers to keep myself on track throughout the day, or even removing things from my life that proved to be distractions (only to have them replaced with other distractions).

I was able to make it through 20 years of school without any medicated assistance, but since I started taking the meds it really has made a difference.

This is me, more or less.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

But most people still do the tasks they dislike or find boring and do well enough. A person with ADHD will either not do the task or do it very poorly and to below their potential.

 

[bbdub333]

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

Yeah, or maybe people that just don't want to motivate themselves end up getting diagnosed. Some people are driven, some people aren't... diagnosing them with diseases probably isn't the best solution.

But why don't they want to motivate themselves? If drugs enable them to concentrate and succeed, what's wrong with that?

My problem with it is that they are giving them to children who are showing all the symptoms of being children. Why not teach them discipline, nutrition, and concentration, instead of giving them pills to calm them down for the rest of their life? It just seems like they're creating a disease to describe what every human being goes through and has to deal with, then giving them drugs to 'cure' it.

 

[bbdub333]

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

But most people still do the tasks they dislike or find boring and do well enough. A person with ADHD will either not do the task or do it very poorly and to below their potential.

Honestly, if that is the criteria for ADHD, the majority of America would be on pills.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

But most people still do the tasks they dislike or find boring and do well enough. A person with ADHD will either not do the task or do it very poorly and to below their potential.

Honestly, if that is the criteria for ADHD, the majority of America would be on pills.

Fortunately, its not. Do some reading on the subject. Its not something that can be summarized in a post.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: bbdub333
How the fuck can you diagnose a kid that young with ADHD anyway?

No idea, my best friend's brother was diagnosed with it, yet when he comes over to the house, he can play Counter-Strike for 6+ hours without moving.

That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

Yeah, or maybe people that just don't want to motivate themselves end up getting diagnosed. Some people are driven, some people aren't... diagnosing them with diseases probably isn't the best solution.

But why don't they want to motivate themselves? If drugs enable them to concentrate and succeed, what's wrong with that?

My problem with it is that they are giving them to children who are showing all the symptoms of being children. Why not teach them discipline, nutrition, and concentration, instead of giving them pills to calm them down for the rest of their life? It just seems like they're creating a disease to describe what every human being goes through and has to deal with, then giving them drugs to 'cure' it.

Because for people with ADHD, its more than a kid being a kid or nutrition or teaching discipline. There actually is a chemical (dopamine, IIRC) reason for the problem.

I had all the nutrition and discipline in the world. I muddled through but until I started taking ADHD meds, I never could really concentrate on most things.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Martin

Originally posted by: halik
I perform better on test when I take adderall, faux-disease notwithstanding...

They should've included a focus group of non-"adhd" kids and pump them full of neuro stimulants, I bet they would show the same improvement.

Aderall is widely used in universities by non-adhd students to give them an extra boost, because it really does work.

The new thing things days is modafinil/Provigil, which is a narcolepsy drug, that's supposed to give you a great boost, increased concentration and clarity.

Adrafinil doesn't do all that much in my experience, Adderall is a miracle drug though... I scored 2 std devs above the mean on calc3 final.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: aphex
I have mild ADHD and Adderall has been a big help for me even though I was diagnosed fairly late in life. For me, it does wonders. Previously I was so easily distracted I had a hard time getting anything done, with the Adderall its the complete opposite. I feel considerably more efficient since I can focus on things much longer, while keeping everything organized and prioritized in my head. It really was interesting once I started taking it to see how I adjusted over the years to my little idiosyncrasies, including setting reminder timers to keep myself on track throughout the day, or even removing things from my life that proved to be distractions (only to have them replaced with other distractions).

I was able to make it through 20 years of school without any medicated assistance, but since I started taking the meds it really has made a difference.

What you said applies to anyone taking Adderall... there is a reason why anyone in college takes it. Chemical replacement of discipline.

 

[OCGuy]

:music: Mommy what does hyper mean?
The teacher says I'll never read
Says I need to take a pill
So I can learn to sit real still
The microwaves did something to our brains
We need to take these pills to help us change

Please let me take them
I don't want to be an idiot
Ritilin will make me smart,
at least that's what my teacher says
All the other kids take them
I think I am the only one
I need something to slow me down
I talk too much 'cause I am dumb

Mommy what's a deficit?
I think it means that I can't sit
Disorder of attention
and I don't learn the lesson
Mommy, please help me see the light
Don't you know my teacher's always right?

Please let me take them
I don't want to be an idiot
Ritilin will make me smart,
at least that's what my teacher says
All the other kids take them
I think I am the only one
I need something to slow me down
I talk too much 'cause I am dumb

Joey started on week four,
He's not in trouble anymore
Suzy in it on week nine,
Now she's never out of line
Now she's never ever out of...

Please let me take them
I don't want to be an idiot
Mommy takes my ritilin,
There's not enough for me she said
All the other moms take them
I think it's not just mine
I don't know if she's smarter now,
but at least she's doin' fine :music:

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: aphex
I have mild ADHD and Adderall has been a big help for me even though I was diagnosed fairly late in life. For me, it does wonders. Previously I was so easily distracted I had a hard time getting anything done, with the Adderall its the complete opposite. I feel considerably more efficient since I can focus on things much longer, while keeping everything organized and prioritized in my head. It really was interesting once I started taking it to see how I adjusted over the years to my little idiosyncrasies, including setting reminder timers to keep myself on track throughout the day, or even removing things from my life that proved to be distractions (only to have them replaced with other distractions).

I was able to make it through 20 years of school without any medicated assistance, but since I started taking the meds it really has made a difference.

What you said applies to anyone taking Adderall... there is a reason why anyone in college takes it. Chemical replacement of discipline.

Too bad I didn't have any.... I might have actually gone to class.

 

[SirStev0]

You older folks would be amazed at how popular ritalin and adderall is in both undergrad and also in medical school. I know quite a few people who straight up went to the doctors and asked for a prescription just to study. They have actually become performance drugs in a sense. These results do not surprise me in the least.