Myth or Fact?
AD/HD
A Warning for the Over-Diagnosed
Dangers of Medicating; Alternatives for an Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Individual
created by Alexis L. Jung
Increasing Over-Diagnosis
The United States has seen an ever increasing number of AD/HD diagnoses over the years. Of the estimated 6.4 million children to have received an AD/HD diagnosis at some point in their lives, it has become apparent that males are diagnosed far more often than females (figure 1).
On average today, about 15 percent of school-age males have received an AD/HD diagnosis, while about 7 percent diagnosed are females. This large population of diagnosed children is a 16 percent increase since 2007 and a 41 percent rise in the past decade, with more AD/HD children being residents of southern states (figure 2). Of course, this large increase in diagnosed children means a large increase in prescribed medications. In 2007-2008, the AD/HD population and those who were currently being medicated after being diagnosed was recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the entire population, nearly every state reported that more than half of their child population was being medicated for AD/HD (figure 3), with the percentages ranging by state from 40 to 79 percent to create the then total of an estimated 4.1 million, with approximately 2.7 million taking ADHD medication.
When asked about his views on the increasing diagnosis rate, Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist in New Haven and a professor at the Yale School of Medicine stated to the New York Times that he felt that the AD/HD population is over-represented
“Mild symptoms are being diagnosed so readily, which goes well beyond the disorder and beyond the zone of ambiguity to pure enhancement of children who are otherwise healthy”.
This statement brings attention to a major concern that all doctors, parents, and students should be aware of: not every child in fact has AD/HD because the “symptoms” are often misinterpreted and therefore should not be taking medications for AD/HD.
"Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)." Centers for Disease Control Ad Prevention. USA.gov, 13 May 2013. Web. 14 July 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html>.
Park, Alice. "Understanding the Rise in ADHD Diagnoses: 11% of U.S. Children Are Affected." Time. N.p., 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 July 2013.
Schwarz, Alan, and Sarah Cohen. "A.D.H.D. Seen in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise." New York Times 31 Mar. 2013: n. pag. Web. 14 July 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/health/more-diagnoses-of-hyperactivity-causing-concern.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.
Visser, Sussana N., MS, Stephan J. Blumberg, PhD, Melissa L. Danielson, MSPH, Rebecca H. Bitsko, PhD, and Michael D. Kogan, PhD. State-Based and Demographic Variation in Parent-Reported Medication Rates for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, 2007–2008. Thesis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. State-Based and Demographic Variation in Parent-Reported Medication Rates for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, 2007–2008. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 June 2013. Web. 14 July 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2013/12_0073.htm.