As per latest CDC Data and Statistics on ADHD, roughly 9% of the US population has been diagnosed with ADHD, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, but are those truly accurate or is there an over diagnosis? ADHD is typically diagnosed during youth, around the 2-5 years old range. Symptoms include anything from fidgeting, hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability, inability to focus, excitement and so on. The issue at hand is that many people experience those symptoms at one point or another in their lives. Additionally, those symptoms are all very common in children regardless of if they have ADHD or not. This is where room for error occurs in misdiagnosing ADHD or the wrongful use of the prescription drug Ritalin.
Ritalin has proven to be extremely effective in combatting ADHD symptoms. It has shown greater success rates in cognitive and self-regulation abilities with very minimal side-effects (Chan et al., 2012). However, recent research has shown that Ritalin’s effects are not exclusive to just those who experience ADHD. Studies have shown that Ritalin can improve the cognitive abilities of individuals who have taken it and who do not present with ADHD symptoms. That being said, since the drug can have positive effects on both groups of individuals it may lead to a greater spread of misdiagnoses.
The misdiagnosis of ADHD can be occurring for a widespread of reasons. First and foremost, looking back at the symptoms of ADHD, almost all children present with hyperactivity and inability to focus or lack of an attention span. It is completely normal for children to experience that in youth. However, when it is excessive and met with other symptoms then that is when it would be deemed necessary to have them visit their physician. A little change of perspective here though would be is it the performance of the child that is really the concern or did the adult seek out the physician because of their own personal inability to handle youth activity and behaviors? This raises great concerns with regard to child autonomy and liberties. Behavioral therapy should be something that gets looked into if those are the circumstances. Another reason could be that since Ritalin has positive effects on practically any individual, the stakes are not as high for a physician to prescribe it for child that does not necessarily need it. They will most likely show improvement regardless and put parents at ease. A pediatrician can even prescribe this drug with little to no observation of the child but just from discussing behaviors with the parents or guardians. Though that may seem unethical, parents often desire to see their children performing at high success rates and do not see it as doing much harm. This links heavily into the growing standards of success and achievement in the United States. To be deemed “successful” in this country it now requires that you go to school, attend college, obtain a graduate degree and partake in all the extracurriculars and volunteer work along the way to thoroughly fill your resumé. Child success only feeds into that and if Ritalin will help get a child there then the misuse of it is often overlooked. This idea also touches in child autonomy and liberties as well as their right to self-creation (Chan et al, 2012).
It is unfortunate that the many people who take advantage of Ritalin do not consider how that may affect those who actually need the prescription. A child who presents with ADHD and is being treated with Ritalin is most likely just barley meeting the bar of normal learning and behavioral abilities of children who do not have ADHD. Thus, putting those who use Ritalin and do not need to, a step above everyone else, circling right back into the great desire of high success rates in the US. Also, the supply and demand of Ritalin becomes an issue as well. While this increase in diagnoses would greatly benefit the pharmaceutical realm and the economy, it would be extremely unethical to jeopardize the quality and quantity of the drug.
The question is though, what can be done? There is no right answer at this moment, but researchers hope that there is more caution provoked when determining the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. As well as more patience practiced in the relationship between parent and child and more hesitation instilled before turning to a physician and/or drug use. It is important to parents that their children are as healthy as they can and receiving care for any needs, but it is also important that they educate themselves matters like such to avoid any long-term effects on health and abusing their child’s liberties.
Chan, Jason Y., et al. “The Over-Prescription of Ritalin for Suspected Cases of ADHD.” Revue Interdisciplinaire Des Sciences De La Santé – Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, 2012, p. 35., https://doi.org/10.18192/riss-ijhs.v2i2.1519.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/what-percentage-population-has-adhd
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html
