Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a way of describing unwanted and asocial conduct including inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. This conduct is frequently observed when a child starts school and may previously have been understood simply as naughtiness. The conduct is typically diagnosed as ADHD between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The most frequent response is medication. Conduct typical of ADHD may be considered normal in boys under age 7 years; hence, boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed as girls. This entry examines the history of ADHD, its prevalence and treatment, and critiques of the ADHD diagnosis.

History

In the case of ADHD, a retrospective reading of material concerning children’s conduct through the lens of diagnosis requires an acknowledgement that expectations of children in regard ...

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