Is ADHD Being Misdiagnosed?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is estimated to affect nearly 5 percent of the world’s population in children under the age of 19. The disease has been deemed a ‘disability’ in the United States, and since that time it has seen a 600 percent increase in the United States school system. Recently, an influential group of seven experts from different Universities urged the Federal Government in Australia against making ADHD a ‘disability’ and estimated that one in three children who were diagnosed with the disease were being misdiagnosed.

The experts come from Universities such as the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong. In their submissions to the Federal Government they warned against allocating special funding of grants to schools based on the diagnosis of students and also stated there was no evidence of Ritalin having long term benefits. They believe that many of the children who are being diagnosis actually have learning disabilities. These powerful statements have been submitted to the Federal Government’s ADHD review panel and have the potential to rewrite the guidelines for ADHD diagnosis.

ADHD is a developmental disorder that is most commonly diagnosed in small children, either in the preschool or earlier years, though it is now being diagnosed more and more in adults. It is still not entirely understood, though it is thought to be genetic to some degree. It has also been estimated that nearly one-fifth could be due to toxic exposure or trauma.

There are three forms of the disease: ADHD-PI (primarily inattentive), ADHD-PH/I (primarily hyperactive/impulsive) and ADHD-C (a combined form of the condition). The most common treatment for ADHD is psycho stimulant medication. Oftentimes non-stimulant medication, antidepressants and mood stabilizer medications will help show signs of improvement. Treatment usually involves a variety of medications and adjustments, from behavior therapy and lifestyle changes to counseling and diet adjustments. Removing caffeine, chocolate, sugar and highly processed foods is also recommended by some doctors.

Unfortunately, many general practitioners are now diagnosing the disease. Many experts think that general practitioners are making the diagnosis too easily and prescribing Ritalin without thoughts to side effects. The team has called for multi-disciplinary psychologists, doctors and experts to replace general practitioners, making them the only ones who can diagnosis the disease. They believe that nearly 30 percent of children who are being diagnosed do not even meet the diagnostic criteria of the ADHD and think that nearly 90 percent of those diagnosed could be better served by receiving other treatment.

According to their statements, they strongly believe the disease is too complex for a general practitioner to diagnose. The experts stated that they don’t want to see funding for ADHD students, because it would take funding and teaching time away from students with significant disabilities, such as autism and cerebral palsy.


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