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Blake Duffy

Mr. Rosenbusch

British Literature 12

8 April 2020

The Verdict: Does Over diagnosing ADHD Really Matter?

There has been a clear over diagnosis of ADHD, specifically in the United States, over

the past decade. When a child complains that they can’t focus, what could be the cause? ADHD

of course! Could it be the fact that the child is simply young and developing, and occasionally

loses concentration? Maybe, but most parents would rather their child receive medication and put

an end to the lack of attention. This is exactly how the over diagnosis of ADHD begins. When a

worried parent feels their child is not feeling their absolute best, they will do absolutely anything

to “fix” their children and make them feel better. The largest problems are the overdiagnosis of

ADHD, the issues with this overdiagnosis, and the reasoning for the overdiagnosis.

To start, ADHD is the most misdiagnosed neurological disorder in the United States.

There are now clear signs that child and adolescent mental disorders are widely over diagnosed

by medical professionals. Among the driving factors, the authors point to “very low” levels of

agreement among diagnosticians. Diagnosticians all have their own ways of treating and

diagnosing someone, and many of these ways differ greatly with ADHD. Other factors seen as

responsible are a pattern of over diagnosing ADHD in boys, based on a tendency among

evaluators to overrate the externalization of young boys’ emotions, energy, and behavior.

Many critics would question why this over diagnosis is such a problem. Many people do

not realize that the more diagnoses that are made, the larger the demand for the needed drugs will
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be. The more drugs distributed would lead to more expenses for the increased supply, and it

could result in a higher number of abuses.

Newmark, Sanford. “A True ADHD Epidemic or an Epidemic of Overdiagnosis?” Psychiatry

Advisor, 19 Sept. 2019, www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/adhd/a-true-adhd-epidemic-or-
an-epidemic-of-overdiagnosis/.

“ADHD Is Now Widely Overdiagnosed and for Multiple Reasons.” Psychology Today, Sussex
Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side-effects/201710/adhd-is-now-widely-
overdiagnosed-and-multiple-reasons.

Jummani, Rahil R., et al. “Are We Overdiagnosing and Overtreating ADHD?” Psychiatric

Times, 31 May 2017, www.psychiatrictimes.com/special-reports/are-we-overdiagnosing-and-
overtreating-adhd.
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Sandoiu, Ana. “ADHD: Younger Children 'May Be Overdiagnosed'.” Medical News Today,

MediLexicon International, 23 Jan. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315391

Milanowski, Ann. “ADHD: Overdiagnosed and Overtreated, or Misdiagnosed and

Mistreated?” Consult QD, Consult QD, 21 Feb. 2018, consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/adhd-
overdiagnosed-and-overtreated-or-misdiagnosed-and-mistreated/.