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The Controversy in the Classroom: ADHD Diagnosis

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has encountered extensive controversy in its short time on the psychiatry scene. Many, many children have difficulty concentrating in school and many, many children exhibit some mild behavior problems at some time in their classroom time. A large part of the population is convinced of the gross over-diagnosis of ADHD and the subsequent over-medication of the nation's children. The other side of the argument is that formerly distractible children that weren't learning are able to sit still and concentrate on the goings on of school.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a disorder that is associated with lack of attention and therefore excess distractibility. The person who suffers from this disorder is also restless and overactive for a given situation. For example, a child cannot stay in his seat or follow classroom instruction. These symptoms do actually describe a large portion of the public school population, and so the over-diagnosis of the disorder is a very real possibility. The drugs used to treat ADHD are effective in their calming effects. ADHD may be held responsible for the general inappropriate activity levels in children and even adults.

How Will I Know?

Since ADHD can seriously affect and impair your child's ability to learn, it is important to know what signs to look for when ADHD is suspected. Attention-deficit symptoms include: distractibility, forgetfulness, a lack of sustained attention, frequent careless mistakes, inability to listen, and lack of organization or desire to finish tasks. Again, all children will have such symptoms at some point in their lives. The problems to watch out for are those which last for a significant period of time and severely affect daily functioning. Hyperactivity symptoms include: constant movement, characteristic running and climbing, noisy play, characteristic talking, difficulty waiting and frequent interruptions.

ADHD symptoms begin in very young children and will be identifiable before the age of seven. If a child is truly suffering from ADHD, the symptoms will be universal. School will not be the only place where the child exhibits difficulties.

What are the Options?

The most popular and effective treatments for ADHD are widely used. Medication is controversial because it is given to very young children. Stereotypes would have us believe that there is no reason to have a child ‘drugged up' all the time. If problems are severe, however, medication can be very effective at relieving symptoms. Behavioral therapy is also a very common and effective treatment for ADHD. Other methods of treatment are not as well researched, but may be useful in individual cases. Changing a child's diet so as to remove artificial ingredients and certain categories of foods has worked for some patients.

The important thing to remember about ADHD is that it should only be diagnosed if symptoms are extensive, widespread and long-term. A child must exhibit several symptoms, those symptoms must occur in every situation and they must last for more than six months. If these criteria are not met, the child should be considered normal. Hyperactivity and lack of focusing ability are normal parts of growing up.

Frances, Allen MD and First, Michael B. MD. Your Mental Health: A Layman's Guide to

the Psychiatrist's Bible. New York: Scribner, 1998.