From: http://adhdnewsletter.com/diagnosis
Why does it seem that there are so many children today with the diagnosis of ADHD?
Posted May 8th, 2007 by amber
Why does it seem that there are so many children today with the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADD ADHD?
As I get older the answer becomes clearer to me.
The reason there are so many children diagnosed with ADHD today is that physicians, psychologists, therapists, and/or parents, rush to this diagnosis without doing their due diligence in the diagnostic process.
In other words, they cut corners and rush to judgment. The make the diagnosis of ADHD too soon in the process simply to save time and effort.
Here is what happens.
A physician, psychologist, or therapist is well versed in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
A parent brings in a child for an evaluation because of behaviors at home or at school.
The child meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Therefore, the child has ADHD. Simple. Mission accomplished!
But this is absolutely the WRONG WAY to make the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder.
Even according to the Diagnostic Manual, just because a child meet all of the criteria for ADHD does NOT mean that he gets the diagnosis.
Rather it is a child who meets all of the diagnostic criteria AFTER an entire series of other possible explanations have been RULED OUT first!
The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder).
And this is written with the assumption that other medical conditions that might also explain the symptoms have been ruled out.
This step of ruling out a long list of other explanations is ignored in the diagnostic process almost every time!
Before your child is given the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the following long list of medical and mental health possibilities must be RULED OUT.
And by RULED OUT we mean that the physician, psychologist, therapist, and you the parent, must carefully consider each other possible explanation, and be able to honestly say, out loud, NO, THATS NOT IT.
Here is out list of other reasons why children can be inattentive, impulsive, hyperactive, show temper, have poor focus, or look like they are ADHD. Each must be considered and RULED OUT:
FOOD ALLERGIES This, in our experience, is the most common alternative cause;
ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES
HEAD INJURIES Can be caused lots of ways, from forcep deliveries at birth, to car accidents, to baby shaking, to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Drug Exposure in utero, to falling out of a crib, to falling and hitting your head, to playing soccer and heading the ball, and many more;
BIPOLAR DISORDER or MANIC DEPRESSION Studies show that 15% of children who are diagnosed as having ADHD actually have early onset Bipolar Disorder. Studies also show that there are as many people born with Bipolar Disorder as there are people born with ADHD. You cannot make a diagnosis of ADHD without ruling out Bipolar Disorder;
PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER
TOURETTES SYNDROME Basically ADHD with tics;
AUTISM OR ASPERGERS
SCHIZOPHRENIA
OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDER
ANXIETY DISORDER
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
DEPRESSION
DISSOCIATIVE DISORDER
CHILD ABUSE OR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
THYROID PROBLEMS
MENTAL RETARDATION
LEAD POISIONING OR OTHER HEAVY METAL POISIONING
Only AFTER this list has been considered, and each has been RULED OUT, can the diagnosis of ADHD be considered.
Cutting corners in this important area of making a diagnosis leads to children being put on medications that not only do not have a chance to help them (because they arent ADHD), but can actually cause serious problems.
For example, does Stimulant Medication such as Ritalin cause tics?
No. But a child diagnosed with ADHD, who actually has Tourettes Syndrome, and is given stimulant medication, will develop tics because of the stimulant medication.
Are temper outbursts an indication of ADHD?
No. They may occur with ADHD, but they point more toward either head injuries, early onset bipolar disorder, childhood major depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or anxiety disorders. And if such a mis-diagnosed child is given stimulant medications it may result in explosive temper outbursts, increased anxiety or compulsiveness, or even suicidal thinking.
Symptoms of head injuries, bipolar disorder, tourettes, autism, schizophrenia, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder, can all be made WORSE by treating a child for ADHD with stimulant medications.
Please make sure that you get a good diagnosis for ADHD before beginning any stimulant medications. This is where to make the investment of time and money in the diagnosis.
