...ADHD is over Diagnosed A simple way to describe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is that it is a brain based condition where there is an imbalance of the brains chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline, these chemicals being responsible for self-control and slowing down of impulses. Because of the slight imbalance of these important chemicals, people with ADHD will experience impulsive, hyperactive behavior as well as inattentiveness with short term memory and in some cases, learning difficulties. Although doctors and scientists have more information about the causes and treatment of ADHD today, there is an interesting history around this disorder which had many different theories and beliefs. Discovered over one hundred years ago, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not a recent medical discovery. It was first described in about 1902 by George Still, an English pediatrician, who had observed a group of patients and recognized them as being inattentive, over active and suffering from a "lack of moral control". After George Still's discovery, many controversies followed. It was believed that ADHD was a result of brain damage, but when doctors realized that most children with ADHD had no brain damage, that idea was discarded. ADHD was then called Hyperactive Child Syndrome, where all the focus was on hyperactivity. In addition to this, Dr Ben Feingold researched a link between ones diet and hyperactivity, but this controversy was soon proven to not have much effect...
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...Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been a controversial topic due to its’ causes, diagnosis, as well as the treatments. Some critics of this controversy deny the very existence of ADHD as a mental disorder and believe that the physicians along with pharmaceutical industry are conspired with one another just to fill their pockets. While others believe that not only ADHD is a genetic mental disorder but also a disorder that may be caused by the environmental factors like geographical location, parenting and diet. Furthermore, many studies show that ADHD is in fact a mental disorder that affects many children and adults. ADHD is not over diagnosed and needs to be treated, however the treatment should not consist...
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...The connection of ADHD and Social Deviance Julie Alender SOC3400 Social Deviance 5386 W. Calimyrna Fresno, CA 93722 559-312-4823 email: jalender@capellauniversity.edu Instructor: Professor Jennifer Worley Over the past forty years there has been an dramatic increase in the diagnosis of ADHD and ADD in children and adults. There is a dramatic impact on children and their families once the child is diagnosised and labeled as ADHD. The medical industry and pharmaceutical companies have been benefiting from the diagnosis of child and adults with ADHD with the prescriptions of medication and overutilization. ADHD can be considered the medicalization of deviance when the diagnosis removes responsibility from society and the individual who has deviant behavior. This attitude continues the perpetual production of perpetrators of deviance. Medicalization is by definition the extension of medical jurisdiction or the expansion of medical boundaries. Medicalization studies reveal how nonmedical problems become diagnosis as medical. Current perceptions of ADHD and the treatment can be seen as the medicalization of deviance by taking away the accountability of the actions. An example of this deviant behavior is a 38 year old security guard has had 128 job since leaving college. He was diagnosed with ADHD. There is no background given on why the guard was diagnosis with ADHD, but if he didn't show up for work or was lazy that may be a reason...
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...essay on increasing trend of ADHD diagnosis Ryan Jarman Grand Canyon University Commentary essay on increasing trend of ADHD diagnosis Beginning in 2011 a sizable increase in the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) spiked to an all-time high. The diagnosis of ADHD jumped 24% in a four-year period. (CDC, 2013). This trend was observed through by the New York Times by interviewing 76,000 parents by cellphone or direct calls. This raw data was then given to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The controversy with this fact may be observed as over diagnosis, changes in mental health procedure, or perhaps wrong diagnosis for patients. By treating these numbers as a reality this increased trend may indicate some hope for these patients by better community awareness, better treatment and better outcomes. All of this can lead to better quality of life for those suffering from this mental health issue. With the diagnosis of ADHD on the rise more and more people are aware of it, this does not necessarily mean educated about ADHD. An organization called Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is a non-profit that focuses on provide information and education and education on their website for the public. They are advocates for appropriate public policies and public recognition in response to the patients and families with these special needs. The program called National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC) sanctioned by CHADD works...
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...Over-prescribing of ADHD Medication to Children Lesley M. Thomas University of Houston- Clear Lake What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? According to the National Library of Medicine, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is defined as, “a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior, or a combination of these.” (www.nlm.nih.gov) For a diagnosis of this disorder, generally referred to simply as ADHD, these issues must be out of the normal range for a person’s age and development. Although the majority of diagnoses are given to children and adolescents, there are also a vast number of ADHD cases diagnosed for adults. The purpose of my research paper is to offer background on this disorder, discuss the psychopharmacology of its treatment options, and to discuss whether ADHD medication is over-prescribed to children. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) states that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity has three different subtypes. Those subtypes are Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and a combination of the two. In order for the Predominantly Inattentive subtype to be used, at least six or more symptoms of inattention must be both present and persistent for at least six months. However, there must be fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. For usage of the Hyperactivity-Impulsivity subtype to be used, there must be a persistent presence of at least six...
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...OUR CHILDREN AND ADHD AMANDA WENTZEL COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Abstract ADHD also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that is near to my heart. My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at age 6. We have struggled with this since day one. I have researched ADHD, the protocol for diagnosing ADHD, coping with ADHD and of course treatment methods for ADHD. It has came to my attention that ADHD is becoming diagnosed more frequently and that children are sometimes misdiagnosed with ADHD and subsequently treated for the condition and it may be unnecessary. ADHD is becoming common yet the diagnosing method is pretty vague and the medications for this are sometimes harmful if not needed. There are other forms of treatments and there are also coping skills and lifestyle changes that can be beneficial for those who have ADHD and their families. I researched some of these other methods and the facts on ADHD. I have found some interesting information that I hope will help others that deal with this diagnosis. This paper states actual facts and it is my intention to help others understand ADHD and know the facts surrounding the diagnosis and treatments. People are becoming more and more familiar with ADHD and it seems to be being diagnosed more frequently. First things first, what is ADHD? ADHD is abbreviated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is diagnosed by symptoms. One of those...
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...Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a highly prevalent, neurobiological disorder which generally has an early onset of symptoms (Biederman, 2005). Children of both genders are affected and symptoms often persist into adolescence and adulthood. It often includes varying degrees of age-inappropriate behaviors such as impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity (Barkley, 2002). These behavior traits must be prominent enough to cause impairment in the individual’s functioning. ADHD is considered a developmentally relative deficit. This means that diagnosable ADHD cases are often the extreme cases of normal traits, or result from an abnormal delay in normal traits. Evidence exists that the disorder runs in families, and it is assumed to be heritable (Biederman, 2005). Polanczyk, Silva de Lima, Horta, Biederman, & Rohde (2007) point out that this disorder has become a major public health concern because of its prevalence, early onset, and the serious financial burden for both families and society, that is often associated with it. Common predicaments with ADHD include overdiagnosis, stimulant medications as treatment, and the issue regarding worldwide prevalence, namely, whether or not it is more common in the United States. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been studied extensively, often with controversial findings, which implies that much more research is necessary. ADHD appears quite diverse over varying cases, but the general signs and symptoms...
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...Chris Phillips Professor Daniel Wesley English Composition II 1302-062 10 December 2012 ADD/ADHD: A Proposal I’m hesitant to write about ADD/ADHD. It just seems like two-faced ground. Judging by the comments I’ve read online, in magazines, and my own experience, expressing an opinion about this identification or anything dealing in child psychiatry will be met with censure from both sides. I was reading an article “Ritalin Gone Wild” in the New York Times, and I felt obliged to write. If you have not read “Ritalin Gone Wild”, I persuade you to do so. In my opinion, I agree with the article except for the mention about “children born into poverty therefore [being] more vulnerable to behavior problems”. Unsurprisingly, the article has fascinated many online detectors. Let us check out this response from the NYT, accusing Dr Sroufe for “blaming parents” for ADD/ADHD. When I read the original article, Dr Sroufe did not do that. Instead, he noted that ADD/ADHD symptoms may not or at all come from a congenital neurological defect or “chemical imbalance”, but that ecological influences may be more significant. He also says that, ADD/ADHD drugs do work; children and adults do perform better on meds, but the successes do fail over time, perhaps a drug answer does not change ecological situation in the first place. I could not agree more. I think this statement is true for much of what is treated in psychiatry; it is predominantly related to children and adolescents. Children...
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...ADHD misdiagnosis a trend in commentary ADHD has become your dime a dozen catch all diagnosis in adolescence Understandably of course it's a money making machine between the cost of therapy, medications, and depending on the medication weekly to monthly blood draws. There's lots of money to be made off of people diagnosed with ADHD. More than that though, is that it's become sort of a trend. “Few topics have generated as much public concern as the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outpatient visits for ADHD jumped from 1.6 million to 4.2 million per year from 1990 to 1993” (ADHD—Overcoming the Specter of Overdiagnosis. (2002). ADHD has become sort of a cat shot in terms of adolescent miss behavior. Many parents simply think that their child's not bad they just have a medical problem that has to be the reason. After a short drive to the doctor’s office and quick discussion with Dr. Don about how little Billy can never sit still long enough to do his homework and never listens to his parents when they talk to him. They walk out of the office with a giant ADHD labeled Band-Aid that they can slap over their child and all is well. However this isn't the biggest problem in the misdiagnosed use of ADHD. That’s not to say that ADHD isn’t an actual large scale problem. “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most prevalent disorders of childhood and adolescence...
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...English-123 9 January 2016 ADHD Medications: Evidence of Overprescribing ADHD is a familiar and often used term in today’s society. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Ritalin is the medication most-often mentioned when looking at the treatment of ADHD patients. “First synthesized in 1944, Ritalin is a stimulant drug and was first approved for use in adults during the mid-1950s” (Mayes, et al). According to Dr. Matthew Smith, Ritalin wasn’t even considered for use in children with behavioral issues until many years after its introduction. It was originally marketed as a “pep” pill. Advertisements were aimed towards the elderly, and housewives whom lacked the energy to get all their work done around the house. The pharmaceutical company Ciba, whom created Ritalin, did not receive approval to market the drug to underachieving school children until 1962 (Smith). ADHD later became the diagnosis for both children and adults who were observed as having concentration and behavioral issues. Whether or not too many people are being diagnosed and medicated for ADHD has certainly been a hot topic of debate for many years now. Research does show that medical professionals are overprescribing ADHD medications. Trends have indicated a rise in diagnosis along with drug treatment, the ADHD drug industry is booming, and ADHD prescriptions are easily obtained by those seeking them. Today, ADHD drugs are prescribed to both children and adults who have been diagnosed with the disorder...
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...Symptoms & Causes of ADHD According to the American Psychological Association (2015), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) is a “persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development”. ADHD is a disorder that was initially associated with variations of retardation and has become a diagnosis of millions of children worldwide. This research synopsis will discuss the history of ADHD, symptoms and treatment for ADHD and the potential comorbity issues with ADHD. History of ADHD In an Internet video, Films On Demand (2009) states that is estimated that between 6-7 million children are on prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although medication is not the only treatment for ADHD, it seems to be the most popular resource. Some families have found behavioral therapy and a change in diet are also successful methods to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Many other issues can manifest itself as ADHD like allergies or long term exposure to lead paint; which makes diagnosing ADHD a controversial issue because like other psychological disorders. There is no physical or diagnosis test available and it is simply diagnosed based on a list of observed behaviors and is usually teacher referred for more evaluation. "A child is liable to be diagnosed ADHD if he or she steps out of line, speaks out of turn. In short, just about any sort of disorderly conduct would beget on the part of...
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...illness of ADHD (attention deficit disorder). In the first paragraph there will be a discussion on the history, including any myths or misconceptions of ADHD. In some of the other paragraph there will be a detailed discussion of the other points such as the neurotransmitters that are associated with this type of a illness. I will try to familiarize individuals as to how the environment in which they stay in will detract from a successful treatment of ADHD. In the final paragraph I will discuss how the treatments today of this illness compare to the diagnosis and treatments of the past. A list of the professionals involved in the treatment, diagnosis of ADHD will also be mentioned. Mental Illness Paper Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue on through adolescence and adulthood. Some symptoms may include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over- activity). ADHD is characterized by prominent symptoms of inattention and/ or hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms can lead to difficulty in academic, emotional, and social functioning. Studies in the United States indicate approximately 8%- 10% of children satisfy diagnostic criteria for ADHD (ADHD, medicine.net). The term ADD was once used to describe children with these symptoms, but ADD is no longer a DSM diagnosis. A misconception surrounding ADHD is: ADHD...
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...ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological illness that progresses throughout early years of life and can carry on into adulthood. Even though adult ADHD is more common than initially assumed, not all adolescents who develop these indications will progress with the adult form of the disorder. Adolescent indicators may also become altered throughout the duration of a lifecycle, although others may get expressed in a different way. Corresponding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around the normal stage of development of 7 years old a person can be diagnosed with ADHD. Males are twice more possible to get identified with ADHD than females. Grownups may acquire signs and then be evaluated to get diagnosed. ADHD was formerly named hyperkinetic impulse disorder. It didn't exist until the late 1960s that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially acknowledged ADHD as a mental illness. The perception of hyperactivity as an illness triggered by roughly more than neurological impairment was brought back up in 1960. In 1960, it was explained that the "Hyperactive Child Syndrome" is an environmentally-based difficulty initiated by inadequate parenting. Concepts indicated that there should be a re-evaluation of the background on ADHD all through each of its topics. As an outcome of re-evaluation, the approved therapeutic name of the illness remained altered to Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD). Additionally, in 1965, the American...
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...ADHD, Whether or Not to Medicate a Child Samantha Edmondson COM/155 September 21, 2014 Laura L. Griepp ADHD, Whether or Not to Medicate a Child With the diagnosis of ADHD in children becoming such a controversial subject because of the medications that doctors prescribe; parents have difficult decisions to make. My son, T.J., has had ADHD since he was five years old, and has had many trials and tribulations with the medication that his doctor placed him on to help with the issues that come from ADHD. The medication has made him very violent with his little brother, and he has had emotional episodes to the point of hospitalization and has also excelled in school because of the choice that I made to place him on the medication. For parents, there are many things that need careful consideration when deciding whether medication is the right avenue to take for their child’s course of treatment. Things to consider are diagnosis and treatment, what the pros and cons of taking the medication be, and whether or not the medication is the right decision for their child because of all the controversy behind this disorder. When a parent first starts to question if their child has a diagnosis of ADHD there are a couple things that need addressing in order to find out for sure. In order to receive a diagnosis for ADHD; the child needs to be showing certain symptoms that go along with the disorder. Symptoms to look for in a child that could have ADHD are things like having trouble focusing...
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...How is ADHD Diagnosed? Background When ADHD was first discovered, the language used to describe the symptoms of one with ADHD was somewhat judgmental. George Still was one of these people to describe ADHD in a potentially offensive way. According to (Chandler, 2010): “George Still described 43 children who had a ‘moral defect in control.’ He continued with a rich description of over-activity, aggression, little inhibitory volition (impulsivity), and passion, but also resistance to punishment—a familiar set of behaviors to those who look after a youngster with ADHD” (p. 34). Still’s identification of ADHD descriptions was only the beginning of understanding ADHD in the medical community. Further research discovered that the brain was the...
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