In the article entitled ADHD Combined Type and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type are Two Distinct and Unrelated Disorders, written by Milich, Balentine, and Lynam, the researchers explained the need to change the diagnostic categories of ADHD. The main argument regarding this idea is that the combined ADHD type requires a diagnosis of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. However the inattention seen in children with such a diagnosis shows up as symptoms such as being easily distracted and hyperactive. These symptoms seem to be an issue of a child’s activity level rather than inattention. It appears that issues of actual inattention such as daydreaming, hypoactivity, and specific learning disabilities only arise in the ADHD subtype
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Especially interesting to me is the idea that children with ADHD inattentive disorder tend to be girls who internalize their problems while the combined type tend to be boys who externalize their problems. Even more interesting is that inattentive children do not respond well to stimulant medications. These findings make me wonder if the two subtypes even occur in the same parts of the brain. I understand that children with the inattentive subtype of ADHD tend to have specific learning disorders, however I can’t help but to notice similarities to a mood disorder in the way that the inattentive disability symptoms present themselves. I would be very interested to learn what future research has to say regarding my …show more content…
I believe that these could only bring positive changes to families. There may be some confusion at first, as the article explains, but if we are able to better distinguish between disorders in children we will be more equipped to help them. Furthermore, I am a witness to the unbelievable struggles that children with ADHD go through on a daily basis and the stigma that is placed on them and their families. I know that some children can really benefit from pharmaceutical intervention and it upsets me to hear how people who are uneducated, regarding this subject, speak about such children. I believe that narrowing the diagnostic criteria will help the lay public to better understand that this disorder is not simply due to a lazy parent who feels that their child falls into such broad terminology as seen in the current diagnostic criteria. Of course some parents will be concerned about what these implications mean for their child but ultimately it will lead to a system that is better equipped to handle the unique challenges that each child must overcome. Lastly, it is obvious that this type of discrepancy could not have been discovered without the limitations that this article discusses regarding past research. Therefore we cannot be surprised that such discrepancies are found and should be thankful that they exist in the
Especially interesting to me is the idea that children with ADHD inattentive disorder tend to be girls who internalize their problems while the combined type tend to be boys who externalize their problems. Even more interesting is that inattentive children do not respond well to stimulant medications. These findings make me wonder if the two subtypes even occur in the same parts of the brain. I understand that children with the inattentive subtype of ADHD tend to have specific learning disorders, however I can’t help but to notice similarities to a mood disorder in the way that the inattentive disability symptoms present themselves. I would be very interested to learn what future research has to say regarding my …show more content…
I believe that these could only bring positive changes to families. There may be some confusion at first, as the article explains, but if we are able to better distinguish between disorders in children we will be more equipped to help them. Furthermore, I am a witness to the unbelievable struggles that children with ADHD go through on a daily basis and the stigma that is placed on them and their families. I know that some children can really benefit from pharmaceutical intervention and it upsets me to hear how people who are uneducated, regarding this subject, speak about such children. I believe that narrowing the diagnostic criteria will help the lay public to better understand that this disorder is not simply due to a lazy parent who feels that their child falls into such broad terminology as seen in the current diagnostic criteria. Of course some parents will be concerned about what these implications mean for their child but ultimately it will lead to a system that is better equipped to handle the unique challenges that each child must overcome. Lastly, it is obvious that this type of discrepancy could not have been discovered without the limitations that this article discusses regarding past research. Therefore we cannot be surprised that such discrepancies are found and should be thankful that they exist in the