Is ADD/ADHD overdignosed?

Question

I have a lot of friends and a majority of them have ADD/ADHD is this ormal or are kids being misdiagnosed?

Answer 1

No, its not...Alot of kids have this, and so do adults. Yes, kids can be mis diagnosed and are everyday.

Answer 2

I would say that at times it is because, especially in a setting where non professionals (i.e. teachers) are dealing with unruly children, there is a tendency to label. The fact is that there are many subtleties to ADD/ADHD that are overlooked and misdiagnosed.
I myself was recently diagnosed with ADD Inattentive and I'm in my 50's. It was never found because as a compliant child (middle child), I didn't act out. I'm an excellent test taker so no one really noticed my spells of day dreaming or distraction. I was fortunate that I was very rule oriented because it compensated for the tendency to endless multi-tasking (boredom).
Anyway, I know of an excellent resource. When you read this book you will understand ADD/ADHD a lot better. It was recommended by my therapist and shed a lot of light on the subject for me .

Answer 3

I certainly do think So! I feel it's a Huge cop out for parents! It's simply easier to give a pill than truly deal with it. After all what on earth did parents do b4 this ADD/ADHD came along? One other thing that stuns me is: These poor children are going to someday be expected to stop taking these meds, live normal lives, deal with problems, etc, etc. I do know one person who is in jail awaiting his trial for Murdering, sexually assaulting a ninety plus yr old lady. Most of his life he took these meds. He did have problems. His problems were: He Never knew what Real discipline was or having his Parents being in Control. For petes sake how can a child be in control of his/her life anyway? A child needs and truly wants a parent or parents to be in control. Pills is only compounding the problems in a zillion different ways.

Answer 4

Great question- it's been debated by the experts for years...so there is no answer that's clear. It could be that we are just giving out this Dx haphazardly, or it could be that we didn't dx it before because it was acceptable to let little Tommy or Susie just be a ditch digger or put out a zillion babies and not have a full-12 year education. But now that we're a "no child left behind" society, we tend to try and fix those that are not fitting the mold of scholastic success.

In short, there's no answer (yet). If your friends feel that they've improved now that a dx was made and they've sought help, then kudos to them!

Answer 5

ADD/ADHD is a very real disorder that I actually suffer from myself! I was diagnosed as an adult, and it is quite a relief to finally have an explaination for the symptoms that have been plaguaing me my whole life.

I do, however, feel they should have more strict diagnosing criteria because now pretty much anyone can tell their doctor that they can't concentrate, or are very hyper and they will write out a perscription.

Answer 6

No, I'm the most hyper student in all of my classes. I play 3 sports a year, I'm on Student Council, I'm in the Band, I write for my school's newspaper, I'm on the math team, and I volunteer every Sunday at my church's Sunday School. I' never seem to get tired, because I have so much energy. When I was tested for ADD as a kid (when I was very active and sometimes hard to control,) I tested negative. I always joke around with my friends and many times they are amazed at how I wasn't diagnosed for ADD.

Answer 7

There is no concrete medical test for ADD/ADHD
it's a sociologist or therapist interpretation off tests.
The daydreamers, clowns and bored kids of 30 years ago are the ADD/ADHD kids of today.
Teachers are lazy or aren't allowed to discipline.
Medical professionals want more money.
Drug company's want more money.
And a medical problem is more acceptable than a disciplinary problem.

Answer 8

ADD can be found in 5% of girls nd 10% of boys in elementary school
for a child to be diagnosed with ADD he/she should shows the criteria of the disorder....which are (symptoms of inattention,hyperactivity and impulsivity)

Answer 9

I believe that it is underdiagnosed. The kids are getting diagnosed but their parents and grandparents have it too. They could benefit from treatment. It definitely runs in families.

Answer 10

Yes!! Most times it is diagnosed as a cop out so parents don't have to be held responsible to discipline and control their children!