ADHD: An American Epidemic

In today’s society, learning disabilities are becoming more and more prominent in day-to-day life. It has stated to put restraints on children by lowering their ambition to peruse what makes them happy. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, is thought to be a “neurobiological condition” with symptoms like impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and easy distractibility. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV) defines “an adult or child as having the ADHD disorder if there is "a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.” (Library of Congress) Medication for ADHD include “methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine, (Dexedrine or Dextrostat), and pemoline (Cylert).” (Library of Congress) Testing and diagnosis for ADHD is also incredibly sporadic. WebMD states that the best testing methods for ADHD include “the use of standardized questionnaires or rating scales that assess inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and combined behaviors, interviews with the parents, child, and teachers, personal observation, [and] psychological or psychoeducational testing.” Unfortunately these are all tests that can and will include bias from the physician and the parents depending on how they feel about their child’s energy and lack of focus in the classroom. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is tearing apart the learning environment and childhood