AD/HD Today, diagnosis has improved for the condition known as AD/HD, or Attention Deficit Disorder. However, many parents are dismayed after getting the diagnosis to find that the only thing their insurance company will pay for is medication. Parents aren't always comfortable using medication at first, and some would like to try behavioral strategies before going to medications. Insurance companies, however, often will pay for medication, but not pay for behavioralists or psychologists, or only pay part of the bill. Unless the parent can afford to make up the difference, their choices are then limited.

For instance, an insurance Web site on AD/HTD devotes 1450 very specific words about medication, including specific information on establishing doses and when to try a different med, but only about 450 words with no real specific suggestions and less compelling arguments for its use. The message insurance companies get is that medication works and behavior management doesn't (AAP, 2001). In fact it is true, according to the statistics, that medications work better than behavioral interventions, but virtually all experts recommend the use of both, while...

Especially when a child is first diagnosed, many parents have significant concerns about the use of medications and want the least invasive treatment possible for their children. AD/HD is diagnosed by observing behaviors, and it makes sense that behavioral interventions might have a significant impact.
Feeding into parents' reasonable concerns are repeated media reports that the medications are dangerous in some way. Significant evidence exists that this concern has its roots in an organization opposed to all psychiatric and psychological interventions under all circumstances, a stance most people would not accept (Sappell & Welkos, 1990). The group has specifically targeted Ritalin because of its history of use in children. This makes it harder for many parents to accept what doctors say about medications and AD/HD simply on faith, and parents know that research is made up of groups of individuals…