Understanding ADHD

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Understanding ADHD: Behind the Label Kayla Sawan 81809 April 2, 2013 Course: Criminology 106 Instructor: Bill Rea Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the most common childhood disorder in North America. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on a list of behaviours considered to be inappropriate for the child’s age. ADHD has increasingly been accepted as a mental disorder in children requiring stimulant drugs, such as amphetamines, for treatment. Aside from the mild to severe side effects from the drugs used for treatment, children often suffer the repercussions of being labelled as ADHD. Parents also receive negative judgement when they have a child with ADHD, which makes them feel inadequate as parents, and…show more content…
As with most drugs, they come with many negative side effects. Some appear to be minor, such as loss of appetite, repetitive movements called ‘tics’, personality changes making them seem emotionless and troubles sleeping, in which sometimes the child is given an anti-depressant to help them sleep. More serious side effects include an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, or even sudden death. “Also, medication is only about 50 percent effective, and it decreases in effectiveness from the day [the] child starts taking them” (Advice for parents) and there is no research yet on the long-term effects of the drugs…show more content…
While they try their best to deal with their child’s behavioural problems as best they can, the stigma from the child’s peers and teachers only make things that much harder. Ontop of that, children with ADHD also suffer from sleep problems, and while their energy level suggests the sleep is not needed, the lack of sleep definitely poses a problem on their behaviour during the rest of the day. As a result most mothers are extremely stressed out, and studies show that the stressful obligations that come with being the parent of a child with ADHD increase the parents’ alcohol consumption. (Harpin,
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