ADHD

In today's class, we learned about ADHD. I really enjoyed this class because it is a disorder that I do not know much about and it is usually misdiagnosed. Many people that I talk to, whom I went to school with and are mostly boys, believe that they suffer from ADHD. This is interesting for me because these people were never sent to a pediatrician and checked for it growing up; I don't even think I know anyone I went to school with who were taking medication for ADHD. Many people just assume they have it because they cannot sit still, like to fidget, and stare out the window. I was actually the same way growing up but I was never asked about it because I do not have all the symptoms. Many kids cannot sit still because they are not challenged enough and are bored. Many people need to learn with manipulatives and with their hands, and I am the same way. ADHD is not serious for many people because they have the wrong definition for it; just because one fidgets and cannot sit still does not mean one has ADHD. My "ah hah" moment today was that girls are equally accessible to this disorder as boys, but it is easier to find it in boys. This is why many boys grow up assuming they have it, but if they ever were placed in challenging classes, then they would succeed. We also discussed medication and Ritalin today. I did not know too much about that drug and many parents do not want their kids taking medications at young ages. I learned today that it is okay if some kids really do need it if it substantially increases their focus and performance; it is not harming the kid and should also not be an embarrassment.