Bill would hurt efforts to detect kids with ADHD
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jim ...@aol.com (JimDBB)
Bill would hurt efforts to detect kids with attention deficit disorder Detroit News Publication date: 2001-10-28 Michigan's House Education Committee has begun hearings on bills that would affect children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While one bill may protect such children, another could ultimately undermine what progress has been made in the recognition and early detection of the disorder.
The repercussions of House Bill 5085, introduced by state Rep. Sue Tabor, are many. It would not only prohibit school teachers, administrators and even school psychologists from recommending to parents the use of psychotropic drugs for their struggling child, but would hinder teachers' ability to recommend an evaluation.
While the bill states it wouldn't prohibit "school medical staff" from recommending that a child be "evaluated" by a health care provider, it gives no authority to the teachers who spend several hours a day with the child and who are often the most familiar with a child's struggles. Teachers likely won't risk such recommendations out of fear of a lawsuit or disciplinary action.
This poses a real problem because a large percent of children with ADHD have been diagnosed only because teachers brought it to the attention of parents.
Spending 35 hours per week with nearly 30 new faces every year, teachers have firsthand experience with behavioral and attention disorders. They have seen the effectiveness of medication in ADHD children. Such experience makes teacher recommendations invaluable.
One of the arguments by supporters of the legislation is that Michigan ranks third in the nation for Ritalin use and therefore it may be overprescribed.
But they fail to acknowledge that as of 1990, Michigan ranked eighth in the nation for population, which drastically reduces the likelihood of overprescription.
This legislation could lead to hundreds of children not getting the help they need for their neuro-psychological struggles. Although there has been an increased awareness of the disorder in recent years, many parents still are unfamiliar with ADHD. Others have been exposed to widespread myths.
Already, many states have been targets of a campaign to discredit ADHD and the use of Ritalin and other psychotropic medications. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which was established by the Church of Scientology, has been at the forefront of this campaign, according to Dr. E.
Clark Ross, chief executive of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It has spread misleading literature that makes unsubstantiated claims and disregards scientific findings contrary to their views.
There is substantial evidence to support the effectiveness of Ritalin and other medications in treating ADHD. Earlier this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines for the treatment of ADHD. Among other things, the academy states that when appropriate, the use of stimulant medication and/or behavioral therapy should be recommended by the clinician in treating ADHD symptoms.
In addition, the U.S. surgeon general and the National Institute of Mental Health have recommended the use of a multi-modal treatment program that may include prescription medication as an appropriate method for treating those with ADHD.
For the exceptionally rare instances where it has been claimed that a school district prohibited a child from attending school or school-related events because they were not evaluated or did not take their prescribed medication, House Bill 5084 has been introduced to protect these children. It is worth p***ing.
Ultimately, no matter what teachers or physicians recommend, it is still the decision of parents whether to treat their child with medication. That is why it is important that the Legislature help fight this disorder and prevent the censorship of information about it http://beta.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=24702773... sreal&scategory=Internet <http://beta.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=24702773... wsreal&scategory=Internet>
Tilman Hausherr til...@berlin.snafu.de
Indeed - a teacher spends a whole day, a psychiatrist only maybe an hour with a child. And teachers really do know a lot about child behaviour.
So even if they can't prescribe a medication, they can detect anormal behaviour patterns and refer the child to a mental health professional.
And if it was true what the "scientists" (not) of scientology claim, that ADD is a result of allergies, that could still be detected at that time.
--
Tilman Hausherr [KoX, SP5.55] Entheta * Enturbulation * Entertainment til...@berlin.snafu.de http://www.xenu.de Resistance is futile. You will be enturbulated. Xenu always prevails.
Find broken links on your web site: http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html The Xenu bookstore: http://home.snafu.de/tilman/bookstore.html
Dr. Paloma Dr._mem...@newsguy.com
Translation: A large number of children are placed on mind-altering drugs because thier teachers are too lazy or incompetent to do anything effective.
Now there's a nice fat unsubstantiated generality. (Almost, but not quite as bad as saying psychs know a lot about child behavior.) Please, if we're going to acknowledge that it's really allergies, can we stop calling by this phony psych label "Attention Deficit Disorder"?
Dr. Paloma Dr._mem...@newsguy.com
Translation: Bill could cause a slump in efforts to destroy the minds of an entire generation.
"Rev. Norle Enturbulata" earthlightnos...@nohotmail.com
That's Intelligence Deficit Disorder, Quack Boy.
Chris Leithiser cleit...@bc.cc.ca.us
Didn't France p*** some sort of law against cults like $cientology?
$cientology in a nutshell again, Doctor Pee.
Chris Leithiser cleit...@bc.cc.ca.us
Clue Deficit Disorder is Doctor Pee's appropriate DSM-V category.
FR ...@SkepticTank.ORG (Rev. Fredric L. Rice)
Only those that are criminal based like Scientology and the Moonies.
-- You love drugs! You love drugs, don't you?! You better not say anything about my mother! Don't you DARE say anything about my mother! -- Scientology's International President
JLHartley JLHartley_mem...@newsguy.com
You have to wonder about the true agenda of people who agonize over the thought of limiting drugs for school kids.
Dr. Paloma Dr._mem...@newsguy.com
And nowhere I know of is the agony greater than amongst arsoids.
Chris Leithiser cleit...@bc.cc.ca.us
And why are you in such agony, Doctor Pee? Another urinary tract infection?
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