Whether the problem in school is anxiety or a difficulty to focus, ADHD is a possible justification that comes to the minds of parents and teachers. The American Psychological Association defines ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a behavioral disorder that interferes with the focus of routinely tasks. In general, individuals with ADHD struggle with planning, stay organized, and focusing. In 2003, the percentage of U.S. children ages 4 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD was 7.8%. The percentage in 2011 has subsequently increased to 11.0%. Moreover, the percentage of U.S. children diagnosed with ADHD is projected to increase at the very least by 5% per year. The point stands, is childhood ADHD an epidemic? And if so, what is the cause …show more content…
children and its leading contributor appears to be misinformation of ADHD created by pharmaceutical companies. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 5% of American children are estimated to suffer from ADHD in 2017. This suggests that a great portion of children diagnosed with ADHD don’t really have ADHD. William Frankenberger, psychologist and director of the Human Development Center of the University of Wisconsin-Eau-Claire, mentions that “children with the slightest attention problem are sent to be assessed for ADHD at [his] clinic” and he couldn’t “believe [that] they were referred.” These children who were diagnosed to have ADHD prior did not have ADHD when examined by an expert. The children, however, must have been previously diagnosed by an adult with limited or incorrect knowledge of ADHD. Alan Schwarz, journalist and Pulitzer Prize-nominated National Correspondent at The New York Times, claims that the misinformation of ADHD is due to the pharmaceutical advertising of medication. Big pharmaceutical companies have great financial incentives to advertise their drugs. It would seem intuitive for these pharmaceutical companies to create advertisements marketing towards parents and physicians regardless if their product claims aren’t