Overview Of ADHD Diagnosis

The diagnosis method for ADHD is a subjectively answered scoring system where doctors present symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity to their patients. If the patients believe that they exhibit a sufficient amount of symptoms in daily life, an ADHD diagnosis takes place. As a result of the subjectivity of the testing, there are misdiagnoses, incorrect treatments given, and a glaring lack of education about medications used to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder. While doctors argue that prescription medications such as Ritalin and Adderall help to combat the immediate symptoms associated with ADHD, a lack of attention given to other treatment options leads to increased use of prescription medication, and in turn, increased prescription
Although the cause of this disorder is not specifically known, there are factors that make this disorder more likely in some individuals than others, such as those who hereditarily have ADHD in the family, those exposed to toxic substances such as tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy, and individuals who suffered environmental exposure to high levels of lead at a young age (“Attention”). A genetic test for diagnosing ADHD is not yet available. Currently, the method of diagnosing ADHD is with a scoring chart called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th edition (DMS-5) which has not been fundamentally updated to cater to new ways of ADHD diagnosis. Using the DMS-5, six or more symptoms must be consistently present in individuals under the age of seventeen, and five or more symptoms must consistently be present in older adolescents and adults aged seventeen years and older, where hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present prior to the age of twelve. The DMS-5 is subjectively answered by patients, who, when presented with certain symptoms, agree or disagree that specific symptoms are consistently present in their lives (“Symptoms”). This means that scoring is subjective and may not result in accurate
Ultimately, ADHD makes it difficult to do well or behave in social situations such as in school, at home, or in the community (“Attention”). For diagnosed individuals, possible treatment options are medications such as Adderall and Ritalin, which are stimulants that relax and improve concentration in individuals with ADHD (“Stimulant”). Both Adderall and Ritalin contain central nervous system stimulants that alter chemicals in the brain and nerves to counteract hyperactive impulsive symptoms such as distraction, forgetfulness, fidgeting, and excessive talking (“Symptoms”). Both medications speed up signals through the central nervous system and prevent cells from reabsorbing norepinephrine and dopamine, which are two examples of neurotransmitters. In addition, Ritalin takes effect and reaches peak performance quicker than Adderall (Morris). Most importantly, both medications have addictive