There is a shocking report in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology which
says basically that attention deficit disorder testing is conducted on
an instinctive basis rather than strictly adhering to the diagnostic
criteria.
The full name of the study is "Is ADHD Diagnosed in Accord With Diagnostic Criteria? Overdiagnosis and Influence of Client Gender on Diagnosis."
Given that these criteria are rather subjective, you can imagine that the doctors' rough rule of thumb approach just adds to the growing number of ADHD cases which are misdiagnosed.
There seems to be far too much reliance on intuition and the report suggests that they were influenced by the patient's sex in that boys were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because they fitted into certain preconceptions in the doctor's mind. The girls were less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD although the figures for girls are usually much lower. The study also showed that male doctors were much more likely to diagnose ADHD than their female colleagues.
There is more evidence to show that attention deficit disorder testing is complicated by the parents' attitudes. The fact their child might have ADHD is often considered as a social disgrace although the figures are now around 22% which is much lower than before.
Then there are those parents who deliberately want their children labelled ADHD because it will give them the opportunity to get special attention at school and also even financial benefits from the Health Service.
There is a further minority of parents, about 8% fortunately, who hope in a positive diagnosis because they can actually help their kids to get extra time in the SAT tests and other exams they have to face!
Attention deficit disorder testing needs a careful and thorough approach and there is no short cut. But many doctors, parents, carers and teachers are all advocating a faster method. They are also pushing for meds to be prescribed straightaway. Maybe to give them all a quiet life. But is this a justification for the drugging of the nation's children?
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is advocating that parents seek help initially with parenting skills and also stress management because it is no easy task having a hyperactive kid in the home. That is the first option and this may be followed by some form of medication which should not be given if the child is under five years of age. But studies show that meds will not really help with the behavioral and social issues anyway.
Finally, if parents really do have to go down the medication route, they should check out alternative forms of treatment such as homeopathy which is free of side effects and there are no health risks either.
The full name of the study is "Is ADHD Diagnosed in Accord With Diagnostic Criteria? Overdiagnosis and Influence of Client Gender on Diagnosis."
Given that these criteria are rather subjective, you can imagine that the doctors' rough rule of thumb approach just adds to the growing number of ADHD cases which are misdiagnosed.
There seems to be far too much reliance on intuition and the report suggests that they were influenced by the patient's sex in that boys were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because they fitted into certain preconceptions in the doctor's mind. The girls were less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD although the figures for girls are usually much lower. The study also showed that male doctors were much more likely to diagnose ADHD than their female colleagues.
There is more evidence to show that attention deficit disorder testing is complicated by the parents' attitudes. The fact their child might have ADHD is often considered as a social disgrace although the figures are now around 22% which is much lower than before.
Then there are those parents who deliberately want their children labelled ADHD because it will give them the opportunity to get special attention at school and also even financial benefits from the Health Service.
There is a further minority of parents, about 8% fortunately, who hope in a positive diagnosis because they can actually help their kids to get extra time in the SAT tests and other exams they have to face!
Attention deficit disorder testing needs a careful and thorough approach and there is no short cut. But many doctors, parents, carers and teachers are all advocating a faster method. They are also pushing for meds to be prescribed straightaway. Maybe to give them all a quiet life. But is this a justification for the drugging of the nation's children?
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is advocating that parents seek help initially with parenting skills and also stress management because it is no easy task having a hyperactive kid in the home. That is the first option and this may be followed by some form of medication which should not be given if the child is under five years of age. But studies show that meds will not really help with the behavioral and social issues anyway.
Finally, if parents really do have to go down the medication route, they should check out alternative forms of treatment such as homeopathy which is free of side effects and there are no health risks either.
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