Argumentative Essay On Adhd

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a disorder first listed in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1980, is a hotly debated issue in many psychology circles today. It commonly manifests itself as a decreased ability to focus on completing a task, increased impulsiveness, and abnormal hyperactivity (Gantt, Slife, 1). Because the diagnoses of ADHD are skyrocketing, in addition to the fact that the symptoms appear subjective, some psychologists, such as Sami Timimi and Nick Radcliffe, believe ADHD to be a “social construct”, created so that a child’s actions cannot be blamed on the child’s upbringing and home environment. On the other hand, the National Institute of Mental Health supports the affirmative

The Institute proclaims that between 3 and 5 percent of school-age children are affected. If left untreated, this can lead to decreased performance in academics, strained personal relationships, and low self-esteem. Although the three main symptoms, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, are displayed occasionally by all children, the Institute’s article declares that there are clear guidelines that are used when diagnosing ADHD. Firstly, the aforementioned symptoms must be demonstrated to an abnormal degree. Secondly, the behavior must have begun during early childhood; ADHD is usually diagnosed around the age of 6. And lastly, the behaviors must cause a handicap in multiple areas of a person’s life, such as “in the schoolroom, on the playground, at home, in the community, or in social settings” (Gantt, Slife, 4). Furthermore, other influences for abnormal behavior, such as a traumatic event, must be ruled out before one can be diagnosed with ADHD. Once the diagnosis is made, there are two primary types of treatment, medicine and counseling. I share the affirmative viewpoint that ADHD is a legitimate psychological disorder because of research that discovered that ADHD is very likely influenced by genetics, and that the brains of those diagnosed with ADHD have 3-4 percent

To me, much like to Timimi and Radcliffe, it seemed odd that so many of my acquaintances and friends were being diagnosed with ADHD, especially with the disorder only recently being added to the DSM. Furthermore, I believe many parents do seek to find psychological abnormalities that can explain rebellious or otherwise disruptive behavior. The genetic information from the NIMH is what swayed my opinion towards considering ADHD a legitimate disorder. Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between family history of ADHD and the likelihood that a child will develop the disorder. The statistic is that “25 percent of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD” (Gantt, Slife, 5). This is especially evident in twins. I was also intrigued by the statistic that ADHD children have measurably smaller brain