Here's one for ya. In 1997 there were 92,000 kids taking meds for ADHD by 2012 that number had increased to 786,000. Attention deficit hyperactiveity disorder So were there loads suffering but not diagnosed in 1997. Or are we giving kids meds who don't really need them. Or are the number of cases then and now right and something is giving/making the kids have ADHD
Not heard of LANCuk before - though give a reasonable explanation... https://www.lanc.org.uk/about-us-adhd-asd-assessment/our-history/#
Although this isn’t related to taking medications, I would be interested in comparisons regarding how many young people are diagnosed with ADHD, even since 2012. Clearly there is a greater understanding of the subject nowadays. However I suspect there has been a shift in culture within this field. Some parents who struggled to manage their kid’s behaviours would often want that label, which would excuse their parenting, and so were resistant to work with professionals around their parenting skills. Hence there was a definite move to avoid labelling young people. More recently though, there is a realisation amongst professionals that the only way to get funding for extra support is to give young people a label.
Well for a kick off in 1997 the only research was on males, and everything most of us knows about ADHD is based on male behaviours. I have a female relative with diagnosed ADHD who is on medication. However there is no way you’d have known she was, or certainly I didn’t because I didn’t know the symptoms in females which are entirely different. The medication helps, but years ago she wouldn’t have had it and we wouldn’t have known she had ADHD either. So sexist research being now more understood could easily account for a doubling. Also of course many were away from mainstream schooling and hidden to an extent. Without receiving medication which would have been helpful. I have another male relative with ADHD alongside other profound additional needs. You would immediately recognise it. I imagine there are a lot more people on medication for things nowadays as more useful medication is available and things are better understood Whether there is a reason for more ADHD, as well as the obvious reason that it is better understood I don’t know.
I have quite severe ADHD which can be a blessing (mostly) and a real curse. I wont go into the pros and cons however my case boils down to a dopamine deficiency. Smart phones actually help me, as the usage of the device releases dopamine which then means my ADHD brain stops looking for it. Really strong coffee and aggressive high energy music do the same thing for me. I have to exercise. Can’t go a couple of days without it. Can't speak for others.
There's something going on for sure. When i was at school, there would be the odd one or two per year who clearly had some condition. But that was it. Now in some schools half or more of the kids have some sort of 'SEN'/condition. Almost certainly not just one answer as to why, but something is happening. And similar with health issues ..... asthma, diabetes, allergies, obesity, ....
Impressive that you could personally and accurately diagnose other children's mental health state when you were a small boy. Fair play to you.
