Cathy Netherwood's "ADHD: Fact or Fiction" tells us that the number of children with ADHD has risen 21% in the past 12 years (Australian Parents 16). Two to three times more boys than girls are affected. If left undiagnosed or untreated, ADHD often continues into adolescence and adulthood, causing a lifetime of frustration.
However, some doctors, parents, and educators argue that ADHD is not a real disorder. Currently, there is no unifying biological proof supporting ADHD, which makes the disorder and its treatment highly controversial. There is no doubt that putting certain children in a classroom together or in certain situations will create a problem scenario, and as Netherwood tells us, "some factions blame poor parenting, others blame the school system, and yet others blame the drugs and treatments" (Australian Parents 16). .
Current diagnosis of ADHD is based upon a child's behavior at school, home, and in other social settings, which may or may not be accurate. There are no biological tests in use for ADHD; it can only be diagnosed by observing symptoms, which must persist for six months or more in a child over 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics has established a practice guideline to provide recommendations for the assessment of ADHD, to help prevent the "wide variations in practice patterns about diagnostic criteria and methods" (Pediatrics 1159). Various ways are being used to measure ADHD, including rating scales, questionnaires and tests, plus information from parents and teachers. Opponents of ADHD argue that the results from these kinds of tests can be easily biased or mistaken. .
Some parents and educators may be choosing a "quick fix" for what could be considered a boisterous child, not ADHD. Inattention and hyperactivity symptoms include difficulty sustaining attention in tasks, not listening when spoken to, not following instructions, fidgeting, excessive running and climbing, and excessive talking and interrupting others (Australian Parents 17).