Is ADHD A Disease?
Many people consider that ADHD is just a handy label, invented by psychologists and pharmaceutical companies to make lots of money from the so called psychostimulant drugs. While there is certainly an over emphasis on quick diagnosis, this is just not true. It is a fact of life however that there is far too much reliance on using meds alone to treat this mental disorder.
How come that there is so much ADHD in our society to-day?
Figures are up to one in ten children suffering from this mental disorder. Is there any link with our way of life and this problem?
Observing kids from very simple hunter gatherer tribes in certain areas of the world, researchers have come to the conclusion that the fast development of our society has meant that our genes have not been able to adapt quick enough. There is simply a mismatch between our genes and the environment that we find ourselves in. The same phenomenon has been used to explain the exponential increase in diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancers and also obesity.
Is ADHD a disease?
So, is ADHD a disease? The short answer is that it is not. The longer answer is that it is simply a neurological disorder which causes certain problems in the child carrying out tasks which would normally be done without even noticing.
Researchers have now established that there is a faulty wiring circuit in the brain where certain elements are not firing like they should. It is a neurological disorder. You can compare it with a faulty phone signal.
In reality, that means that the child’s executive functions are affected and there is also a shortfall as regards gratification where the child cannot easily be aware of long term gains or satisfaction. He is short wired for immediate gratification so that homework which will be beneficial in the long term and is regarded as a rather boring task.
Restlessness and fidgeting are problematical
There are also problems with hyperactivity. This usually includes non stop motion and running about and may also manifest itself in non stop talking. Then there are problems with impulsivity in that there is no capacity, or at least very little, in being able to think of possible consequences. We are all guilty of impulsive reactions like impulsive shopping but when these impulses are frequent, then we can see that there are going to be problems.
A child with ADHD is also going to have trouble staying on task and being able to focus. That means that attention in the classroom and in doing homework will be severely impaired.
ADHD is just a difference
There are far too many labels used in medicine today and in the case of ADHD, this is exacerbated by the fact that there is a strong possibility that ADHD has co morbid disorders such as anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, bipolar depression and also tourettes.
As there is no definitive diagnostic rest for ADHD, we should stop treating it like a disease and devise ways of helping the ADHD child to manage his condition. One of the best ways is through the use of non-invasive medication and the organisation of an ADHD friendly home. These will do wonders for the child with ADHD.
Many people consider that ADHD is just a handy label, invented by psychologists and pharmaceutical companies to make lots of money from the so called psychostimulant drugs. While there is certainly an over emphasis on quick diagnosis, this is just not true. It is a fact of life however that there is far too much reliance on using meds alone to treat this mental disorder.
How come that there is so much ADHD in our society to-day?
Figures are up to one in ten children suffering from this mental disorder. Is there any link with our way of life and this problem?
Observing kids from very simple hunter gatherer tribes in certain areas of the world, researchers have come to the conclusion that the fast development of our society has meant that our genes have not been able to adapt quick enough. There is simply a mismatch between our genes and the environment that we find ourselves in. The same phenomenon has been used to explain the exponential increase in diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancers and also obesity.
Is ADHD a disease?
So, is ADHD a disease? The short answer is that it is not. The longer answer is that it is simply a neurological disorder which causes certain problems in the child carrying out tasks which would normally be done without even noticing.
Researchers have now established that there is a faulty wiring circuit in the brain where certain elements are not firing like they should. It is a neurological disorder. You can compare it with a faulty phone signal.
In reality, that means that the child’s executive functions are affected and there is also a shortfall as regards gratification where the child cannot easily be aware of long term gains or satisfaction. He is short wired for immediate gratification so that homework which will be beneficial in the long term and is regarded as a rather boring task.
Restlessness and fidgeting are problematical
There are also problems with hyperactivity. This usually includes non stop motion and running about and may also manifest itself in non stop talking. Then there are problems with impulsivity in that there is no capacity, or at least very little, in being able to think of possible consequences. We are all guilty of impulsive reactions like impulsive shopping but when these impulses are frequent, then we can see that there are going to be problems.
A child with ADHD is also going to have trouble staying on task and being able to focus. That means that attention in the classroom and in doing homework will be severely impaired.
ADHD is just a difference
There are far too many labels used in medicine today and in the case of ADHD, this is exacerbated by the fact that there is a strong possibility that ADHD has co morbid disorders such as anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, bipolar depression and also tourettes.
As there is no definitive diagnostic rest for ADHD, we should stop treating it like a disease and devise ways of helping the ADHD child to manage his condition. One of the best ways is through the use of non-invasive medication and the organisation of an ADHD friendly home. These will do wonders for the child with ADHD.