Kids on ADHD drugs 10x more likely to perform poorly than unmedicated ADHD kids

As a person who has a fair number of friends on Ritalin etc., I'd make the argument that the positive effects of the drugs are more placebo effects. If the person believes they are going to be more focused and less depressed, then maybe that alone will help them.

To be honest, though, I believe that is the case with a wide variety of drugs on the market today.

The elementary school teachers and counselor at the school that my youngest son attended wanted him to be medicated. There were some behavior issues (talking out in class, getting up from his seat, etc.). His ability to learn was not hindered by these behaviors. However, it was disruptive for the teacher and the other students.

The counselor suggested I take him to the doctor for an ADHD evaluation. The doctor did prescribe the medication, but I was very reluctant to medicate this very bright young person. So I asked for a more intense evaluation. There was a specialist that had a different method of determining whether a child was ADHD. It was determined that he was NOT ADHD, that he was a gifted learner and bored to tears.

The doctor just simply took the word of the teachers in detemining the diagnosis of ADHD. Thankfully, I didn't go that route. My son is now in the 7th grade. He doesn't get the bad wrap that he did when he was in elementary school, although he still gets in trouble occasionally for speaking out in class. His grades are straight B's with very little effort. (Of course, I encourage a little more effort because I would really like one of those bumper stickers that says my child is an honor roll student.)

In conclusion: From my experience, I would like to say that not all children that are labeled "ADHD" are actually ADHD. Many of them, and I would argue probably somewhere over half of them, are highly intelligent and just simply are learning faster than the other children in the class. But because of our current education system are made to "sit still, be quiet, let johnny finish his paper before you start a new one, etc."

Teachers thought my brother had ADD when he was little. The doctor checked him over and diagnosed him as being bored in class. I have a friend whose daughter is exhibiting the same signs. She's got the material down already and my friend is trying to talk to her teacher about challenging her with extra materials that are ahead of her grade level (she's already bored with the extra material she's been given to date).

By diagnosing bright/gifted children as ADD/ADHD are we dragging them down? Are we forcing them into mediocrity for the sake of not rocking the boat? What innovations/revolutionary ideas are being lost to Ritalin?

My son does have ADHD. I thought I would go insane long before the doctor put him on medicine.

He could not concentrate in school long enough to do his work. He was out of control. It started when he was two years old, although he was extremely active before that.

I am thrilled that his medicine works for him! He can study now and actually do well in school. He is pleasant at home (for the most part), and he can stick to things.

I didn't just have him put on medicine though, I also went to counseling with him in order to learn some coping skills with him, and he learned things that he could do to stop some of his behaviors, or at least try to catch himself before things got out of control.

He is 14 now, and what a huge, huge difference it is compared to when he was younger. He is so much easer to be around, and he is happy since he isn't getting into trouble all of the time.

There may be a lot of cases that are misdiagnosed, but for those who do have add/adhd, the medicine can be a lifesaver...