2 of 89

Yes

Write now Article Tools

"What's in a name? That which we call ADHD by any other name is misbehaviour!." With apologies to Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

If one of my sons had been born ten years later he would have been labelled "ADHD". He exhibited many of the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, according to the DSM-IV Criteria for ADHD (which, of course, was not available then). At the time, although my husband was a teacher, we didn't deem it necessary to get a diagnosis and treatment. Life was simpler back then. Andrew's teacher did report that he was, at times, a behaviour problem. However, a combination of discipline, love and patience prevailed and, although as parents we were far from perfect, Andrew is today a teacher himself with young children of his own. He is patient with them, aware of their boisterousness, and they are being successfully home-schooled.

Jarrod, on the other hand, is a child of the nineties. Brought up with virtually no discipline, and initially given unlimited access to the computer, with lots of Play Station thrown in (and his brain, therefore, greatly overstimulated) he was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight, and immediately commenced on Ritalin. Despite the fact that his parents were told he would only need the medication for three to four years, he is still taking it today at the age of seventeen. Added to that, he was diagnosed around three years ago with Aspergers Syndrome. It is interesting that the two conditions' often appear to overlap. One thought I had, which may be way off-base, was that a few of the characteristics of Aspergers are also side-effects of Ritalin, for example insomnia and movement disorders.

Today educators are often wary of diagnosing ADHD too quickly. Children, like adults, are often under stress. They may become depressed because of parental divorce, domestic abuse or bullying. It is easy to confuse depression and hyperactivity. I believe many specialists would now admit that over the past two decades children have been overdiagnosed with ADHD. For example, Dr. Mota-Castillo, a respected psychiatrist as well as Medical Director of a residential treatment centre in Florida, has written a book entitled "Protecting Your Children from Bad Medicine: How the ADHD Diagnosis Has Been Abused" http://www.psychiatrictimes.co m/adhd/article/10168/53786?ver ify=0

One school of thought today is that ADHD and similar conditions have been created by society and schools to excuse the aberrant behaviour of today's students. We have had to create labels to support the behaviour! If we, as parents and teachers, have a label or a reason to support irresponsible and disrespectful behaviour, it relieves us of blame. It is not our inability to discipline that has caused the problem; it is the condition' that is responsible. Whether or not this is the whole truth, I do not know.

One thing, however, I am sure of. Today we live in a world that no longer recognises right' and wrong' behaviour. Mostly we talk about situation ethics'. In other words, whatever seems right in the present context, then that is what we should do. Even in kindergarten we are not supposed to say No' to children, but rather redirect them to appropriate behaviour'.

Are we, perhaps, breeding a society such as that portrayed in Brave New World', where people's moods were regulated medically? Soma', the drug of choice, was always on hand when sadness or frustration reared their ugly heads. No negative thoughts were encouraged. Guilt' was taken out of the dictionary.

However, if a child is never told his behaviour is wrong, then he will never feel guilt, and will continue with that behaviour. If he does not feel guilt, then he will not change. Perhaps we need to raise our expectations and cultivate a sense of responsibility and respect in our children. Perhaps, too, we should become less tolerant of behaviours that may just need (shock, horror!) some old-fashioned discipline.

Learn more about this author, Ann Johnstone.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Are children overdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder??
We want to hear your view. Write now!