3-year brain lag found in ADHD kids
The brains of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder develop more slowly than those of other children but eventually catch up, according to a government study published Monday that suggests ADHD might be a transient condition, at least for some people.
Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists found that the cortices of children with ADHD reach peak thickness an average of three years later than children without the disorder.
The cortex is involved in decision-making and supports the ability to focus attention, remember things moment to moment and suppress inappropriate actions - functions often deficient in children with ADHD.
Dr. Philip Shaw of the National Institute of Mental Health said that although brain development was slower among children with ADHD, it followed a normal pattern, which should reassure parents.
Shaw, lead author of the report published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said the results could help explain why many children with ADHD appear to grow out of the disorder and become less impulsive and fidgety as they mature.
It is pretty horrifying to think about the number of children who have been drugged to treat a normal but slightly delayed development pattern. I wonder how many children are permanently damaged by ADHD medications such that their brain and physical development can never be normal.
I was surprised when I read the comments linked to this study. Everyone mentioned problems at school, yet I only saw one comment the recommended removing ADHD children from an obviously mismatched school environment.
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Related Tags: ADHD, school, parenting, antipsychotic drugs, Medicaid, atypicals, bipolar disorder, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel
3 comments:
I've always thought that there should be schools that specialize in children who are hyperactive. My son, who is now homeschooled, was miserable in school. He thought there was something wrong with him because he couldn't sit still all day, as was expected of him.
It is sad that people see the children as the problem and not the school model, tragic even.
I was horrified by the comments left by parents who discuss increasing meds and mixing meds to take care of the problems at school.
Hello, lurking on your blog. I was homeschooled and am homeschooling my children as well. I had two cousins who were medicated for ADHD. Both had very difficult times trying to come out of it. One even turned to hard core drugs and alcohol after being so used to having some sort of substance in his system and then told to get off it. He is now a fine, competent and smart adult, husband and father. It is so sad to think what he and his brother and others like him have gone through.
In the current system even with this finding, if they hold children back with where they really are mature, they will still feel humiliated. The only other option is to take them out, work with them one on one and go with their level of learning.
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