Ritalin

There are many myths and misconceptions about Ritalin, the drug most commonly given to children suffering from ADHD. Many people feel that it is "wrong" to give drugs to a child and that ADHD is best controlled without medical intervention. But let me ask you this--if your child suffered from diabetes, would you not give him insulin? Ritalin is a treatment for a specific disorder. Without it, the disorder does not go away. Yes, it is a drug. So is every other medication. Despite what many people still believe, extensive studies have proven that ADHD is not caused by bad parenting or food additives and therefore cannot be treated by educating the parents of the ADHD child or putting the child on a special diet.

So, you ask, what does cause ADHD? ADHD is a neurological disorder. The exact problem in the brain is still not entirely clear, however, current evidence suggests that in some cases, ADHD might possibly be caused by injury to the brain before or after birth and that in many cases, ADHD is hereditary.

And what exactly is Ritalin? What does it have to do with the brain? Ritalin is a stimulant (yes, you read that correctly). In ADHD, Ritalin acts directly on the affected part of the brain, helping children to control their impulses. This allows them to concentrate and to regulate their own behavior. Ritalin helps ADHD children to "be in control".

As a teacher, I have heard many comments of other teachers and parents such as "he's doing it on purpose" or "he could stop behaving that way if he wanted to." Unfortunately, in the case of ADHD children, this just isn't true. Let me use Yohai as an example. I can honestly say that I have never met a warmer more charming child. When Yohai is "in control", he is a pleasure to be around. He knows the difference between right and wrong and understands rules. However, when he "loses it", it is absolutely impossible to talk to him. He becomes angry and even dangerous (he will often hit, kick and bite when he is out of control). If you try to talk to him later on, he'll tell you that that was "the bad boy in him". Yohai hates that "bad boy" so much that recently he has started expressing a wish to be dead. Imagine a five and a half year old saying, "I wish I were dead." That is certainly not normal behavior for a child of his age and, in my opinion, proves that he is not in control of what is happening to him. This is also one of the main reasons that we decided to start treatment with Ritalin. We couldn't bear the thought of our wonderful little boy wishing himself dead.

Despite years of use of Ritalin for treating ADHD (or maybe because it's been used for years), there are many myths about its safety. Ritalin, when used correctly, is not addictive. Although there may be some weight loss in the first year on Ritalin, it does not stunt growth and will not affect your child's eventual height and weight as an adult. In any case, generally, the height and weight of children taking Ritalin are closely monitored by a doctor. Ritalin does not just "cover up" the problem. As stated above, it works directly on the affected area of the brain, making it function normally. It is true that the effects of Ritalin wear off after several hours and another dose is needed. So do the effects of insulin.

But what about other forms of treatment for ADHD? There have been claims that biofeedback, special diets and behavior modification are all effective alternatives to Ritalin. Unfortunately, in most cases, this is not so. Biofeedback has not been scientifically proven as a treatment for ADHD. Since scientists no longer believe in a possible connection between food allergies and ADHD, a special diet is of no benefit. Behavior modification can be very beneficial, but is usually impossible without the help of Ritalin and should therefore, in most cases, be used in conjunction with medication and not instead of it.

Is Ritalin over-prescribed? Maybe. I honestly can't say. However, in true cases of ADHD it is an effective, safe treatment. Ultimately, of course, it is the right of every parent to choose what he or she feels is the best course of treatment for his/her child. That choice should be an informed one, however. No parent should let rumors and misinformation guide him/her in that choice.