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Why are we drugging our kids (or is ADHD a real diagnosis)

R

Riprorin

Banned
I just read an interesting article by Mary Ann Block, DO entitled "Can your Child be Misdiagnosed with ADHD?"

Here are the salient points:

-Dr. Block has seen thousands of childrens diagnosed with ADHD and thousands more prescribed psychiatric drugs for the disorder, but after conducting a thorough medical history, physical exam, lab work, allergy testing, heavy metal testing, and educational testing, she found that none of them had ADHD.

-Labeling children as ADHD and prescribing a psychiatric drug may be quick, easy, and cheap, but it is not good medicine

-According to the National Institute of Health, there is no valid test for ADHD, there are no data indicating it is a brain disorder, and children display little academic and social improvement when treated with drugs.

-Most ADHD-labeled children are medicated on a teacher's recomendation. Doctors doing the prescribing usually skipped a physical exam and thorough history. The doctor just accepts the teacher's opinion.

Know your options:

Find a medical professional that who understands the relationship between allergies, heavy metals, nutrition, sugar, and learning problems (this may be very difficult)

If you cannot find such a professional, try the following steps to improve your child's attention and behavior without drugs

-Remove sugar from your child's diet

-Don't allow school personnel to label your child ADHD

-Give your child vitamins and minerals

-Treat allergies

-Consider food sensitivities

-Have your child evaluated for learning disabilities or learning differences

-Ensure the vaccines your child receives do not contain mercury (Thimerosal)

-Consider that your child may be gifted

-Make sure your doctor considers medical conditions

 
I believe, through personal experience, that ADD/ADHD is a very overdiagnosed problem. I think maybe 1/100 that are diagnosed now really have it. Everyone thinks answers lie with medication when, really, they need to learn how to deal with it themselves.
 
After reading about the parents in LA that sued the school psychiatrist after NOT diagnosing their kid as ADHD so they could get Ritalin for doping him up and keeping him out of their hair, I am not at all surprised.
 
I get the impression that a lot of parents want to find out that something is wrong with their kid, because, hey, if it's a disorder, it's not my fault.
 
Originally posted by: Turin39789
I totally disagree, i mean .......... ooo shiny
Click to expand...

Bwahahahahhaa!!! Love it!

I know you started this thread because you've suddenly decided that this is your new cause and you're gonna stir up crap about it whenever possible.

But you know what? I totally agree! I think too many kids are "diagnosed" without any clinical diagnosis or participation by a doctor with real ADD experience.

As I stated in my rant thread, we spent years trying other options, and have a great psychologist working with us. In fact, our MD is against medicating "ADD", and worked with us for years (we've had the same doctor for the past 10 years) to resolve the problems without medication. He finally decided that medication was the correct choice just a month or so before I gave in... heh.
 
Originally posted by: Riprorin

-Dr. Block has seen thousands of childrens diagnosed with ADHD and thousands more prescribed psychiatric drugs for the disorder, but after conducting a thorough medical history, physical exam, lab work, allergy testing, heavy metal testing, and educational testing, she found that none of them had ADHD.
Click to expand...

Wow, someone should tell Dr. Block, NONE of those tests are tests for ADHD. Any medical doctor would know this. Dr. Block is either the dumbest Dr. on the planet, or more likely, lying and has some sort of agenda.
 
we are drugging the children and isolating them from groups in schools in order to help them get a better education...supposedly. at the same time, almost every kid needs "special attention" within the schools. i think its time we begin to re-asses how we teach and the way that our children function within our society.
when children used to act up it was considered natural and was treated as such. sometimes not in the best ways (ie: violence or less-overt forms of what are now considered abusive practices) but i think that the way our children have evolved in this world has a lot more to do with what is around us rather than what is in us. there are, of course, children that DO need special care...but they fewer than suggested.
 
This "disease" does not exist outside North America... strange, eh? I never heard of it - not even once! - while in Europe. And I don't think it exists in Middle East or Asia, either. I believe it has to do more with the fact that the food in North America is laced with hormones and all kind of chemicals.
 
Pharmaceutical industry creating a psudo problem only they have the solution for. Stop stuffing your kids with all that crispycream fast food lard and washing it down with chemical sugared soft drinks. You are probably more concerned about what your dog eats. No wonder so many kids are amped up tied in a knot psychological basket cases..you get what you deserve.
 
Overdiagnosed? Sure, but it most certainly exists. It could be blamed on horrible diets, hormones in foods or too much sugar and not enough exercise, but let me tell you a few kids I've known who have ADHD couldn't do without their medication. There are plenty who are diagnosed as ADHD who are just troublemakers or overactive kids, but to dismiss the diagnoses completely and totally is a bit premature...
 
No, this isn't new "cause". I've been interested in this topic for a while.

Anyway, the article suggests alternatives to meds, something you're likely never to hear about form a MD:

-Magnesium deficiency in children causes fidgeting and learning difficulties
-Zinc deficiencies trigger hyperactivity
-Essential fatty acid deficiencies plague boys with temper tantrums and and sleep problems
-Research suggests that vitamin B6 works better than Ritalin
-Niacin helps improve hyperactivity, poor school performance, and social relationships
-DMAE has been used for years to improve behaviors and concentration
-B12 is commonly used to improve memory loss and moodiness



 
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
This "disease" does not exist outside North America... strange, eh? I never heard of it - not even once! - while in Europe. And I don't think it exists in Middle East or Asia, either. I believe it has to do more with the fact that the food in North America is laced with hormones and all kind of chemicals.
Click to expand...

i've heard of this disorder when i was in china. it's not common though.
 
I take Adderall and it helps me tremendously. I scored a 97% on my Algebra test last Friday. Without the medication I would have scored a lot lower. The previous test I took without medication, I scored a very low D. It is overdiagnosed but there are those who actually have it.
 
Originally posted by: Riprorin
No, this isn't new "cause". I've been interested in this topic for a while.

Anyway, the article suggests alternatives to meds, something you're likely never to hear about form a MD:

-Magnesium deficiency in children causes fidgeting and learning difficulties
-Zinc deficiencies trigger hyperactivity
-Essential fatty acid deficiencies plague boys with temper tantrums and and sleep problems
-Research suggests that vitamin B6 works better than Ritalin
-Niacin helps improve hyperactivity, poor school performance, and social relationships
-DMAE has been used for years to improve behaviors and concentration
-B12 is commonly used to improve memory loss and moodiness
Click to expand...

That is all moot once you realize the author is just a paid shill for the Church of Scientology. She has no articles published on MDConsult, where you would expect to find legitimate peer reviewed articles, if any from her existed.

 
It's a real diagnosis....however it's abused....most kids diagnosed with ADD/ADHD etc are done so sort of to make the parents happy....parents don't really want to take care of problems....parents have become more like children that want to be spoon fed.
 
My oldest son has ADHD, along with a learning disability, and it is a very real diagnosis, that is also unfortunately very overused. I went to so many different doctors, pyschologists, and even a pharmacologist/pyschologist. He went through numerous testing, before I would even consider putting him on the medicine. And that was merely on a trial basis.

This boy went from lowest kid in his class, to a child that all his teachers remark how exceptionally bright he is. Of course, that isn't only due to the medicine, but the extra help in school I fought to get him. But none of that help would make a difference if he couldn't focus on what they are saying.

In my research though, I found it very interesting that the largest support group for parents with children who have ADHD, was sponsored by the makers of Ritalin. Thats something that makes you go hmm.
 
My wife works with troubled children, she sometimes has to go to school with the children to observe their behavior in class. Ritalin (sp) is prescribed so much now they have nurses that go from class to class with a med cart.

Why are we drugging our kids? because we're too damn busy (or lazy) to invest the time needed to raise them properly. Who has time time to deal with an energetic child?
rolleye.gif


I'm not a medical doctor so I cannot say whether or not ADHD is a real diagnosis but I think the diagnosis is made way to often.
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
glen

So how is pharmaceutical sales going for you? Business good?
Click to expand...

LOL. I am actually in medical school.
Sure I may have an agenda, and so might anyone. You have to check your sources.
Dr. Block is a known paid shill for the Church of Scientology, and you can figure that our fairly easily using google. If you have access, like I do, you can also look to see if she has written any articles that were published in peer reviewed journals. She has none.
 
The Bock Center

Author of: No Nore Ritalin, No More ADHD, No More Antibiotics, and Today I Will Not Die...

I even live in Dallas, I can go visit her... NOT.

The behavioral approach is useless in treating ADHD, it can be helpful as a structured environment is necessary for all children, but she's a shill for Scientology, ar @ least her own brand of BS.

How much do you suppose she charges desperate parents for the "4 day program?"

Her books make as much sense as telling a diabetic to give up insulin or metfromin, or asking a patient with a seizure disorder to give up their dilantin.

The only reason she's successful is that her patients don't die if they don't take ritalin or adderal, etc.

I guess I'm safe, I was one of the few folks in the US who's beenimunized against smallpox last year, read this BS:

Block Center Smallpox Policy
Anyone who receives the recently approved Smallpox Vaccine will NOT be allowed
in The Block Center. The live-virus smallpox vaccine has one of the highest
rates of serious adverse reactions of all vaccines. People who have a history
of eczema (atopic dermatitis) or any immune system problem such as cancer
treatment, HIV or possibly asthma and hay fever are at risk for life
threatening events.

You do not have to get the vaccine to be at risk. If you are near someone who
got the vaccine, you can be at risk for a life-threatening event. Since The
Block Center treats individuals with eczema, asthma and hay fever, no one will
be permitted to enter The Block Center if they have received the recently
approved vaccine. If you received the vaccine before 1972, you are welcome
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: glen
http://www.fumento.com/adhdblock.html

Dr. Block is a shill for The Church of Scientology.
They are against any use of drugs for any reason.
Click to expand...

From the website:

"In 2001 Dr. Block was a keynote speaker at a Hollywood seminar on children and attention issues hosted by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a group established by the Church of Scientology. In 1999, the vice president of CCHR reportedly coached Dr. Block for an interview about child violence and ADHD drugs on CNN."

That, in your view, makes her a shill for The Church of Scientology"? Are you serious?

And how about this ridulous statement:

"Viewers weren't told that she is neither a psychiatrist nor a pediatrician ? the most qualified source for a journalist who is reporting on ADHD. Dr. Block is an osteopath whose specialty is listed by the Texas medical licensing authorities as "manipulative therapy." View the record."

Since when are ODs not legitimate medical practioners?

And who is Michael Fumento?

"Michael Fumento is an author, journalist, and attorney specializing in science and health issues. He is a science columnist for Scripps-Howard and a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. He received his undergraduate degree while serving in the Army, where he achieved the rank of sergeant. In 1985 he was graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law."

Wow, I'm really impressed by his vast medical background and credentials.






 
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