The Adhd Dilemma: the Forgotten Disorder

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The Forgotten Disorder: The ADHD Dilemma By Joseph Parton Liberty University Abstract ADHD is a controversial, misunderstood, and even misdiagnosed disorder. Many believe that the disorder is an excuse for bad child behavior and poor parenting. While parenting skills have declined in today’s culture, parent education and structured parenting are not the only necessary tools to address a genetically predisposed disorder. Furthermore, the disorder does not impact children alone as popular opinion would have one believe. This forgotten disorder is causing havoc on the academic and career achievement of many adolescence and young adults. Fortunately, there is hope via appropriate treatment which will allow ADHD patients to function in a normal way, so they do not miss out on the opportunities of their non-ADHD peers. One of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in childhood is pervasive behavioral symptoms that are classified as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and commonly known by the acronym of ADHD (Lemiere et al., 2010). The disorder is usually seen in approximately 5 percent of children (Carlson & Carlson, 2011). These pervasive behavioral problems include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. According to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders version four (DSM-IV), ADHD is diagnosed by a specific set of symptoms and not a diagnostic text or pathogen. The diagnosis is applied when symptoms are persistent over time and across multiple settings while having an adverse effect (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The terminology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is often used interchangeably. Per the DSM-IV, the appropriate term is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with three subtypes Combined Type, Predominantly Inattentive Type, and
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