| Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) as added to the | | | | V. The symptoms do not happen only during the |
| Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) by The | | | | course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, |
| American Psychological Association (APA) in its 1980 | | | | Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder. The |
| edition. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), | | | | symptoms are not better accounted for by another |
| the International Statistical Classification of Diseases | | | | mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, |
| and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), has since then | | | | Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder). |
| strived towards further developing the criteria used to | | | | Although the criteria listed is accepted as fact proven |
| diagnose children and adults for ADD/ADHD. | | | | by research findings, it cannot be denies that is still |
| DSM-IV Criteria: | | | | very subjective. It can be misinterpreted even if there |
| I. Either A or B: | | | | is display of symptom. |
| A. Six or more of the following symptoms of | | | | There is still no legitimacy in testing methods used to |
| inattention have been present for at least 6 months to | | | | identify ADD/ADHD. |
| a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for | | | | Why is this so? |
| developmental level: | | | | The fact is that the criteria for identifying ADD/ADHD |
| 1. Often does not give close attention to details or | | | | were created as part of a movement to combat poor |
| makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other | | | | behavior in schools. Part of a diagnosis-of-the-moment |
| activities. | | | | trend, an ADD/ADHD diagnosis signaled a maximum |
| 2 Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play | | | | tolerance point on the part of education professionals, |
| activities. | | | | and a need to explain why children had become far |
| 3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to | | | | more difficult to handle than in previous decades. Just |
| directly. | | | | like other mental and developmental disorders were |
| 4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish | | | | being over diagnosed according to the "popularity" of |
| schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due | | | | the disorder at any given moment, a diagnosis of ADD |
| to oppositional behavior or failure to understand | | | | ADHD had become the go-to explanation for |
| instructions). | | | | uncontrolled behavior in children and an inability to focus |
| 5. Often has trouble organizing activities. | | | | in adults.* |
| 6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things | | | | This is not to say that ADD/ADHD, and other |
| that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of | | | | disorders, do not exist and that they are not very real, |
| time (such as schoolwork or homework). | | | | and very treatable, disorders. It does mean, however, |
| 7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities | | | | that such disorders are significantly over-diagnosed |
| (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools). | | | | and are more likely due to factors that do not warrant |
| 8. Is often easily distracted. | | | | prescription drug treatment as a solution. |
| 9. Often forgetful in daily activities. | | | | There is room for argument when it comes to using |
| B. Six or more of the following symptoms of | | | | the DSM criteria to predict or diagnose ADD/ADHD. |
| hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least | | | | Criteria IA, IB, II, III, and IV is still considered subjective to |
| 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and | | | | the observation of teachers, caretakers, parents, or |
| inappropriate for developmental level: | | | | physicians, different from requirements of criteria V |
| Hyperactivity: | | | | which is by far more appealing. |
| 1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat. | | | | Criteria V does not guarantee an accurate diagnosis |
| 2. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is | | | | of ADD/ADHD, even if it is the only DSM-IV-R's |
| expected. | | | | attempt at being objective. This are the reasons why: |
| 3. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not | | | | 1. Many individuals are never actually "tested". They are |
| appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very | | | | diagnosed, and medicated, based solely on the |
| restless). | | | | observations of others. |
| 4. Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities | | | | 2. Criteria V necessitate individuals that does not show |
| quietly. | | | | symptoms of ADD/ADHD possibly have other |
| 5. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a | | | | diagnosable disorder but they are rarely tested for |
| motor". | | | | other disorder apart from ADD/ADHD therefore it is |
| 6. Often talks excessively. | | | | still not completely thorough in identifying the correct |
| Impulsiveness: | | | | disorder. |
| 1. Often blurts out answers before questions have | | | | 3. The fact the individuals are usually diagnosed based |
| been finished. | | | | on trial -and-error basis is questionable. Even if |
| 2. Often has trouble waiting one's turn. | | | | symptoms subside after taking medication, there is still |
| 3. Often interrupts or intrudes on others. | | | | no hard prove that the individual is suffering from ADD |
| II. Some symptoms that cause impairment were | | | | ADHD. |
| present before age 7 years. | | | | DSM criteria is still a very weak form of diagnosis for |
| III. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in | | | | ADD/ADHD and medical treatment administered from |
| two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at | | | | it lays on shaky grounds. |
| home). | | | | Diagnosis of disorders such as schizophrenia, dyslexia, |
| IV. There must be clear evidence of significant | | | | and Tourette's faces same issues as ADD/ADHD. |
| impairment in social, school, or work functioning. | | | | |