The one subtopic of focus for this course is going to be the diagnosis process, ADHD or developmentally appropriate? Working with Head Start children and families, it has always been challenging to have families understand what is developmentally appropriate for young children. Many think that their children may have ADHD when in reality their child is acting developmentally appropriate, or there are families that have children showing signs of ADHD, however are unsure who to turn to or they may believe that what their child exhibits is normal behavior, attention, and focus.
I have not focused on the research chart at this time, however, from skimming the assignment and reading the first chapter, I am feeling more comfortable about this whole research course. Chapter one talks about realizing that sometimes the question we start off with isn't the question we end up researching was comforting (MacNaughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, (2010). As I focus on the diagnosis process, I can see how the other two subtopics may come into play before this topic or in conjunction with.
If anyone has any experience, either professionally or personally, with ADHD and how families perceive it, I would love to hear from you.
Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe , S.A. New York , NY
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis. I do applaud you for doing your research paper on your personal issue with your son because this may give you more knowledge about ADHD that your Doctor(s) may not have shared with you. I hope this project is beneficial to you and to your son and I will definitely keep you and your family in my prayers.
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I know you will do a great job with the research because it is personal. I look forward to reading more.
Hello Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI hope you find important information on the topic of ADHD as it is a fairly new concept within the field of early childhood education. I also do not have any information on this topic. This is why I hope you continue to focus on this topic and bring to our discussions valuable insights so we can all learn. Enjoyed reading your blog and good luck with the research.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteAmerican children, boys in particular, are diagnosed with ADHD at a rate unparalleled anywhere else in the world. American children receive most of the world's ritalin, although they probably make up no more than 5% of the world's child population.
Some people believe that ADHD is in a part a result of a disconnect between what child are developmentally capable of at a certain age and the increasingly academic expectations for them.
Others attribute ADHD to the shifting cultural influence of media and technology upon play, learbning and attention spans. Comparing American films to foreign films, one immediately can see the difference in pacing and editing styles. The "smash cut" which uses abrupt transitions from one scene to the next is a commonly used technique in American media. Some analysts of American media point to Sesame Street as the first step in the progression towards media that feeds into limited attention spans. Compare for instance, Sesame Street to Mr Roger's Neighborhood. Sesame Street led to Electric Company. The generation which grew up on these were later raised on MTV, ESPN, and the "sound bite" became the accepted vehicle for news transmission. The advent of personal computers, cell phones, tablets and later smart phones, meant that children (yes, children have personal computers and even smart phones today) became accustomed to communicating in the abbreviated technique of texting and emoticons. Today's communication consisting of texting, twittering, instant messaging, etc does not support or promote the sustained focus and concentration of communication used by traditionalists and boomers (and even some gen X-ers) who grew up prior to the widespread availability of the personal computer and cell phone.
All of these impact attention span and along with increasingly inappropriate classroom schedules and curricula contribute in part to the over-diagnosis of ADHD.
Interestingly enough, both parents and physicians also contribute to the diagnoses rate. As curricula become increasingly inappropriate and as pressures to excel in school become greater - more parents are looking to a special needs diagnosis to provide their child with the legal, social-emotional, transportation, and academic supports that come with an IEP.
The overdiagnosis of ADHD can, in part, be seen in the number of children that "lose" their ADHD diagnosis as they become adults.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteGreat research topic, I noticed that nowadays, more and more adults are being diagnosed with ADHD also. I hope your research on the subtopics helps your son. I agree with you that it‘s very challenging to have families understand what is developmentally appropriate for young children. Like you mentioned, many think that their children may have ADHD when in reality their child is acting developmentally appropriate. I am sure you’re going to find some very useful information to share with your parents.