Maintaining Focus: Key Issues in ADHD Today

Every day thousands of American youth are treated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), whether they take a pill or receive therapy from a psychiatrist, or a combination of the two. The merits of the different methods of treatment have been hotly debated for many years with out any decisive conclusions being reached. Some researchers claim that prescribing Ritalin to youth to control their ADHD has more harmful results than helpful. Other researchers support the use of Ritalin on the basis that it is the only effective method of treatment.  There is a third method of treatment supported by researchers, that a multi-faceted approach should be used, involving a moderated use of Ritalin and other aspects from current treatment methods.  Before treatment is examined in great depth, however, the methods of diagnosing ADHD should be looked at in detail.  Admittedly the diagnosis of ADHD has come a long way since 1902 when it was diagnosed by British physicians George Still and Alfred Tredgold as a being a result of brain damage, current methods of diagnosis need to be studied and revised as necessary (Barkley Attention 3.)  The rate of children being diagnosed with ADHD has increased 260% between 1990 and 1995 (Babcockand Byrne143.)  This has some researchers wondering if ADHD is notbeingover diagnosed by school councilors and parents. 




The entirety of ADHD needs to be researched in much greater depth before any definitive conclusions can be reached about anything relating to it, from diagnosis to treatment.  This paper will address a few of the major issues involved, specifically those mentioned above.