[nikki1920]

I think its a bit of both. We now have names for behaviors, which leads some parents to make an excuse for "normally bad" behavior. You also have the proliferation of prescription drugs and a lot of doctors who are willing to write those prescriptions. A lot of times simple parenting and child development classes would do both the child and the parent some good.

Re: Medicaid and checks. I do this every day. Many parents are quick to get their kids labeled ADD, ADHD, Autistic, or *insert issue here* to get a Social Security Disability Income check. Thetaprincess, is that what you are talking about? Medicaid doesn't write checks to recpients if they can avoid it at all. If a person receives SSDI, which is currently $637 per month, that person can also receive Medicaid. I've seen children with very minor developmental issues whose parents go through hoops to get that check, and they don't need it, finanacially and vice versa. (Kid born at 27 weeks, blind, no swallow reflex, needs help breathing and has a DNR on her medical reports--do not resuscitate--and mom thinks she's completely normal)