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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder essay
Has the Diagnosis of ADHD Increased?
Western Governors University

Has the Diagnosis of ADHD Increased? ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, was once known as hyper kinesis. ADHD has become a common diagnosis in children. The three symptoms of ADHD are hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentive. Research regarding ADHD has become a national priority. It is not known only as a children’s disease but many adults have been diagnosed with the condition as well. It has become a serious condition requiring long term treatment including therapies, counseling, and treatment involving medication. Regardless of age, ADHD a lifelong condition the patient will battle. Without a cure, research is ongoing to examine the long term outcome. ADHD affects three to five percent of all children and perhaps two million American children and fifty percent need medication as adults (Neuwirth, 2001). Research has shown that the diagnosis has increased due to increase of individuals identified, effects of diagnosis and multiple effective treatments, not only in children, but teens and adults. The information presented in this paper will address the issues related to the increase in ADHD in people. First, there is an increase in individuals diagnosed, not only children. Then, the effects the diagnosis of ADHD have a great impact on their lives. Finally, as there is yet a cure, there are multiple effective treatments for ADHD symptoms. With time, studies have shown an increase in ADHD over the years. This increase relates to ADHD as a brain delaying development dysfunction, no cure and the broad range of treatments (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). With this dysfunction, it causes issues among children as well as adults, in school, while working and during everyday relationships. During research done, they found that the development of the cortical surface is delayed in the frontal brain in children with ADHD (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). With this



References: Anadolis, E. Neuwirth S. (2005). ADD-Decade of the Brain Booklet. Retrieved from www.ldonline.org/article/5962 Hallowell, E.M, Ratey. J.J. (1994). Driven to Distraction. New York, NY: Touch Stone. Laschinsky, T (2010, December 15). Is ADHD over diagnosed? Retrieved Http: //www.helium.com/debates/307643-overdiagnosed.html Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, February 10). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Children Neuwirth, S. (2001, September 13). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/adhd/adhd.htm Quinn, P. (2012, July 07). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-topic-overview Rafalovich, Adam. (2002). Framing the ADHD child: history, discourse and everyday experience Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among Children---United States, 2003-2007 Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/-NCBDDD/adhd/conditions.html Wallis, C. (2007, November 29). The Next Attention Deficit Disorder? Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1689216,00.html

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