When is ADHD not ADHD?

Disorders seem to come and go out of style -- it seems as if every kid and their dog has been labeled something -- from ADHD to Asperger's Syndrome to Oppositional Defiant Disorder. My basic viewpoint is if you just grab the DSM IV (the manual that mental health professionals use to guide them in making a diagnosis), at least 75% of the general population could be diagnosed with something. If, however, you consider frequency, intensity and duration, that becomes a different story. A person who is a bit distracted, can't work on a task for long, needs to move around, etc., probably has some ADHD-like tendencies, but as long as that person is performing at work or school or wherever, does it really matter? Maybe we should bag the label and just do what we need to do (provide support, let the kid stand to work, etc).

I firmly believe that ADHD is kind of like porn -- it's hard to define, but you know it when you see it. Anyone in education who has paid the slightest bit of attention knows that every once in awhile you will have a kid in your class who you would define as "not being able to sit still -- no matter what"! It doesn't seem like the kid is being defiant, or trying to annoy you, or whatever, he just can't stop.

Brain research now suggests that for someone with ADHD, certain areas of their brain can be underactive -- which seems like a contradiction. For this kid, the brain seeks out stimuli. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It's simply a biological reaction. This may be why stimulant medication tends to help these kids. The brain is stimulated and the focus is suddenly there.

All kids need stimuli -- and maybe cats do too!