Children with ADHD Attention Psychiatric Association says that up to 11% of children in the U.S have been diagnosed with ADHD. This is a concerning percentage considering the possibility for misdiagnosis. Many children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD due to parents being overwhelmed by their high energy children, Schools not questioning a misdiagnosis because they get more funding for a child with a mental handicap, and because doctors choose the easy way out when treating a child with high energy. The first reason why children are being misdiagnosed for ADHD because parents are being overwhelmed by their high energy children. “The child 's only advocate is the parent who lacked the courage to apply discipline” (Guelph Murphy 2006). The children wouldn 't be so out of control if their parents just applied discipline when they start acting up. “These days parents go to the internet, take self- administered surveys, and diagnose their children and choose a medication without ever stepping foot in a psychiatrist 's office” (Guelph Murphy 2006). Parents nowadays trust people on the internet more than a psychiatrist. The next reason why children are being misdiagnosed is because schools don 't question a misdiagnosis because they get more funding. “Schools get more funding …show more content…
The last reason why children are being misdiagnosed for ADHD is because the child’s doctors are taking the easy way out. Once, doctors insisted on hours of evaluation of a child before making a diagnosis or prescribing a medication. Today doctors brag that they can make an initial assessment of a child and write a prescription in less than 20 minutes (Guelph Murphy 2006). Some doctors today think treating a child is more about speed rather than accuracy. “Many Clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain- based disorder than suggest parenting changes” (Guelph Murphy 2006). Parents need to realize that it might be the way they are parenting and that it 's not the child