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Not an Education Thing, It’s a Medical Thing: Attention Defiance Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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The treatment of people with ADHD has varied over the years with what they can and cannot do. “ADHD stands for Attention-defiance hyperactivity disorder, it is a condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity” (NAMI). Usually, it is diagnosed in early childhood, but it is not limited to children, adults can also be diagnosed later in their years. The diagnose effects about 9% in children ages 9-17 and 2-4% adults. The symptoms are different for everyone, because there is such a wide range of diagnoses. ADHD itself cannot be determined by just one test, it takes a series of test. Symptoms include, difficult engaging is activities quietly, excessive talking, difficult times in paying attention and failure to pay …show more content…

After becoming so into swimming, in sixth grade he told his mom he wanted to be taken off stimulant medication for ADHD, and she decided to go along with it, thinking with his busy schedule he could control himself. Now, at 28 years old the Olympic swimmer has won a total of 22 medals, 13 world records and the most medals at a single game. His mother, Debbie Phelps, says ““All kids can fail us at times, but if you work with them, nine times out of 10, they’ll make you proud” (Dutton). In America’s military, ADHD restricts men and women from enlisting in certain positions or duties. The enlisting policy states that the diagnosis or treatment was enough to disqualify a person from service until they could receive a special waver. However, under the new standards changed in 2004, anyone who has been treated with ADHD medication in the past year or shows “significant” evidence of ADHD symptoms is the only way they can be disqualified. Some people say that since it has not been challenged in a court of law, it is obviously not that important to the citizens of America. Even with more relax standards, the overly restrictive policy that regards ADHD medication is something that still needs to be adjusted. “An individual with ADD/ADHD who is being treated with medication is not necessarily "too ADD/ADHD" to be an effective soldier” (Jaska). Arguments are often made about the well-being of soldiers with ADHD who are somehow more capable then others,

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