In 2011, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) received widespread criticism when their published guidelines recommended diagnosing and treating toddlers with ADHD in the same manner as everyone else who has it. The media bristled at the notion, suggesting that the organization was recommending medication for young children. They also predicted the move would lead to an uprising in ADHD diagnoses.
American Academy of Paediatrics defends their controversial guidelines.
The media criticized the AAP for including toddlers in ADHD treatment recommendations.
Critics of the guidelines failed to point out one important fact, though. The AAP did not recommend medicating a child anywhere in their document. Instead, they suggested that children with ADHD undergo behavioral therapy. Parents should also pay keen attention to their offspring for signs of ADHD at an early age. Furthermore, it was not believed that the guidelines had an direct bearing on more diagnoses of ADHD.
Practitioners tend to resort to ADHD medications for children even for children who have been diagnosed at early in their lives. It raises many questions and concerns among parents and teachers about the children undergoing medication to behave like children.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- Some doctors medicate children as young as toddler age for ADHD.
- Doctors recommend behavioral intervention before medication is even considered.
- Careful observation equals early diagnosis and treatment that may or may not include medication.
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