Understanding the impact of race and gender on the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) begins with knowledge of the disorder and its symptoms. A description of ADHD is given in an article titled Overview of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Children, where it is defined as a complex disorder that can develop in preschool years and continue throughout adulthood (Singh, Yeh, Verma, & Das, 2015, pp. 23-35). However, Singh et al. (2015) discuss how the specifics of what constitutes ADHD has changed each time the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual has been revised, but as of the Fifth Edition, a person has to meet six out of nine symptoms of inattention to be officially diagnosed with ADHD. Although there …show more content…
In an article about finding an appropriate screening tool for African-American children, Flowers and McDougle (2010) mention how there is concern with the validity of behavior rating scales because most screening tools correlate the behaviors of African-American boys and girls with ADHD behaviors twice as much as other ethnic groups (pp. 372-374). With that being said, Miller et al. (2008) states that behaviors such as aggression, tantrums, and antisocial behavior frequently co-occur with ADHD. The finding from these studies lead to questions about the reliability of behavioral scales and the classification of ADHD symptoms. Catherine Tucker and Andrea Dixon (2009) also mention the high referral of African-Americans to mental health services for ADHD in their article, adding that African-American males living in poverty are the least likely to receive treatment services (pp. 309-322). Additionally, African-Americans with ADHD are under-identified due to lack of access to quality care or lack of willingness to seek treatment (Miller et al., 2008).
Screenings, Assessments, and Behavioral Scales for Diagnosing ADHD
As cited in Why the Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Matters, care groups for children suggest children should be screened for ADHD as early as
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is classified as a syndrome that is comprised of a variety of behaviors that often arises in early childhood and is characterized by extremely high levels of motor activity, difficulties with attention span and concentrating, and/or impulsive behaviors (Cook & Cash, 2011). It has been estimated in the United States that approximately 20% of children and adolescents display signs of a psychological or behavioral disorder according to Luthy, David, Macintosh, Eden, and Beckstrand (2015). ADHD is considered one of the more prevalent psychological disorders in children, with approximately 3-7% of school-age children with an ADHD diagnosis as mentioned by Luthy et al. (2015).
ADHD is a very common neurodevelopment disorder of childhood. It is usually diagnosed in late childhood, around the age of seven by the teachers. The symptoms are typical during ages 3-6 and if not treated properly becomes chronic and persists even after entering adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, staying organized and controlling impulsive behaviors. It is very difficult to diagnose and when undiagnosed the children can grow to be mislabeled as trouble makers in their adulthood.
Claim number two is “most student labeled as having A.D.H.D are males and many are black males. But boys tend to be more active than girls, and African Americans are known for being movement oriented, tactile and kinesthetic” (Ford). This claim supports Donna Ford main argument by providing behavioral norms to one gender and ethnicity. when considering to diagnose the child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, consideration of the norms of a gender and ethnicity of that student should factor into the decision.
Results revealed that there were some relations to behavioral risk indicators of ADHD, as well as academic achievement regarding children who are African Americans and other ethnic groups rather than children who are white to receive an ADHD diagnosis in the United States during childhood. Later in the study evidence showed off how this has changed over the course of years and gradually, it increased through third grade and declined thereafter. This ADHD diagnoses began to increase in the younger years of childhood for white children, as the other racial group remains constant. The probabilities of diagnosis showed to be lower for Hispanics, and children of other ethnicities. Surprisingly, it was the lowest for African Americans. The survey showed a cumulative proportion of children not diagnosed with ADHD. Overall there results stated that 7% of white children
It is estimated that ADHD effects two million children in the United States, this translates into three to five percent of all school-age children. Even more frightening, is that in some areas up to twenty percent of children have ADHD. However, these diagnoses are inconsistent. One reason for this enormous number of cases is due to the fact that there is not proper testing for ADHD before the diagnosis is completed. One family?s situation was published in an October 1998 issue of Time. The parents took their daughter, Erin
An evaluation of a child with ADHD includes multiple assessment techniques. The main goals of the assessment are:-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly found disorder in children in the United States. Statistics show that the male to female ratio for children with ADHD is eight to one. 4.4 million Children between the ages four to seventeen have diagnosed with ADHD (Cheng Tina L et al.). African American children are at a higher risk for having ADHD. Caucasian children are least likely to have ADHD. 2.5 million children receive medication for ADHD, but African American children are half as likely as Caucasian children to take ADHD medication(Cheng Tina L et al.). If African American children do not take medication for ADHD the child will most likely do drugs, drop out of school, or find it harder to receive a job when they get older. There is not cure for children who have ADHD, but there is medication children can take to decrease their hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. Adderall, Methylin, Concerta, and Focalin are some of the medications given for children who have ADHD. Methylphenidate is the most common medication prescribed by physicians for ADHD. “Methylphenidate takes effects within fifteen minutes of taking it and lasts between four and twelve hours a day.” (Hughes, Katsiyannis, and Ryan). Although medication is out there for the children to take, some of the medication given haves negative side effects. ADHD is not preventable. Parents should not only avoid drinking, smoking, or doing any other type of drugs to prevent ADHD, but also to prevent
It is very important to know how to recognize most of the characteristics of ADHD when making a diagnosis. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a real disorder , a real problem and can also be a real obstacle. Most commonly diagnosed in children, It consists of problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level. In order for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must display at least six symptoms of inattentiveness or hyperactivity and impulsiveness. They must have been displaying theses symptoms for at least six months and have started exhibiting them before age seven. The symptoms must be present in at least two different settings and must make the child 's life a little bit more difficult.
According to Dr. Rosemary Hutchinson, ADHD is one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and at least three evaluations with the family should be done before making a diagnosis. It is important for a doctor to have knowledge of the child’s illnesses, developmental milestones, and family life. ADD/ADHD have the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity are common to a number of other conditions that can be mistaken for ADD/ADHD. Children may show signs of these behaviors due to family and social problems. (Hutchinson)
In discussions of ADHD, one controversial topic has been the possible over- or under- diagnosis of patients with ADHD symptoms. In her article, Diagnosis is Key to Helping Kids With ADHD, Tanya E. Froehlich insists that the medical community must open up its doors to diagnoses to less privileged patients so that they may receive the appropriate treatment and diagnosis for their current state. Dimitri Christakis, however, argues that while ADHD is certainly a problem in current society, ADHD exists on a spectrum, and therefore cannot be separated into clear black and white territories in his article The Diagnosis Does a Disservice. Still, Keith B. Wilson, in his article, Worrying Disparities in Diagnosis of Black and White Children, maintains
Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) crosses gender, cultural, and socioeconomic lines, but it does not render adolescents from participating or excelling in the academic process. ADHD disorder has been defined as a neurobiological development disorder of impaired executive functions that significantly affects self-control, behavior, cognition, and learning. (Anthony L. Rostain & J. Russell Ramsay, 2005) According to a study conducted by the American
The qualifications are being changed which in turn increase the rates. However, the main reason so many incorrect readings of ADHD occur is because of when people begin to get tested for ADHD. Nowadays, children are tested as early 6 years old (preschool/kindergarten). The difficulty in doing that is misreading a behavior that is simply common in a 6 year old and tagging the child with ADHD. Usually the central behaviors in relation to ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These terms are often used when describing a child’s behavior. As most people know, children are usually hyper, disorderly, and undisciplined. These behaviors that are considered as signs of ADHD are often confused with natural youthfulness. In the findings of studies conducted in New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and the UK show a prevalence rate of 3% to 7%, similar to the US. A notable fact came in the difference in children diagnosis of ADHD. Prevalence rates climbed up to 12% in six to twelve year olds. The jump in rates between children and the average population show the enormous amount of children being diagnosed. To quantify whether or not children are just experiencing early childhood or actual symptoms of ADHD, a Swedish research screened 422 first graders for signs of ADHD. The screening was a standard ten-point questionnaire (conners 10-item scale) and three years later they checked the kids’
Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher anxiety and stress levels. A large number of children, almost half, will exhibit signs of ADHD by the age of four. However, most children are not diagnosed until he or she reaches elementary school. The behaviors that are associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a host of other problems and complications such as completing their education, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk for delinquency. There has been much research on ADHD in recent years and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be quite helpful. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general.
The increase of ADHD diagnosis has raised many concerns among doctors in the United States. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported new data that showed the number of children diagnosed with ADHD grew by 22 percent in a four-year period Brown University, (2013). The information from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) raised questions and concerns about the growth of ADHD diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stated that the percentage of children with a diagnosis of ADHD continue to increase in the United States. This information was provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to inform the public and raise awareness for ADHD. Researching the growth of
ADHD children seem to always be in motion. They can find it hard to complete tasks they¡¦ve begun and planning ahead is difficult. These children occasionally appear to be oblivious to what takes place around them. Then there are other days when these children appear to behave just fine, apparently unaffected by the disorder. This can pose a problem for the affected youngsters as it leads others to think that the ADHD children can readily control these behaviors. ADHD is non-discriminating. Faced with constant turmoil and commotion in their lives, these affected children are from many diverse backgrounds (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 42). Ethnicity and cultural