Our class last week got me thinking a lot about how we label children with neurological disorders and medicate them in our society. I strongly believe that this not only shapes how other children, and teachers view these children, but also how they view themselves. Once a child is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, they will immediately think that not behaving, or not paying attention in class is a personality trait and not a behavior they can change. I don't like thinking about how all the medication we are pumping into these children is affecting their development, but it cannot be good.
Every child is different, and I am not arguing the existence of these neurological disorders, I just think our society is too hasty to jump to them as an explanation. I am no expert, but I believe these disorders are caused by constant stimulation from today's technology, rather than some innate trait we are born with. focusing on only one thing at a time used to be more common. when people are so used to having multiple interactions with multiple people and devices at the same time, they will easily feel under stimulated when they find themselves having to only listen to a teacher.
A self fulfilling prophecy can occur when telling a child they have a disorder like this. they can start feeling like they can't only focus on one thing at a time, or sit still, or get good grades, or do well on their standardized tests, and so they just don't bother trying; using their ADD as a cop out. In my personal experience, I have always done better when told that I am just as capable of something as anyone else. If I ever feel like I have a disadvantage, I hardly try because I see no point. I would be surprised if children diagnosed with an attention disorder don't often feel this away about school after being told that they can't pay attention as well as the other students.
Do you think these attention disorders are caused or are people born with them?
Do you know anyone who has been affected by an attention disorder? How has this affected their academics so far in life?
Interesting post Sean! I was just having this conversation with a friend of mine not too long ago and it really got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when doctors are quick to diagnose children with these disorders, they become viewed and treated differently by society. My friend was telling me that her younger brother had just been diagnosed with A.D.D and he was immediately treated differently by his teacher. She was explaining that prior to him being diagnosed, he would get in trouble numerous times throughout the week. After it was confirmed that her brother had A.D.D, he didn't get "yelled at" again. I'm not sure whether this was because his behavior changed after being medicated or because the teacher just decided to excuse his behavior due to his diagnosis.
I can also understand when you mentioned that telling a child they have a disorder can cause them to use their disorder as a cop out. My first year here at Parkside, I did really poorly on a test and my professor told me I may have had anxiety disability. Just thinking that I had this disability made me freak out even worse on all my tests because I thought something was "wrong" with me. I started excusing my behavior with the idea that I had test anxiety. So I definitely agree with your statement, "If I ever feel like I have a disadvantage, I hardly try because I see no point."
I also think that a lot of the time, these children are being misdiagnosed. The fact that there is so much technology available to children may have some sort of effect on their limited attention span.