ADD & Ritalin

Everyday kids around the world are diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder), and everyday kids are given Ritalin to “calm their nerves”. Short-term studies have proven Ritalin stuns the growth of children, and may cause memory impairment during adulthood after an extended period of exposure during childhood. Besides the fact that Ritalin stunts and may impair their memory, it also rules out other variables as for their (shortened) attention span. It eliminates the idea that the child may not have ADD, but rather a learning disorder, that may cause them to appear distracted. Many counselors, psychiatrists, and parents bypass the idea that their child may have difficulty focusing because of a learning deficit. Not all children have the same learning capacity, at the same rate or even same way. With the drug Ritalin being so readily available to the public and an “easy solution” for parents and teachers, it discourages the thought of using any alternative options or even testing for a learning disorder. Another thing to take into account when diagnosing children is their family’s socio-economic-status. The stress level of the child, and any other environmental stimuli that may alter their learning and attention patterns.