Rhonda Bates
Elizabeth McKinley
English 111
23 November 2014
ADHD: Fiction or Non-Fiction?
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is defined as persistent pattern of
inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically
observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. (WebMD) ADHD is an issue that
has been under debate for many years. Many believe that ADHD is not real, but there is much
scientific research to prove that it is in fact real! The debates are over what causes ADHD, the
symptoms and how to diagnosis ADHD and how to properly treat ADHD. Some of the most
prestigious scientific-based organizations in the world conclude that ADHD is a real disorder
with potentially devastating consequences when not properly identified, diagnosed and treated.
Although the exact cause of ADHD is unknown, we do know that ADHD is hereditary.
New research provides the first direct evidence that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) is a genetic condition. Scientists at Cardiff University found that children with ADHD
were more likely to have small segments of their DNA duplicated or missing than other children.
The study also found significant overlap between these segments, known as copy number variants
(CNVs), and genetic variants implicated in autism and schizophrenia, proving strong evidence
that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder -- in other words, that the brains of children with
the disorder differ from those of other children. (Wellcome Trust) Dr John Williams, Head of
Neuroscience and Mental Health at the Wellcome Trust says: "These findings
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are testament to the perseverance of Professor Thapar and colleagues to prove the often
unfashionable theory that ADHD is a brain disorder with genetic links.
In instances where heredity does not seem to be a factor, difficulties during pregnancy,
prenatal exposure to alcohol and tobacco, premature delivery, significantly low birth weight,
excessively high body lead levels, and postnatal injury to the prefrontal regions of the brain have
all been found to contribute to the risk for ADHD to varying degrees. (Anastopoulos) Lead
exposure, fluoride, food allergies, food additives and pesticides are some of the other theories that
cause ADHD. (Iliades)
ADHD is considered a mental health disorder and only a licensed professional can make
a diagnosis. The evaluations of ADHD include, but are not limited to:
Talking with the child or parents to get the childs history
Talking with the parents to get a family history
Clinical assessment using standardized behavior rating scales
Review of patients academic, social and emotional functioning
Evaluation of learning disabilities, if any.
Symptoms of ADHD are not always present. The symptoms depend on the situation, which make
diagnosis difficult. Therefore, it is imperative to gather information from other adults other than the
parents. (Anastopoulos)
There are three different categories of ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity with impulsivity and
combined, which is the most common type. A child with inattention usually has difficulty paying
attention, is easily distracted, cannot sit still, procrastinates and is disorganized. Hyperactivity sufferers
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fidget and squirm, get up frequently, cannot engage in quiet play and talk excessively. Impulsivity
symptoms include impatience, blurting out, frequent interruption and speaking out of turn. Children
with this diagnosis frequently engage in activities that are dangerous without the consideration of
consequences. (WebMD)
Treatment of ADHD has two important components, psychotherapy and medication. While
medication may help with some immediate relief, a person with ADHD still needs to learn to successfully
live with the disorder. The specific class of medications most commonly prescribed for ADHD are called
stimulants. Ritalin and Adderall are the two most common. Stimulant drugs are often beneficial in
reducing hyperactivity and impulsivity, which in return help the child to focus. In psychotherapy a kid can
be helped to express emotions and taught ways to handle them. They will also identify their strengths,
cope with daily problems and control their aggression. The goal is behavioral change, to increase the
childs appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior. Social skills are also taught. A child
will learn to converse with others appropriately, see others perspectives, listen and the importance of eye
contact. (Grohol)
Prevalence measures how common a condition is in a given population at a certain point in time
or over a period of time. The prevalence of ADHD among U.S. school-age children (aged 4-17) having
ever been diagnosed with ADHD is generally considered to be about 11% (about 6.4 million children).
Currently, about 8.8%, of children, or 5.1 million, have a diagnosis of ADHD. (ABPN) ADHD can be
dated back to 1902. It is one of the most common childhood disorders. Although most of the symptoms
are appear by age three ADHD is not typically diagnosed until age 7. Most children that are not diagnosed
become what is known as a problem child in the community. The American Psychiatric Association
(APA) says that five percent of American children have ADHD. But the Centers for Disease Control and
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Prevention (CDC) puts the number at more than double the APA number. The CDC says that eleven
percent of American children ages four to seventeen, have the disorder. (Holland)
Can you imagine living everyday with the struggle of trying to be organized or trying to listen to
a friend speak without giving in to the temptation of interrupting them because your brain keeps sending
you a signal to do so? Even after all the research some will still choose to believe that ADHD is not real,
but as this paper has explained it is a very complex and impairing condition. The nature and effects of this
disease will need to be further studied to gain complete understanding by all.
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WORKS CITED
Iliades, Chris MD. 10 Theories about ADHD Causes. everydayhealth.com. 31 August 2010.
Everyday Health Media, LLC. Web. 25 September 2014.
"ADHD: Inattentive Type." WebMD. WebMD, LLC, 25 May 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Anastopoulos, PhD. The Key Components of a Comprehensive Assessment of ADHD.
ATTENTION!. The CHADD Information & Resource Guide to ADHD. Web. Spring 1998. 25
Sept. 2014.
Grohol, John M. Psy. D. Childhood / Teenage Attention Deficit Disorder:An Introduction to
ADHD in Children & Teenagers. Psychcentral.com. Psych Central. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Baughman, Fred. Does ADHD EXIST? PBS.ORG. WGBH EDUCATIONAL
FOUNDATION. WEB. 24 SEPT. 2014.
HOLLAND, KIMBERLY, RILEY, ELISABETH. ADHD BY THE NUMBERS:FACTS,
STATISTICS AND YOU. HEALTHLINE.COM. 4 SEPTEMBER 2014. HEALTHLINE
NETWORKS, INC. WEB. 24 SEPTEMBER 2014.
Wellcome Trust. "First direct evidence that ADHD is a genetic disorder: Children with ADHD more likely to have
missing or duplicated segments of DNA." 30 September 2010. ScienceDaily. 30 October 2014.
"American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Certification in the Subspecialty of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry." Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 164.6 (2014):
942-48. Statistical Prevalence of ADHD. National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of CHADD. Web.
30 Oct. 2014. <http://www.help4adhd.org/statistics>.
