Could the growth in technology be linked to the rise of autism and ADHD?

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   brittvan22posted 8 years ago

   Could the growth in technology be linked to the rise of autism and ADHD?
   
   With so many children being given medicine due to ADHD, ADD and autism at such young ages, do you think technology has a hand it. We live in a day where a kind can work their parents I-phone, but can't read a book. They can play online games, but don't know how to type properly until high school.
   
   

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2. 39

   ChristinSposted 8 years ago

   No, I don't think so, at least not as a cause. With screens, I think a lot of that is a parenting problem.  Instead of taking time to teach children to read, play, use their unique skills, they stick them in front of an electronic babysitter for hours on end.  This obviously has a detrimental effect and of course will be even harder on kids who have these conditions.
   
   As to increasing rates, my personal opinion is that we are poisoning ourselves with all the processed foods and crap.  I also believe many medicines that people trust blindly also contribute to numerous health problems. Doctors are very quick to hand out a "pill for that" for those with ADD for example, and they focus very little on coping strategies and behavior modifications.
   
   Studies for example have linked certain food additives and artificial colorings to behavioral issues and many children with Autism and ADD do better on modified diets.  There are scientific studies you can look up if you are interested in delving further into that particular aspect.
   
   I think these conditions have so many factors and every case is different.  I also believe that many kids labeled and medicated for "ADD" are simply vibrant, active kids who are strong willed.  Parents can't handle them or learn decent parenting skills and medicate them into little zombies.  I've seen it happen and it's sad.  I am NOT saying that there is not a need for medications in some instances, but the rate at which people medicate everything under the sun is alarming.
   
   A lot of people balk at this - but I think ADD is way over diagnosed.  I've seen people put their toddlers on medications - really?  ugh, but that's a whole other issue lol.

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      brittvan22posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I definitely agree with you 100% and I also think ADD is way over diagnosed especially when it comes to young boys who have always been rumbustious by nature. Wonder who gets the biggest payoff in the long run, the legalized drug dealing companies.

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      quildonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      As someone who has worked with special needs kids in the school system, I agree wholeheartedly with this answer. In most cases what is needed is better parenting.

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   Zelkiiroposted 8 years ago

   The rise in mental conditions isn't really an increase in people who have them--it's an increase in people who have been diagnosed. Not long ago, an autistic child was merely referred to as "slow," "weird," "antisocial," or even "demented." As time went on and more studies were done, they realized these kids had mental disorders and weren't just weird because they felt like being weird. This is why it seems like we have more autistic children today than in the past--we only recently understood that it was a thing and it wasn't just a behavioral issue.

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      brittvan22posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      This is true, but with the rise of the labels and there rises the danger as well. When anyone other than a professional tries to diagnose someone else's kid and you are left with so many misdiagnosed children.

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   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   It's very unlikely that something outside of our bodies or not ingested by us in some form would have an effect on our offspring.
   I suspect the culprit is the food we eat both in plant and animal form. There have been a whole host of changes made in the soil as well as techniques used raise animals for food including hormones and antibiotics in the last 50 years or so.
   You do make a good point about kids being able to play various games on keyboard but are unable to type. The same holds true for some kids who are flunking in math and science classes but know how to measure drug quantities right down the gram as well as how to cut the drugs.
   I suspect if someone has no interest in a thing they naturally put in less effort. Discussions on the Isosceles Triangle simply don't generate much interest from kids the way video game like "Call of Duty" or "Candy Crush" do.

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      brittvan22posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You have hit the proverbial nail on the head, I agree. I remember when they only thought a teacher could teach kids technology is definitely proving them wrong in strides. And short cuts in food cut our health short as well as our kids.

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