Running Head: Analysis

Analysis of a Groups diversity

Kyle Lynch
Wayne State University

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Collective History
ADHD is a disability that affects a huge amount of people. The disorder
people are familiar with, ADHD, was not always a known disorder. The disorder has
evolved throughout history and has continues to gain acceptance as a legitimate
condition.
Although seven is the average age of diagnosis, adults can develop
symptoms and receive a diagnosis too. Boys are more than twice as likely to
be diagnosed with ADHD compared to girls. Learning as much as scientists
know about ADHD today took time. First called hyperkinetic impulse disorder,
the American Psychiatric Association (APA) formally recognized ADHD as a
mental disorder in the late 1960s. (Holland, 2013)
The first documented mention of ADHD was by a British pediatrician by the name of
Sir George Still in 1902. Still referred to these children as being mentally retarded
children who could not control themselves as well as typical children, but they still
had intelligence. (Holland, 2013) In 1904 a poem published in one of the worlds
most reputable medical journals the British journal Lancet, gave a striking insight to
dealing with ADHD. The Story of Fidgety Phillip may have been the first published
account of ADHD. (Hallowell, 2014) Charles Bradley developed a line of evidence
linking ADD-like symptoms to biological roots. 1937, Bradley reported success in
using Benzedrine, a stimulant, to treat behaviorally disordered children(Hallowell,
2014). In 1952, the APA issued the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM). This manual listed all of the recognized mental disorders. It also
included known causes, risk factors, and treatments for each condition(Holland,
2013). The first edition of this manual did not include ADHD. In 1968, a second

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DSM was published, which included hyperkinetic impulse disorder for the first
time (Holland, 2013). The first name given to ADHD was Hyperkinetic impulse
disorder. In 1955 Ritalin was introduced to the market for treating ADHD. Ritalin is
still the most used medication in treating ADHD. (ADHD, 2014) The APA released a
third edition of the DSM (DSM-III) in 1980. They changed the name of the disorder
from hyperkinetic impulse disorder to attention deficit disorder (ADD) (Holland,
2013). In 1980 the third edition of the DSM illustrated two types of ADD one with
hyperactivity and one without. This was the first formal use of the term ADD.
(Holland, 2013) A revised edition of the DSM was released in 1987, in this edition
there was yet another name change. They removed the hyperactivity distinction
and changed the name to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The APA
combined the three symptoms (inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) into
a single type and did not identify subtypes of the disorder (Holland, 2013). Finally,
a fourth version of the DSM was released in 2000. This version is still in use today.
In this edition, ADHD was reclassified again. The authors created three
classifications of ADHD. Combined type ADHD, predominantly inattentive ADHD,
and predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type. (Holland, 2013) The standard for
assessing ADHD continues to change to this day.
The population of people affected by ADHD has continued to grow over the
years. Critics say that the cause of this is a change in culture which has pushed
parents in to looking for reason for their childs behavior. Proponents of ADHD
treatment and care say that it is an increase in knowledge and ability to diagnose
that has led to the increase in diagnoses. (ADHD, 2014) In 1973 roughly 6% of
people were thought to have hyperkinetic impulse disorder. (Feature, 2015) By
1993, the rate of diagnosis had climbed to about 13% of people being diagnosed.

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The highest percentage was reached in 1999 when the rate of diagnosis was 16%.
In recent years, the amount of people documented as having ADHD decreased
slightly to about 11% in 2013. (ADHD, 2014) As knowledge is gained in this subject,
there will undoubtedly be more changes to come.
Interview
As a result of the scrutiny many with ADHD face family members appear to
represent the primary source of support for many individuals with psychiatric
disabilities. (Rakfeld p 215, 2011) Jenny Amidon, a mother of a child with ADHD
remember the struggle of deciding whether or not to have her son tested for ADHD.
I didnt want to put a label on him (personal communication, February 15, 2015).
said Amidon. She knew that historically people with this disorder were viewed as
slow, or not up to societys standards. People are quick to judge and place blame
on the parent for their parenting, or just label the child as a brat. And I didnt want
that for my son (J. Amidon, personal communication, February 15, 2015). Due to
the lack of further biological evidence, some people argued that ADD was a
mythical disorder (Hallowell, 2014). This is a struggle many affected by this
disorder face on a daily basis.
When a child is struggling with ADHD it can take extra effort to give them the
opportunity to be involved while making a conscious effort to avoid the child being
outcast. Amidon stated in an interview Finding activities such as sports really
helps a child feel more cohesive with their peers. She continued, Being a member
of a team has given my some and identity amongst his peers and allowed him to
create his own identity aside from being the kid with ADHD (personal
communication, February 15, 2015). Assimilating a child with special needs can be
a challenging and stressful task. Amidon explains Anytime my son enters a new

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situation it is stressful for him. He worries if he is going to be able to measure up to

the other kids (personal communication, February 15, 2015). Amidon also stated
on a daily basis my son must face the reality that he is different than some
students, and he has to do things a little differently sometimes(personal
communication, February 15, 2015). Web MD states ADHD symptoms, such as
trouble focusing, short attention span, hyperactivity, and poor organizational skills
can lead to frustration and feelings of loss of control and hopelessness (ADHD and
Stress, 2015). Because of this, it is no surprise that her son would feel
uncomfortable in many situations.
As a child with ADHD, one may have specific roles that dont always line up
with their gender or age. Amidon stated My son is older than my daughter, but
when I leave my daughter is the one in charge. I just know that she can handle the
independence a little better (personal communication, February 15, 2015). In the
same light she also stated my son is my little helper, I can always count on him to
complete the task I leave him with (personal communication, February 15, 2015).
This makes sense according to Jane Collingwood author of ADHD and Gender. She
writes A lower diagnosis rate among females in childhood could also have come
about because girls with ADHD are more likely than boys to have the inattentive
form of ADHD, and less likely to show obvious problems (Collingwood, 2015). A
consequence of having this disorder is that one must adhere to the roles that best
fit them, not necessarily roles created by society.
Anytime an ADHD individual is a part of a social system there are challenges
one will face. When asked, Amidon said Before I had my son diagnosed I was
fearful that he would be outcast. I just pictured him in the special ed room and it
broke my heart (personal communication, February 15, 2015). While this may be

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the perception some people have, the reality is very different. Since my son has
been diagnosed, I have seen a great change in him. He is not in a special room, and
is thriving . After making adjustments to meet his needs, my son has never been
happier (personal communication, February 15, 2015). Margarita Tartakovsky
author of Living With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder writes There are
millions of people with ADHD living productive, happy lives who have learned how
to manage it well and no longer need professional treatment, or only need
treatment for a brief time to deal with challenging life changes,(Tartakovsky, 2015).
Once an individual identifies the challenges they face, they then can begin to
compensate for those challenges and become a productive member of society.
Regardless of a persons abilities, they are expected to abide by certain
cultural values. In her interview Amidon expressed I am trying to raise a wellrounded man! I know he struggles sometimes, and because of that he must learn to
adhere to certain values(personal communication, February 15, 2015). On the
ADHD awareness website it is stated that
ADHD is NOT caused by moral failure, poor parenting, family problems,
poor teachers or schools, too much TV, food allergies, or excess sugar.
Instead, research shows that ADHD is both highly genetic (with the
majority of ADHD cases having a genetic component), and a brainbased disorder (with the symptoms of ADHD linked to many specific
brain areas). (Feature, 2015)
A child with ADHD is more likely to participate in risky behaviors like sex, drugs and
dangerous sports. It is written in the article Teens, ADHD, and Risky Behavior by
Katherine Kam Almost all of his teen patients with ADHD struggle with impulsivity

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(ADHD and Stress, 2015). Knowing this risk, it is up to the childs support system to
guide the child in making sound moral judgments.
Much like people with other types of mental illness a person with ADHD faces
a future full of adversity. Regardless of ones disability he/she is different, and
society views them that way. Amidon admits when I tell other moms my son has
ADHD they look at me like I said my son is a murderer (Personal communication,
February 15, 2015). Jaak Rakfeldt writes in the book Diversity, Oppression, and
Social Functioning As a result, Family members appear to represent the primary
source of social support for many individuals with psychiatric disabilities (p 215,
2011). This supports of the fact that most people with mental disabilities are often
outcast. Whether a person suffers from ADHD or another form of mental illness
they often have a hard time fitting in, look to family to be their support system.
Social work effects people with ADHD on both the micro level and the macro
level. On the micro level there are counseling services and medical treatments one
may consider. Also, there are ADHD coaches which may help someone suffering
with ADHD function in a more effective way. Tartakovsky writes, An ADHD coach
also can become an integral part of your treatment team. A coach provides
individuals with strategies and tools to accomplish their goals and overcome
challenges (Tartakovsky, 2015). At the Macro level, there is policy at the state and
federal level regarding these individuals and their rights. Many of these policies
make sure patients get the treatment and medication they need.
Anytime a person is different they are at risk for being mistreated. If an
individual does not meet the typical social standard they are either scrutinized or
left out. Often times this is the case for people struggling with a learning disability.
Our culture is very driven by accomplishments. If someone is unable to obtain an

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education or a career that meets societal norms they can be alienated or made to
feel like they are not good enough. Our cultural structures are not set up to cater to
people with needs and because of this sadly, disabled individuals get looked down
on.
Conclusion
ADHD has had a long history. In the beginning it was an ailment which was
dismissed and looked at as a disciplinary problem. Eventually it gained some
acceptance as a legitimate disorder. To this day, there are critics of this problem
who say ADHD is very over diagnosed. People who are educated on the subject
know that the increase in diagnoses is a result of the increased ability to diagnose
the issue. Whether a person is young or old, male or female, having ADHD is a
struggle. Although there are many social services on both the micro and macro
levels, many people go undiagnosed and suffer their whole life. Unfortunately, our
society looks at people with disabilities almost blaming the victim. These
individuals must learn to overcome their disabilities to be successful on our society.

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References

7 Facts You Need To KnowAbout ADHD. (2014, October 1). Retrieved February 18,
2015, from http://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/adhd-facts/
ADHD and Stress: Does One Cause the Other? (2015, January 1). Retrieved February
16, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-and-stress
ADHD Throughout the Years. (2014, October 6). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/timeline.html
Appleby, G., Colon, E., & Rakfeldt, J. (2011). Ableism: Mentally and Emotionally
Challanged People. In Diversity, oppression, and social functioning: Person-inenvironment assessment and intervention (3rd ed., p. 215). Boston:
Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Collingwood, J. (n.d.). ADHD and Gender. Retrieved February 17, 2015, from
http://psychcentral.com/lib/adhd-and-gender/0003126
Feature, K. (n.d.). Teens, ADHD, and Risky Behavior: What Parents Should Know.
Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/addadhd/childhood-adhd/features/teens-adhd-risky-behavior
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2014, January 1). The Evolution of a Disorder. Retrieved
February 15, 2015, from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/adhd/evolution.ht
ml
Holland, K. (2013, June 7). The History of ADHD: A Timeline. Retrieved February 16,
2015, from http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/history-adhd-timeline
Tartakovsky, M. (n.d.). Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Retrieved
February 16, 2015, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/living-with-attentiondeficit-hyperactivity-disorder/0002021?all=1

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