A child sits and stares out the door, wondering what topic he should write about. A few minutes later the child shuts down and rests his head on the desk, still not having any idea on what to write about. Soon after that he bounces out of his chair wondering what his peers are doing. Going from person to person, he distracts the other children from completing their task. He is asked to go sit back down and start writing. Moments later he sits and taps his feet, louder and louder with each tap. During this period of time he forgets what he was assigned to do. Not only does he have nothing written down on his paper, others struggled to complete the task because they were distracted by his actions. This is a recurring story told by many teachers, with a different child each time. These children are from different places and have a different lives, but all are struggling from one disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. .
As the children wiggle in their chairs and show impulsive behavior, they don't realize that their condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), "is one of the most talked about and controversial topics in education" ("Identifying" 3). The actions that occur in children with ADHD can take a major toll on both the parents and the teachers when it comes to keeping them under control and raising the child. Some feel that the solution to control the ones with ADHD is a medication. Two of the most common medications to control this disorder are Ritalin and Adderall. They are frequently used medications that stimulate the brain and nerves helping control ADHD (Cerner Multum 1). From 1996 to 2008 the percentage of children from age 13-18 prescribed Ritalin increased 2.6% (Goodwin 1). With the rate of Ritalin users steadily increasing, many wonder if ADHD is being over diagnosed. While some medical professionals believe that ADHD is being diagnosed and medication is being prescribed to help children through everyday life, others worry that ADHD is being overdiagnosed and ADHD medication is harming the youth.
