Wednesday, June 12, 2013

ADHD: Hot Topic, Big Questions

photo from fanpop.com


by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins



ADHD has become a “hot topic (a favorite expression used by talk show host, Whoopi Goldberg). However, ADHD is definitely a hot topic not to be taken lightly.

In the mid-to-late 70’s and 80’s my lovable, but definitely out of control five year old son, Greg, was professionally diagnosed with  MBD (Minimal Brain Dysfunction)... Along came the 80’s and 90’s with the viewpoint that it was just a “catch-all, yuppie fad disorder.” Today ADHD is the official renamed disorder according to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Recently, Alan Schwarz  and SarahCohen wrote a great, and certainly timely article for The New York Times... ADHD in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise.

Some of the big questions from the article seem to be…

1. How discriminating is the diagnosis and treatment?
2. Are mild symptoms being diagnosed too casually? and…
3.  Dr. Thomas R. Frieden at the CDC (The Center for Disease Control) likened the rising rates of stimulant prescriptions among children to the overdose of pain medications and antibiotics in adults. Can this be true? 

It appears that the etiology of ADHD is calling out for more definitive answers.


ARTICLE LINK... It's a good read.

As a person who likes to stick a quote in wherever I can, this one seemed appropriate...

“There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.” -Zora Neale Hurston.