Today, more and more toddlers are getting diagnosed with ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They are being sent to testing, which can be beneficial by getting them the proper care and attention that they need, but it may also be detrimental. Children may be set up for a long life full of medication and special treatment in school. ADHD is currently being tested by use of a scale. It has been suggested that they should switch over to diagnosing ADHD based off of a spectrum.
Professor Dimitri Christakis believes that being tested based off a spectrum rather than on a scale could be able to diagnose students with more accurate results. Currently, ADHD is tested based on a nine behavior scale. If a person being tested matches up with six out of those nine behaviors, then they are officially diagnosed with ADHD. Christakis argues that this isn’t beneficial to people being tested at all because, even if one matches up to five of those behaviors rather than six, then they are told that they do not have ADHD and miss out from a life full of help, medicine, and the proper care. If ADHD begins to be tested based off of a spectrum, then more children have the chance at receiving a proper diagnosis, even if they have acute ADHD.
“If you fall on this side of the line, we label and medicate you. But on the other side of the line, we do nothing.” says Christakis.
Like Christakis, many people are against using the scale, for it is considered to be judgemental. The spectrum is more individualized and better suits people based off of their personal situations. One of these people that agree is Mark Mahone, a neuropsychologist who works at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for children with special needs. He believes that by switching, the service can become more inclusive to helping everyone. Mahone also is sure to specify that he is not against the diagnosis and medication, which is beneficial to cases of severe ADHD.
If ADHD, becomes diagnosed on a spectrum rather than a scale, the testing process will become one that is more personalized. More and more experiments are being done to prove that there are major differences and sometimes even symptoms between acute and severe cases of ADHD. Many cases of ADHD need to be treated differently, they should not all be treated in the same manner.