Too much TV= Attention Deficits?

Seems we see more kids being diagnosed with ADHT,bi-polar disorders,etc.etc.etc.
And it also seems an alarming number of kids are on some kind of medication for behavior issues and hyper-activity in general.
Instead of dealing with the problems,they just throw a pill at the kid!
Why is it so much more common now?
I also see parents out in public with kids that appear to be completely out of control.They scream,throw tantrums,and speak to the parents like they were garbage!
What has happened to disipline and parenting skills?
Can there really be that many screwed up kids?,and if there are,why?

TV is chewing gum for the mind.

Absolutely Andyfreeze, there are that many screwed up kids. ADHT, Adult Deficient Home Tutelage is the cause, not some form of chemical imbalance. The doctors prescribe pills for the parents sake not the children, by drugging the child into sedation it is the parent who benefits from the relief of a more relaxed child. Todays generation of populus is completely concerned with self-satisfaction, me me style of life. Root cause is also the two working parent syndrome, somehow we have to afford the expensive homes and gadgets in order to compete with the Jones. That doesn't leave room for much quality family time. So plunking the spit dissing, Red Bull guzzling brat in front of the XBOX for extended hours takes care of the parenting dilemma. Combine that with the self help guru bibles authored by some maniacal philosphers, that have us convinced that the word "no" and the catch phrase "you wanna see the back of my hand" are no longer tolerated, you get todays freaks of nature. It's high time to start dispensing the pills for PPT (Proper Parenting Technique)

Right on Andy and peeper. While on the topic of medicating kids to control their behaviour, let's include the fact that some teachers ask for this to happen, to help them control the classroom. This problem is just another example of where we are going in this society. By that I mean that instead of looking at the root of the problem, and seeking a solution, we (society) seek to treat the problem. It is all a part of instant gratification, which we have grown accustomed to. Think about fax machines, scratch and lose lottery tickets, cash machines, payday loan companies, 24 hour conveniance stores, and everything to do with home computers and the internet. We do not have to plan ahead anymore, almost anything we want can be obtained quickly and easily, likewise we want 'instant' solutions to all of our problems, like misbehaving children. It is just so much easier to take a pill than to get busy and attack the root of the problem.
metalman.

Right on metalman!
I also have an issue with regular medical doctors diagnosing certian mental disorders.
It is about good parenting, and good parenting doesn't simply mean giving your kids whatever they want because you are too damn busy to look after them properly!

While I do believe that the disorders mentioned above are grossly over diagnosed, there are children out there who do suffer from this. Being properly diagnosed and treated appropriately has changed their lives completely. I know of three children, all from different families who suffer from this. These children come from stable homes. In one case, both parents work and in the other two homes, mom stays home to care for the children (and does a darn fine job!)

I am a single mom and I work full time to put food on the table and to be able to provide some nice things for myself and my children. (call me crazy). I have beautiful, well behaved, intelligent children - who, thankfully, have no issues in this department. According to the comments posted here, this must be a miracle! I don’t think it’s fair to stereotype. Children with this disorder come from all sorts of different situations.

From the outside looking in, it is very easy to sit back and pass judgment and blame it on bad parenting, working parents, TV and video games, food, drink, lack of exercise, too much exercise, keeping kids too busy or not keeping them busy enough… the list is endless.

While there may be some out there who medicate for convenience, there many, many families who, unfortunately, have to acknowledge this disorder and treat it accordingly.

Singlemom, you may just be an excellent mother. That could very well be a success story that is uncommon as children of single parents are prone to having issues. Now have your children entered the teen years yet? Not attempting to stereotype by any means, and no harm intended. Non-working stay at home mothers may just as well be unfit to nuture children. Every situation has its own scenarios, for example, your perception that the mothers are doing a darn fine job is still only your perception, and I would gather that you have no way of ascertaining what really goes on in those households. Please substitute father into any sentence if it is more relevant.

While you consider it a disorder, as do the doctors, and should perhaps be treated with a drug, I find this reprehensible. Most ADHD sufferers resort to the use of other stimulants later in life to offset the non-effectiveness of the current medications and the need to have a prescription. Self medication is now far more sensible, as the general population also self medicates so they become the norm without having to be labelled with a disorder. So by medicating for a mythological disorder , you have just created an addict, and addicts spend all their time and money maintaining the addiction.

I can without any hesitation dispute some of your passing judgement causes, but if you can't differentiate the good from the bad it seems to be a moot point.

I firmly believe all cases of persons diagnosed with this fanatical disorder, have an underlying root problem that bestows this behaviour upon themselves. The real issue is just not being dealt with, through proper parenting an/or support avenues. The afflicton is nothing more than an inablity to cope, and an inability by family, friends and Doctors to grasp this. Children can't cope with everything life throws them, if the parent isn't aware of this or care to make a difference, the child inwardizes the dilemma, where it festers into behavioural eruptions, which do get attention. Kid heres your pill, get a grip!!

pisspulper - Just out of curiosity , is it your belief that all mental illnesses fall under the realm of people who just cannot cope and are a result of bad parenting? How about schizophrenia, autism or aspergers?

Two of my children are indeed in their teens and one is on her way. Having said that, one of the (many)guidelines in diagnosing this disorder is that the symptoms manifest at a young age, generally before the age of 7 years, hence making your quesiton of whether or not my children are in their teens irrelevant.

I have never claimed to be an expert - just stating my opinion as a person who works in the health care profession and has witnessed, worked with and dealt with this disorder, among others. My opinion differs from yours - oh well.

The main objective of my original letter was to disagree with the stigma attached to ADHD in relation to their family dynamic. Just because a child is being raised by a single parent, or is in a family where both parents work outside the home does not automatically mean they will have behavioral and / or mental disorders. Nor does it mean that perfect families produce perfect children.

pisspulper - Just out of curiosity , is it your belief that all mental illnesses fall under the realm of people who just cannot cope and are a result of bad parenting? How about schizophrenia, autism or aspergers?

Two of my children are indeed in their teens and one is on her way. Having said that, one of the (many)guidelines in diagnosing this disorder is that the symptoms manifest at a young age, generally before the age of 7 years, hence making your quesiton of whether or not my children are in their teens irrelevant.

I have never claimed to be an expert - just stating my opinion as a person who works in the health care profession and has witnessed, worked with and dealt with this disorder, among others. My opinion differs from yours - oh well.

The main objective of my original letter was to disagree with the stigma attached to ADHD in relation to their family dynamic. Just because a child is being raised by a single parent, or is in a family where both parents work outside the home does not automatically mean they will have behavioral and / or mental disorders. Nor does it mean that perfect families produce perfect children.