Does ADHD Exist?

[jason]

Originally published at .... You can comment here or there.

This is an interesting topic. I have ADD/ADHD. All my life. The question of its existence is not an issue for me, ADHD is a descriptive of a state, not a pathological designation. It may be a disease, but that’s not my issue. [and this is my personal, not professional opinion] That is, you need to recognize it and engage it, not drug it and ‘fix’ it. To me it IS a social construct… no less than genius or all of the descriptions of intellectual impairments; that is we have created these constructs to deal with something that pre-dates the construct. I don’t get why this is a problem to people, but people sometimes seem to want unassailable truths.

Myomancy: Does ADHD Exist?: “This is not as stupid a question as it sounds. We can’t do a blood test or brain scan to diagnoses ADHD so how do we know it exists? Yes some children are more active than others and have worse concentrations but does that mean its a disease, a mental health problem needing billions of tablets to treat? Is a ADHD a social construct?”

Comments

Does ADHD Exist???

[angieco2.livejournal.com]

DR. J
I do believe that sometimes we put a label on students just because of what we see and how they react to certain situations. I have to agree with you as there is not actual detection of this disease but many teachers and psychologists continue to try to determine what it is that makes have this label with their own opinions. I work with many children that are on medication for ADHD and I feel sad for them because if they would be given the opportunity to learn how to control their behaviours/reactions then maybe they will not need the medication. Just my thoughts!
Angie

Re: Does ADHD Exist???

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

Your thoughts seem to hit on what worries me. If there's a real need, sure. But you have to try all the non-medication options first. Perhaps it is environmental? Why not focus on that first?