A Rise in ADHD By Koda Blair

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Grand Canyon University *

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105

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English

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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7

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A Rise in ADHD Koda Blair College of Education, Grand Canyon University Professor David Spilker ENG-105: English Comp May 7, 2023
2 A Rise in ADHD Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD, is among the most common neurological disorders in school-age children. ADHD is a common disorder usually identified with hyperactivity, short attention spans, or inability to focus on anything for more than five seconds. It is more commonly diagnosed in children in elementary school, where inattentiveness is most recognizable (Liu et al., 2022). ADHD was placed in the DSM-III in 1987. However, recent discoveries have found cases of these symptoms as early as 1798 by a Scottish physician (Sahel et al., 2023). As an educator, parent, or doctor, a person will always have a chance of having an ADHD child to work with. However, in the past five or six years, there has been increasing evidence that the diagnosis of the disorder has risen. CNN, a national news station in the United States, did an article about the studies behind this trend in the sharp increase of diagnosed cases. CNN used the study to discuss possible reasoning behind the rise and how it affects people worldwide. The rise in ADHD diagnosis is helpful for society with further evidence, the cause, and the consequences all conclude into the final opinion on how it benefits society. Researchers have found that a current trend in ADHD is a rise in discovered cases. This means that more people are becoming diagnosed than before. According to Sahel et al. (2022), the number of adults diagnosed has risen by 36%. Meanwhile, Ahmad et al. (2023) explains that the rise in diagnosis for 4–17-year-olds has also gone up but only by 10%. Both articles show that this increase continues and does not seem to recede. In fact, according to CNN (2019), the total diagnosed has risen by 43% in the last ten years by 2019, concluding that the previous articles were correct in believing ADHD will become more common in the years to come. This is shown across the globe as well. Children have a diagnosis rate of up to 7%, and adults have a diagnosis percentage of up to 11% (Lee et al., 2021). Another reason for this rise is that ADHD
3 was only considered for children who showed the hyperactive side of the diagnosis (Lee et al., 2021). This was primarily seen in boys and left girls to be seen as "lazy" or "unfocused" rather than having the inattentive sub type of ADHD where they could not focus (Ahmad et al., 2023). However, an epidemic is not the cause for the rise in cases but rather because of the acceptance of ADHD and the realization that it simply shows differently in the different sexes (Ahmad et al., 2023). Studies done by scientists and doctors who specialize in this field have shown there is more in this trend than some may think. A popular stance among many is that ADHD results from a particular change in food diet, such as too much sugar or a particular food dye color. On the contrary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that no research has any scientific findings leading to those conclusions (CDC, 2022). Ahmad et al. (2023) state that if a person can sit and stare at a device for hours without moving or getting antsy, they most likely do not have ADHD. This person would do what the phones are designed to do; draw a person in and keep their attention. According to Abdelnour et al. (2022), in the United States, one of the significant factors is the lack of access to healthcare to cover the cost of testing for ADHD. He also states that another apparent cause is that the diagnostic criteria have changed so that the cases will rise. Another reason there has been a rise in diagnosis is that previously this was believed only to affect children, and they would grow out of it, but now adults are showing signs more commonly (Lee et al., 2021). Akin to when left-handedness became acceptable, it became more common; now that ADHD is more accepted and acknowledged, it will become more common. In the end, ADHD rising is not some epidemic but rather an acceptance that it exists and a furthering of research about the disorder. However, a rise in ADHD can lead to some consequences for people with ADHD.
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