ADD misdiagnosis and the ineffectiveness and dangers of commonly prescribed Ritalin

by Luella May

(The Best Years in Life) I will forever be grateful to my son's pediatrician who examined my son for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) back in 1989. After his examination, the pediatrician's diagnosis was: "The only thing wrong with your son is that he is a boy." It was the usual scenario where because of discipline problems, the school automatically assumed that he had ADD and needed medication. Of course, the recommended medication was Ritalin. This doctor was careful to point out to me that Ritalin came with many side effects, some quite dangerous, emphasizing that one of these side effects was stunted growth. Now, some 20 years later, my son has grown into a fine young man and every now and then I say a silent thank you to that doctor. Had he not had that important heart-to-heart with me, I would have been one of those uninformed concerned mothers who would have consented to administering Ritalin to my son.

As with any other psychological disorder, there is no precise testing to determine if a child does indeed have Attention Deficit Disorder. Diagnosis is made simply by observation. Is the child hyperactive? Is he impulsive? Does he distract easily? This is the criteria for the label "Attention Deficit Disorder." Labeling children with ADD actually does them an injustice. It clumps them into a certain classification and instead of looking at the individual needs of a particular child, the perceived illness is treated. For example, does the child have any emotional problems (what's bothering him)? Is he merely bored in school? Does his behavior improve when he participates in activities that he enjoys?   Read More.