Wow.

This thread existed for a while before I saw it, and I'm not sure where to start on my commentary. I see it from two sides, both as a student who suffered from ADHD in highschool and college, including horrible side effects from medications that eventually led to severe anxiety and addiction, and now as a teacher who sees students with attention disorders in the classroom I see the way the diagnosis is often defaulted to too quickly when other things such as speech language disorders, dyslexia, or even autism should probably be considered. But I have several points to make that I think are valid ones, and what I feel is sort of a double perspective on the situation.

First of all, I think it's very important to make clear that regardless of whether or not ADHD is overdiagnosed, stimulant medications are NOT the only way to treat it. They are, and always have been, something that should be considered as a last resort. Teachers have a variety of ways for working with students in a whole group setting who have ADHD, whether it's allowing them a quieter space to work independently, letting them complete written work on a computer or through dictation, letting them know when transitions are about to happen in the classroom so they have time to prepare themselves, etc etc. There are lots of ways that parents can help their children too, WITHOUT having to give them any kind of mind altering substances at home. I'm not speaking out for or against these medications, because those are decisions each parent and child and doctor need to make for themselves. Just making sure everyone keeps in mind that Ritalin is not the only solution out there.

Now, the labeling issue is a harder one to deal with. I know that gut instinct is to fight a 'label' especially when it comes with a stigma, and a fear of a common diagnosis brought on by lazy teachers. However, the way our system works, in order for any student who is struggling to get extra help by someone not their teacher in a small group setting they need to be 'coded'. (Imagine, even when you're angry at teachers, how frustrating this is for them too, when they see a student who they don't have time to tend to one on one in a huge classroom, and have to watch them slip behind). There are not a lot of codes out there, and ADHD is often one of the ones 'defaulted' to when the group is unsure of what is making a child restless and unable to focus and get the work done to standard. Our classes get bigger and bigger every year, and some children for whatever reason can not seem to learn in that kind of environment. The choices are always very difficult for both teachers and parents in those kind of situations.

I'm never sure what to say, when I'm asked whether I think ADHD is overdiagnosed. I do believe it is a real condition, because I've seen it, both in myself and in my students. There are some telltale signs that you can look for, and some strategies that when in place I think work better than any stimulant does. That being said, the advice I give both my students parents, and any of you, is to learn everything you can, look into all of your options, and speak with all your child's teachers and your pediatrician.