ADHD Over diagnosed?

[Project Delta]

Is ADHD/ADD Over diagnosed? Debate

[ThUnDeR]

i dont really think it is beacuse the people who are diagnosed really have problems! like me XD idk maybe im wrong but i dont think it is

[Project Delta]

In america i think it is grossly over diagnosed, Just because a child has hyperactive behaviour doesnt mean they have ADHD, i have it.

[theOperaGhost]

Yes i think it is over diagnoed. Kids can barely be kids anymore without being diagnosed with it. Why does being hyper or overactive always mean ADHD?

[Project Delta]

Exactly. I have it, supposedly , and the medication helps

[Atonement]

I believe it is as serious medical condition, but I do believe it is over diagnosed.

[Sapphire]

Yes, it is.
There are some kids that really need the extra help,
But a lot of kids with this diagnosis can achieve great things in life without being diagnosed and medicated. Take Churchill for example.
If he were born in our generation then he would have been diagnosed with ADHD and medicated while in school. In reality, he wasn't medicated or even diagnosed with ADHD and he went on to be arguably the best wartime PM we've ever had.

[Reality]

Wouldn't dyslexia be a better poll? It seems the world and it's mother are diagnosed dyslexics. I know there are many people with it, but just 'cause a kid has a few handwriting, spelling or attention-paying problems at a young age doesn't mean they're dyslexic.. they could just be slow learners. I know a few supposed dyslexics whose spelling, writing, reading and writing is just normal, yet had problems in Primary School, and if I remember right, they didn't receive that much special support.

Anyway, I think ADHD is one of those overly diagnosed conditions, like dyslexia. People do have it, but I think quite a few people are misdiagnosed by it, especially children.

[punkjake]

Yes,one time i was paying attention in school because i was bored as hell and the teacher gave my mom a note that i mite have ADD also i got a back examination and my nerves were apparently tense and he asked me if i had ADD:eek:

[UnholyConfessions]

To a certain extent yes. Most people who are diagnosed with ADHD do genuinly have it, however it appears that in recent years people seem to see the slightest hyper-active behaviour in a person as though they may have ADHD. See with that, half of me believes that some people are worried as to whether people may have it, so when they see ADHD-type behaviour or anything hyper-active they became wary of that person and if they could have it. However another half of me believes that some people try to use ADHD as an excuse for hyper-active behaviour in an attempt to cover up the fact they may have not been able to discipline the child enough.

[marty]

I think i was falsely diagnosed. I have a lot of energy, but i don't think that means i have ADHD

[Zephyr]

It's waaaay overdiagnosed. Kids will be kids, hyperactive. And it's just lazy to say, "Oh, they have ADD." and shove pills down their throat to fix the problem, that's lazy parenting. In high school, it amazed me how many people would say that they had ADD as an excuse for them not paying attention in class and goofing off.

[INFERNO]

I do think ADHD is a valid disorder but I do think it is over-diagnosed since if a child is seen as hyper, then usually the association made is "ZOMG they have ADHD". It's a problem of people looking simply at basic symptoms that they know but not at the diagnostic criteria, which is what is needed to make the diagnosis.

Doctors on the other hand (hopefully) are different but they are the same in some ways. If a child comes in and is hyper and such, it's common to think the child has ADHD.

Although I think the problem stems not from the doctors but from other people. If someone is labeled as having it or even uses it as a cop-out excuse, it works nicely for them.

However, what should be done is consider the environment the child is in. If they're bored and hyper, then as much as it may seem to be ADHD, it may not be. Parents though may want the easier route and want the pills for the child.

[Camazotz]

From personal experience, no. There are only a handful of people I know that have ADHD, but I do understand that kids have a hard time concentrating in school, even if they don't have ADHD. I believe that it may be over diagnosed but the medication eases children to help them concentrate. I'd rather a healthier alternative, like less sugar. I hate to blame the parents, but if they can stop their kids from eating unhealthy foods, kids might be able to pay attention.

[Hyper]

I think it is.. Ten or twenty years back there was hardly any ADHD ever diagnosed.. But now its in the masses almost every hyper kid is said to be ADHD...

But the reality of it is that we are using less and less of the good old method of parenting/teaching that is; SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!

[Antares]

Everything is over diagnosed it seems.
America is overmedicated.
Unless the kid honestly can't pay attention for 2 seconds, then theres a problem.
But if they are jjust hyper, thats normal and may be a part of their personality. It also may change anyways.

ADHD is over diagnosed and its quite sad...
if I were a doctor, I would suggest alternative methods and prolong true diagnosis as long as possible. Kids are on wayy too many meds nowadays

[Project Delta]

i was on 17 tablets a day for 3 weeks

[INFERNO]

Everything is over diagnosed it seems.
America is overmedicated.
Unless the kid honestly can't pay attention for 2 seconds, then theres a problem.
But if they are jjust hyper, thats normal and may be a part of their personality. It also may change anyways.

ADHD is over diagnosed and its quite sad...
if I were a doctor, I would suggest alternative methods and prolong true diagnosis as long as possible. Kids are on wayy too many meds nowadays

That's the problem with our society nowadays. We want to pop a pill for whatever there is. If you were a doctor (presumably a psychiatrist), then you'd have your day packed to the brim with people to see. you cant spend long amounts of time with each. People want fast results, hence, a pill rather than therapy. Of course, when we get "super-bugs", then what happens? We're flat on our ass until yet again, another medication rolls around.

Imagine that you're a parent, one who hasn't gone to medical school nor do they know a whole lot about their child's possible disorder. You go to see a psychiatrist and have whatever stigma follow you about it. The doctor sees your child and possibly also you a few times, tells you that he'll need a few sessions to find a diagnosis. If you keep prolonging it and if the kid isn't getting better in that time, then how are you to convince these frantic parents to keep bringing their kid in? People want a fast result, a quick diagnosis, and a quick result.

Many times the kid doesn't need the medications, as you said, alternative methods and I'm all for that. I've seen kids (at the karate dojo I attend) who are just plain hyper. Then I've seen the ones who actually have ADHD. There's a difference and a good doctor may be able to tell if they're given the proper information. But they need a quick and fast diagnosis, after all, you need money, don't you? If you keep doddling while other doctors are tossing pills left, right and center, what good are you at providing treatment in terms of quantity? None. You'd risk getting fired.

[MoveAlong]

Of course. I was diagnosed with it when I was little, but really I was just a hyper little kid that did NOT care about freakin' English or math or social studies or whatever.