Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd ) A Real Disorder?

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is affecting children and adults at vast numbers. The growing numbers of people affected by Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), made the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize the importance of educating the public. The CDC discusses the signs and symptoms, different types of ADHD, causes of ADHD, diagnosis process, treatments, and resources with the public. The CDC is a trusted agency. The CDC’s website is credible because the writers use effective appeal to logos, ethos, and pathos to educate their audience.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention posted a webpage providing information about Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in November of 2016. In the page’s context, the writer provides facts, signs and symptoms, the different types of ADHD, causes, treatments, diagnoses, managing symptoms, where to receive help, and managing ADHD as an adult. Based on the webpage, ADHD is a hyperactive disorder affecting children and adults with signs and symptoms very from having trouble concentrating, to not being capable of sitting still or having an excess of energy. This webpage poses some social issues, contains the use of rhetorical appeals, and uses a specific language to address a specific audience.

Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis and prescriptions given out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to a news report done by USA Today over the past five years use of ADHD medications have risen 40% totaling 39.5 million individual prescriptions ("New findings," 2009). When statistics like this are seen it is only normal for someone to ask questions. People are becoming curious about the legitimacy of the disorder, and whether or not the treatments being given to individuals are appropriate. The argument seems to be strong on both sides of the fence, but the extensive research done on ADHD leaves it hard for one to believe that it is a made up disorder.

As children we were used to jump around and ask a lot of question and be careless. Being hyper, curios, and talkative is part of the definition of the term childhood. Most children enjoy doing these activities, and about 15-20 years ago, it was very normal for a child to be hyperactive or talkative. However, nowadays, these behaviors may suggest a very serious condition. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a very usual childhood disorder, which can continue even through the adolescence and adulthood if left untreated. Symptoms of this disorder are very similar to what we defined as childhood behaviors but in a more obvious or harmful manner. Symptoms include lack of focus and attention, difficulty controlling behaviors, and hyperactivity. Children with ADHD can be defiant, socially inept, or aggressive. Also, adults with this condition have trouble getting organized, staying focused, and not thinking before acting. Moreover, They can be noisy, fidgety, and unable to adapt to any new situation. In this paper, I am going to discuss different types of ADHD, possible reasons for this condition, details about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods, and possible flaws of this disorder.

Imagine if your child’s check up with the doctor resulted in your child being diagnosed with ADHD. You begin to ask yourself questions. Why? Did I ever notice it before? Could the doctor be wrong? Is it something I could have prevented? Will my child live a normal life? Now imagine over 5 million parents sitting in their child’s doctor’s office asking these same questions. Children across America continue to be over diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also known as ADHD and rates continued to rise within the ongoing years.

In this paper, I will be discussing my opinion against the diagnosis of ADHD and the darker side of psychiatric medication through the story of Sean, who is diagnosed with ADHD. In the latter half, I will be analyzing Sean’s situation through various lenses of health ethics and compare my belief with the ideas of Lainie Friedman Ross.

Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher anxiety and stress levels. A large number of children, almost half, will exhibit signs of ADHD by the age of four. However, most children are not diagnosed until he or she reaches elementary school. The behaviors that are associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a host of other problems and complications such as completing their education, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk for delinquency. There has been much research on ADHD in recent years and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be quite helpful. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general.

It is estimated that between 3 and 12 percent of the population has to deal with conditions known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This equals approximately 3 million children in the United States alone. Both of these disorders (ADD and ADHD) exhibit the same traits leading them to be lumped together. Children affected by ADD or ADHD have behavior and emotional problems. Trouble concentrating on simple tasks, a short attention span, failing to give attention to details, and disruptive behavior are a few of the problems resulting from

The viewpoint has eight pages with four sections and two further reading sections, one listing periodicals and the other listing books to find more information. In the following viewpoint, the author forms facts and opinions about the existence and prevalence of attention deficit disorder (ADD) which is characterized by over activity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness. His

Four percent of all children in the United States Of America are diagnosed with ADHD (“When Will America Just Say No”). From 2008-2012 the rate of children diagnosed with ADHD went up 30 percent ( While there are this many diagnoses’ not all of them are correctly given. Some people pretend to have ADHD so that they can abuse the medicine with it. This is one of the reasons people are divided at giving their child the medication and not. Although some people think their diagnoses is correct, a lot of times it’s not and it could be solved by making the test more complex because we don’t want children on medication they don’t need, it can have harsh side effects, and pretty much anyone who wants it can get it for their own reasons.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly renowned disorder, known to affect hyperactivity, attention, and impulsivity, normally in young children. The National Institute of Mental Health does affirm the legitimacy of ADHD as a mental health disorder. However, there has been much argument over the years, debating whether ADHD is a true psychiatric disorder. Timimi and Radcliffe disagree with the assertion made by the NIMH, saying that ADHD is not a real medical disorder, but rather it is “an agenda-driven, socially constructed entity invented by Western society” (page 1).

There is an alternative medication though. According to a study done on a group of 40 children, “...combined therapy of executive function and sensory integration to children reduces attention deficit and hyperactivity of the children.” (Studying the Effectiveness). What the writer of this study is saying is that therapy can make a child's ADHD affect them less. Another thing is been suggested is “school-based intervention strategies including behavioral interventions, modifications to academic instruction, and home-school communication programs”(ADHD in the Classroom).

Did you know ADD/ADHD is one of the most researched disorders in mental health? It’s understood that people are quite curious as to what it actually is, where it came from, and the effects associated with it as the number of diagnoses increase since first discovered. It can be quite challenging to understand people who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD due to the fact that the topic is easily misunderstood. Many believe that those suffering from this disorder are just dealing with behavior problems or difficulty paying attention, but it goes entirely beyond that. ADD/ADHD is associated with how the human brain functions.

It raises red flags and places families and individuals at high risk for being diagnosed and getting prescribed medication. As a result, mislabeling may lead to an increase of diagnosis and over usage of medication which, can cause serious side effects. For example, according to Psychiatric Times (2009), DSM-IV proposed changes to attention-deficit-/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and caused a drastic rise of diagnoses. This is evidence social workers can utilize when assessing their clients. Experts must be rational, open minded and consider all factors that may have contributed to their problems before suggesting alternatives that may not be effective at all. By doing so, it provides a guidance in implementing new intervention programs and strategies that are less drug driven.

The article written by Milich, Balentin & Lynam (2001) struck me by surprise when they began to talk about when ADD was added into the DSM. They stated that when it was added with the hyperactivity sub-type in the DSM-III that there was little to no research to support its validity. They said that it was put into the DSM to produce almost a curiosity so that people would investigate the subtype. I would never have thought that the DSM would put in a subtype or a category without an ample about of research to back it up. Many people rely on the DSM as a way to diagnose different clients; to add something in without the proper research supporting it does not seem ethical to me. It would be different if they released an article about this new subtype to promote a curiosity about it so that others would research its validity but not just publishing it in the DSM even though in the end it did catch the attention of researchers like it was hoped for.