4 ms·

While I admit I have a problem with focus, I have been able to control it with self-discipline. Others may not be so lucky. There's a marked difference between

by kunai 14y ago

While I admit I have a problem with focus, I have been able to control it with self-discipline. Others may not be so lucky. There's a marked difference between actual ADHD and just normal fidgetiness or lack of focus. For years, psychologists prescribed children who may not have had ADHD with medication. There have been so many misdiagnoses and ADHD has received so much press attention that physicians are now much more wary of diagnosing it in an attempt to please the family of the suspected patient. Since that has happened, people with true ADHD are now not getting the help they need. There's a simple way to test for ADHD. Give a person a deadline, and give them an hour until that deadline to complete an essay. Tell them the essay will count on one of their formal records (even though it won't). If they buckle down and finish the essay, the person most likely has a lack of discipline. If the person continues to have a lack of focus up until the last minute, you can be safely sure that that person has ADHD. (Note that this is personal anecdote and should not be used as a substitute for proper medical attention. If you suspect you have trouble with focus, seek psychiatric help. The above is ONLY a topic for discussion.)

afarrell 14y ago
You've made a strong statement concerning how one should diagnose a disorder. What evidence do you have that this is an effective diagnostic tool? Or is this based on your experience as a physician or therapist in a clinical context?
- kunai 14y ago
  My father was a psychologist for 7 years and he has seen many patients with attention deficit problems. One of his methods to see if a person would have problems with focus is the one written above. It is by no means a clinical diagnostic method or a replacement for professional help, it merely exists as a point for discussion and food for thought. (See added disclaimer above.)

by kunai 14y ago

afarrell 14y ago

You've made a strong statement concerning how one should diagnose a disorder. What evidence do you have that this is an effective diagnostic tool? Or is this based on your experience as a physician or therapist in a clinical context?

kunai 14y ago
My father was a psychologist for 7 years and he has seen many patients with attention deficit problems. One of his methods to see if a person would have problems with focus is the one written above. It is by no means a clinical diagnostic method or a replacement for professional help, it merely exists as a point for discussion and food for thought. (See added disclaimer above.)