HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE ADHD (ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER)?No one really knows just how prevalent the disorder is among children and adults. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in a special report on ADHD, confirms the 3 to 5 percent figure. The Washington Post says the number of ADHD cases has skyrocketed from slightly more than 900,000 in 1990 to more than 2 million in 1995. However, there is ongoing debate within the medical community as to whether it’s really that high—or even whether ADHD really exists.Recent media coverage suggests that many cases of so-called ADHD are just normally active, enthusiastic, and energetic children and that the dramatic increase in Ritalin use is merely a panacea for parents and teachers who don’t know how or don’t have the time to manage these children.As a child psychiatrist, I believe that ADHD is a useful medical diagnosis to describe a group of symptoms that coexist in and cause a great deal of trouble for a significant number of children. There’s no question that some children diagnosed with ADHD probably don’t have the disorder and really don’t need to be on Ritalin. But this shouldn’t detract from the hundreds of thousands of youngsters and adults who do have ADHD and do benefit from the use of Ritalin and other therapies. It is clear that an ADHD diagnosis should not be made lightly and that other conditions that may explain the symptoms should be ruled out first.This may be a silly question, but are there any advantages to having ADHD?That’s not a silly question at all. Hallowell and Ratey, in their book Answers to Distraction (Bantam), note that people with ADHD tend to have a high energy level, are extremely creative and resourceful, have a strong intuitive sense, and are tenacious, hardworking, warmhearted, and forgiving. They also tend to have a strong sense of loyalty and a great sense of humor.*5\173\2*
No one really knows just how prevalent the disorder is among children and adults. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in a special report on ADHD, confirms the 3 to 5 percent figure. The Washington Post says the number of ADHD cases has skyrocketed from slightly more than 900,000 in 1990 to more than 2 million in 1995. However, there is ongoing debate within the medical community as to whether it’s really that high—or even whether ADHD really exists.
Recent media coverage suggests that many cases of so-called ADHD are just normally active, enthusiastic, and energetic children and that the dramatic increase in Ritalin use is merely a panacea for parents and teachers who don’t know how or don’t have the time to manage these children.
As a child psychiatrist, I believe that ADHD is a useful medical diagnosis to describe a group of symptoms that coexist in and cause a great deal of trouble for a significant number of children. There’s no question that some children diagnosed with ADHD probably don’t have the disorder and really don’t need to be on Ritalin. But this shouldn’t detract from the hundreds of thousands of youngsters and adults who do have ADHD and do benefit from the use of Ritalin and other therapies. It is clear that an ADHD diagnosis should not be made lightly and that other conditions that may explain the symptoms should be ruled out first.
This may be a silly question, but are there any advantages to having ADHD?
That’s not a silly question at all. Hallowell and Ratey, in their book Answers to Distraction (Bantam), note that people with ADHD tend to have a high energy level, are extremely creative and resourceful, have a strong intuitive sense, and are tenacious, hardworking, warmhearted, and forgiving. They also tend to have a strong sense of loyalty and a great sense of humor.
*5\173\2*
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