In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association, educators, as well as parents and caregivers, are able to review certain behaviors found in students. A combination of various behaviors may lead to a potential diagnosis of ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, along with attention deficit disorder, is a neurobehavioral disorder which is characterized by a combination of distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness. Its symptoms may be discerned in early childhood, and they tend to continue into adulthood, causing problems at the social, academic, and professional levels. Patients with this diagnosis tend to lack concentration, become disruptive, are defiant, and have trouble socializing and getting along with teachers, peers, parents, or other family members.
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For individuals with ADD and ADHD, regular tasks can be very challenging, needing to learn new skills to cope with academic or professional limitations. Many believe ADHD to be a real disorder, while others think of it as a collection of natural behaviors which are nowadays less tolerated and therefore require a medical explanation or excuse. Because of this, many medical experts disagree on diagnosis and treatment, some considering it should be behavioral, and some prescribing medications in support of a pharmacological treatment. Studies have shown that a balanced combination of both approaches may work better in treating the alleged disorder and the behaviors associated with it.
Diagnosis of ADHD is not easy, especially considering the fact that not a single test is used to present a diagnosis in children or adults. For those medical professionals who support the position that ADHD is a real psychological disorder, this diagnosis takes place after the individual has shown some or all of the symptoms associated with ADHD on a regular basis for six months or more. Additionally, these signs and symptoms must be present in more than one setting. Upon consideration of the type and number of symptoms, the patient may be diagnosed with one of the three different types of ADHD: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive, or a combination of both. In children, this diagnosis involves gathering information from various sources and comparing the child’s behavior to that of other children of the same age. Among the symptoms of ADHD one finds impulsivity, inattention, hyperactivity, constant motion, lack of concentration, making careless mistakes, being fidgety, losing things, being easily distracted, or poor planning or task completion. To support a diagnosis for ADHD, children will usually receive a full physical exam, including hearing and vision screenings, to ensure that no other conditions are the cause of the irregular behavior. Furthermore, educators and health care providers must take into consideration medical conditions and life changing events that may be the cause of behaviors associated with ADHD. Some of these additional, non-related factors that may be cause of confusion or even a denial of a ADHD diagnosis include depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, lead toxicity, thyroid problems, seizures, or major life changes such as divorce, a move or a death in the family. An accurate diagnosis will be able to bring a sense of relief and understanding about the personal situation of the patient. Both children and adults with ADHD eventually develop negative perceptions about themselves, along with low self-esteem, leading to other emotional and psychological disorders. But ADHD also has its detractors and those who believe it is not a real medical disorder. They argue that since its alleged discovery, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has been presented to the public as a biological abnormality of the brain, or a neurobiological disorder. The checking off of six or more behaviors from a list of nine, they say, immediately diagnoses the individual with a brain abnormality. ADHD deniers state that the diagnosis of this alleged disorder is just part of a medical propaganda which has been enforced on the public for so many years that society already believes in it. Together with the diagnosis of ADHD comes the issuance of prescription medications. Given the great amount of children and adults diagnosed with the alleged disorder, the combination of behavioral and pharmacological treatment becomes a profitable business for many irresponsible individuals. One of the main arguments of those who oppose a diagnosis of ADHD refers to the fact that many children, up to the time they start attending school, have been considered normal
For individuals with ADD and ADHD, regular tasks can be very challenging, needing to learn new skills to cope with academic or professional limitations. Many believe ADHD to be a real disorder, while others think of it as a collection of natural behaviors which are nowadays less tolerated and therefore require a medical explanation or excuse. Because of this, many medical experts disagree on diagnosis and treatment, some considering it should be behavioral, and some prescribing medications in support of a pharmacological treatment. Studies have shown that a balanced combination of both approaches may work better in treating the alleged disorder and the behaviors associated with it.
Diagnosis of ADHD is not easy, especially considering the fact that not a single test is used to present a diagnosis in children or adults. For those medical professionals who support the position that ADHD is a real psychological disorder, this diagnosis takes place after the individual has shown some or all of the symptoms associated with ADHD on a regular basis for six months or more. Additionally, these signs and symptoms must be present in more than one setting. Upon consideration of the type and number of symptoms, the patient may be diagnosed with one of the three different types of ADHD: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive, or a combination of both. In children, this diagnosis involves gathering information from various sources and comparing the child’s behavior to that of other children of the same age. Among the symptoms of ADHD one finds impulsivity, inattention, hyperactivity, constant motion, lack of concentration, making careless mistakes, being fidgety, losing things, being easily distracted, or poor planning or task completion. To support a diagnosis for ADHD, children will usually receive a full physical exam, including hearing and vision screenings, to ensure that no other conditions are the cause of the irregular behavior. Furthermore, educators and health care providers must take into consideration medical conditions and life changing events that may be the cause of behaviors associated with ADHD. Some of these additional, non-related factors that may be cause of confusion or even a denial of a ADHD diagnosis include depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, lead toxicity, thyroid problems, seizures, or major life changes such as divorce, a move or a death in the family. An accurate diagnosis will be able to bring a sense of relief and understanding about the personal situation of the patient. Both children and adults with ADHD eventually develop negative perceptions about themselves, along with low self-esteem, leading to other emotional and psychological disorders. But ADHD also has its detractors and those who believe it is not a real medical disorder. They argue that since its alleged discovery, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has been presented to the public as a biological abnormality of the brain, or a neurobiological disorder. The checking off of six or more behaviors from a list of nine, they say, immediately diagnoses the individual with a brain abnormality. ADHD deniers state that the diagnosis of this alleged disorder is just part of a medical propaganda which has been enforced on the public for so many years that society already believes in it. Together with the diagnosis of ADHD comes the issuance of prescription medications. Given the great amount of children and adults diagnosed with the alleged disorder, the combination of behavioral and pharmacological treatment becomes a profitable business for many irresponsible individuals. One of the main arguments of those who oppose a diagnosis of ADHD refers to the fact that many children, up to the time they start attending school, have been considered normal