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By Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is the most commonly studied and diagnosed disorder in children. In the United States alone, it is estimated that approximately 6 million children are currently diagnosed with ADHD, as opposed to 1985, where that number was just at 500,000. Because of the large and somewhat sudden increase in numbers, there has been much controversy over the diagnosis of this disorder. Is this a true psychiatric disorder or are the good old days of “kids being kids” being exploited as an excuse for another medical condition?
We all have moments of impulsivity. Children definitely spend a lot of their time running around. Students all, at one time or another, shout out answers in class. Kids will climb on furniture and throw things just for fun. They will not all be able to sit through full length movies, or even short television programs. But does that automatically mean that this child has an attention disorder accompanied by a component of hyperactivity? Definitely not. However, when these behaviors become excessive, uncontrollable, and socially hindering, it is time to look into possible reasons why.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is not something that can be as easily diagnosed as diabetes, high blood pressure or a thyroid disorder. While there is no lab test that can conclude that a child has ADHD, the American Psychiatric Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), has listed definitive criteria for a diagnosis (for more information on this criteria, visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html).
There is no need to be alarmed if you look at these criteria and realize your child has exhibited some, or many of these symptoms. Children are very active and believe it or not, most of these behaviors are quite normal in developing children. It is when these behaviors impede on a child’s ability to learn and socialize that there is cause for further investigation.
While this information alone may leave many still skeptical about the validity of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, there is further evidence that there may actually be a difference in brain development in children with ADHD than in those without it.
Dr. Philip Shaw, who led the research team at the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), released a study in 2007 which offered physiological evidence for ADHD. Shaw found that there was a developmental “lag” or delay in the part of the brain (prefrontal cortex) responsible for functions such as attention, focusing, memory and the ability to suppress impulsive responses, while the primary cortex, or the area of the brain responsible for generating neural impulses which control the execution of movement, develops at a more rapid pace. The inverse development of these two areas of the brain may be the reason why children with ADHD are so impulsive and restless.
Unless you have direct contact with a child with ADHD, this disorder may be far fetched and hard to comprehend. Even Tom Cruise has publically stated his opinion that this disorder and psychiatry as a whole is a “quack”. Unfortunately, this opinion is shared too widely by many people, making it hard for these children to get the attention and treatment they deserve. Is ADHD being overdiagnosed? Maybe. But that still does not take away from the many children whose lives are affected by this very real disorder. Just ask a teacher who has a child with ADHD in her classroom or a competent, firm parent who has a child that is completely impulsive and hyper. Take a minute to become educated on this before you pass judgment.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
It is true that people who have never experienced children who have ADHD tend to say that it is not a true disorder and that all these children are being misdiagnosed. Being a teacher, it truly bothers me to have people just brush off ADHD as a nonexistent disorder and say that parents just use it as an excuse to medicate their child when they can’t control them. They should spend time with children with ADHD and see how hard it is for them and then hopefully they will understand that these children struggle on a daily basis. People truly need to get all the facts before they come to a conclusion! Great article Kim!!!
November 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This is such a relevant topic today. I have very limited knowledge of these kinds of disorders and don’t know too many children with ADD or ADHD nor do I have children, but still I have heard so many times (too many times) that it’s not legit, or that it’s a convenient solution. What I do know is that the parents and teachers that actually spend time with these kids and see patterns in their behavior are the real authorities here. The more aware we can be about attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, the more we can nurture these children to work with their strengths so we can minimize the struggles and see all the brilliance that these kids have.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I think its all mostly made up by drug companies and doctors and its not as widespread as it seems. Do I think its real ? YES. Do I think that a child who may want to throw a paper airplane in class or be disruptive at times should be diagnosed and drugged ? NO. Why don’t they have these issues elsewhere in the world? Is it because parents aren’t looking for excuses and not everyone there can afford the drugs?
November 9th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Very informative, Kim. I have seen friends and family experience the heartache and frustration of not having the support needed for the treatment of their own children. With new data and information so readily available now,they are not alone. This is a very real condition, and these kids need all the help,understanding and patience we can give them.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:57 am
As is often the case with ADHD two separate issues become confused with each other. There are a number of children who have needs which are not catered for by the education system.It does not suit these children to sit still for long periods-they learn by doing.Society does not necessarily cater for their differences either-until they become famous or rich.
Many successful entrepreneurs and artists would be today labeled ADHD if they were in school.
The fact that their behaviours may be challenging or that they have needs which the education system cant or wont provide does NOT mean they have an illness and it dos NOT mean they need drugs.
Lets be clear — these children and their families may need support and help in catering to their needs and letting the children shine in their own way. Please do not label them as diseased and give them a mind altering drug so as to make them more docile or “conforming”
The “disease” is not in the children,it is in a society that craves conformity and will not cater to, or respect that not all children are the same
November 10th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I have many students who have a difficult time sitting still for an enitre period and who have a great amount of energy. Many people automatically want to say that the kids are ADD/ADHD and are quick to label. However, like you stated, many of these behaviors are normal behaviors for children. But it is true that when this behavior negatively effects a childs learning or socialization, further investigation should take place. Great article!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:36 am
As a therapist working very closely with children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD I have seen first hand the results of medication for these children. It makes them physically present, but mentally somewhere else. It may make them sit still for an extended period of time, but that does not mean that their intellectual ability is working to its full capacity. The word “treatment” is often automatically associated with medicine, however there are many other effective, alternative treatments for children with ADHD that require no medication at all such as positive behavioral therapy, self-monitoring techniques, token systems (more so for the younger children), increased opportunity for physical and hands-on ativities, providing an “understimulating” environment with minimal distractors for improved education, minimizing sugar intake and even some dietary restrictions. As educators, parents and therapists, it is our job to be creative provide outlets for these children to learn to express themselves appropriately.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:54 am
I agree with approach of the article Kimberly and Dr Joe’s comments as well. I do believe that these so-called ‘issues’ would be rewarded in some countries and that these labels would otherwise be a ‘gift’ in some societies. When I was younger, I would have fit within the criteria of several of these labels. My wife still calls me a few of them now and then. I know many others who I have watched over the years that also would have also been ‘labeled’ BUT we are all thriving and successful. I wonder what these labels and treatments would have done to us had they not been recognized as something acceptable at the time (1980’s). I have a friend whose son in 5th grade used a scissor the ‘wrong way’ (he held it down instead of up) and they had a parent meeting, called the occupational therapist and had a meeting with the child, his parents and the quasi-medical expert panel at the school who said he needed occupational therapy. When he showed me how his son used this, it was actually more comfortable and safe. I told this story to a professor I work with in Hong Kong who teaches innovation and he laughed and said “In China or India, they would use that experience to design a better scissor for children”…. and they would probably make millions. Innovation, free thinking and creative thought was once this countries greatest asset and we have now transplanted so much of it outside our borders while suppressing our future artists, designers, scientists and innovators. I wonder what 20 years from now will look like.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
ITS JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR THE DRUG LOBBYIST TO PUSH THEIR DRUGS ON OUR KIDS. HOW ABOUT KIDS GOING OUT TO PLAY FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER SCHOOL AND RELEASING SOME OF THAT PENT UP ENERGY. INSTEAD THEY SIT ON THEIR IPHONES,COMPUTERS, TV, CELL PHONES. SO WHEN THEY ACT UP THEY HAVE ADD OR ADHD..
November 17th, 2009 at 3:02 am
I think we should be open minded about whether ADHD truly exists or not. I am not at all an expert on the subject but the one thing that strikes me is that the world has changed so much in the last 50 years. The question I would ask and I am not sure of the answer at the moment is – is ADHD a product of the environment that we live in or is it a product of the person themselves? – the parents and children are a lot more stressed than 50 years ago, rush around, try and cope with machines and ever increasing changes in technology, are bombarded with all sorts of stimuli on their senses, so many changes have happened so quickly we cannot be sure of all the affects this has had on mankind physically and mentally at this stage.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:59 am
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