Your Questions About Adhd Medications For Children List

Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 1:00 am

Charles asks…

A question on ‘Gifted’ children?

I recently read a question that mentioned “Dabrowskis Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children” and then went on to find another website called the NAGC (or something to that effect). If I’m correct in assuming so, why is there any such research to suggest that a group of naturally talented/gifted children should be separated from ‘normality’? Some websites mentioned a link between this and ADHD – the website I mentioned even talks about taking tests to see if you’re autistic or have depression. Isn’t this wrong? I fit a lot of the criteria on this list and I also know a lot of very gifted people and unless I’ve been mistaken or I have misunderstood the information, are we seriously suggesting that in 20 years time they’ll be giving out medication to kids who seem to take better to certain things better than others? Or even just teaching young children/people to self-diagnose which more often than not can create a vicious circle of self-fulfilling prophecies (Feeling sorry for yourself and THEN feeling depressed)?

barry jennings answers:

Check at the bottom of these webpages to see who owns them or sponsors them. A pretty substantial number are probably sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Notice how many drug ads there are on TV nowadays? It’s because pharmaceutical companies got wise to the power of the consumer. People will see these ads and ask their doctors for that specific drug. The websites are no different. They are just a different way to market to the consumer. If you take a “test” and subsequently self-diagnose with something that (according to the same website, right?) requires medication to manage it, the expectation is that you will ask your doctor for that medication.

Lizzie asks…

The military and mental health issues?

My 16 year old is pretty much set on joining the Army, signing up for delayed entry. A couple of problems I see have to do with his mental state. He was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, though he takes no medication. Someone said ADHD will keep him out of the military? Also, he’s suffered from some depression off and on again over the past couple years, though whether it’s family issues, adolescent issues, etc., we’re not sure (he’s not very communicative). His pediatrician and our family psychologist both suggested he see a psychiatrist, and the psychologist thought that bi-polar disorder was a likely cause (looking at a list of symptoms does sound like my son alot). Should I get him into see the psychiatrist, even though he’s doing well lately and seems happier and better? Or should I let him at nearly 17 years old figure out whether or not he needs to go see a professional? How would a bi-polar diagnosis affect joining the Army? Should he let them know?
He’s afraid that even seeing a psycologist or psychiatrist will keep him out of the military, much less a diagnosis of something big.
Alot of his problems have been going on since he was a very young child (2-3 years old). I’m not jumping to any diagnosis, either, because I don’t want him to hear anyone in the family discussing it and “diagnose” himself. He eats a great diet, better than anyone else in the family and works hard at staying in great shape, running every other day, weight lifting, plus the physical yard work we have him do (he MUST be kept busy or drives us nuts).

barry jennings answers:

Boy, does this hit home! Both of my boys are military and as my oldest thrives as a Marine, my youngest is a constant concern to me.
My youngest sounds alot like your son, and for the same reasons that you are stating I refused to sign his paperwork at the age of 17 to enlist into the AirForce. It wasn’t so much the job itself that I was concerned about, its the pressure and isolation on a child that just hasn’t matured enough yet to take this path in life. I had to change my refusal though when he came home and announced that he was going to be a father.
He was 17, mind you and now college is right out the window.
I rue the day I ever signed those papers now and feel like I, like these high school kids was sucked in by the $$ he would be earning and the opportunity for him now to be able to actually support a child at 18 on his own.

I have had more restless nights with my youngest when he is here in the states than I have when he is deployed. Because when he is deployed he is safe from himself. The have no choice but to keep an eye on him there.
That sounds like a strange thing to say about a young adult, but when he is manic he is liable to allow anything to set him off and the there is no stopping him.
I will not publicly tell you details about the situations that I have had to deal with with him, but if you would like to email, I will privately describe what has happened, as a matter of fact i am on point right now because I know just from his voice he is in a manic state. I have been to Tucson, AZ on “red eye” flights twice since he enlisted 4 years ago and the trips where absolutely necessary.
In my opinion a young man that displays the temperment that our children have in common should not enlist under any circumstance. The maturity isn’t there and when you add lonliness, isolation, temptation (and there is plenty of that in any base town) and fear it is a disaster.
One more thing, when after as situation I addressed the Captain about a situation he honestly told me that probably 1/3 of the boys there shouldn’t be there for the same reasons.
They actually have people that go around and clean up thier “messes” so that the military reputation is some what preserved. Also, mine is in the Air Force which is know for and is the easiest conditions of all the branches…..the Army is the worst!!