Attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is classified as a syndrome, not a disease that affects children, adolescents, and adults. The difference between a disease and a syndrome is that a disease can be detected in the body through medical tests and therefore treated with drugs, and a syndrome is marked purely by symptoms (Stein, 19). The cause of ADHD is something experts cannot seem to agree on. Some psychologists and doctors are convinced it is a biological disorder (that is, having to do with the brain and body), contrary to the fact that there is no evidence to date to support this claim. Others, myself included, believe it is caused by one’s environment.

The problem with ADHD is that diagnosis of this disorder is based on behavioral symptoms, because currently there are no medical tests to detect ADHD in the body (if in fact it is a biological disorder). Furthermore, when children are diagnosed as having ADHD, the immediate answer seems to be to place the child on Ritalin, an amphetamine used to reduce hyperactivity. In my opinion, ADHD is a behavioral disorder rather than a medical disease, and should be treated through behavior modification techniques

Behavior modification techniques have proven to be very helpful in bringing ADHD symptoms under control. Psychologist Bernard Rimland, an authority on the subject says, “Behavior mod sounds almost too simple to work, but in fact it’s one of the most powerful behavior-changing tools ever developed.” One interesting finding is that when behavioral problems are brought under control at home, they almost always take care of themselves in the classroom (Stein 37).

rather than with the use of Ritalin.

In addition to being potentially addictive, Ritalin also produces concrete side effects, both short and long term. Short-term effects include insomnia, personality changes, nervousness, fever, abnormal heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure, abdominal pain, and severe headaches (Stein 27). As for long-term effects, the most disturbing correlation has been found between Ritalin and physical growth and development in children. Ritalin has been proven to interfere with growth hormones, hindering a child’s ability to reach proper height (Stein 28).

The problem with this solution quite frankly, is that it is not a “quick fix.” It is a very involved, rigorous

Some topics in this essay:
Schedule II, ADHD Attention, Bernard Rimland, Furthermore ADHD, behavior modification, modification techniques, own behavior, behavior modification techniques, behavior behavior modification, control own behavior, own behavior behavior, biological disorder, children ritalin, solution adhd, medical tests, behavior behavior, syndrome disease, control own,