Is ADHD real? The war rages on with both sides vehemently arguing their case. The ADHD deniers claim that this is the medical hoax of the millennium and that it has been deliberately hyped up by the by the pharmaceutical companies to line their pockets and swell their bank accounts. In addition, they deniers claim that the psycho-stimulant drugs used are unnecessary and even harmful.

On the other side of the fence we have the medical establishment who claim that the condition exists and that it can be successfully treated or symptoms at least alleviated with their drugs. They say that the side effects are minimal and there are no long term harmful effects. There is no doubt at all in their minds that the question ‘is ADHD a legitimate disorder’ is a pointless one. That is the controversy in a nutshell.

Let us look first at the evidence, scientific and neurological,regarding the question ‘is ADHD real?’ The answer is that for the last fifty years, there has been an enormous amount of research done which gives a resounding yes to the question ‘is ADHD a legitimate disorder?’ The answer as to what causes ADHD lies in the roots of our brain chemistry. There are chemical neurotransmitters which are essential to us carrying out tasks, focusing and concentrating which are all controlled by these chemical messengers.

There is a strong genetic link. We now know that fathers who have had ADHD themselves have a 30% possibility of having a child with this mental disorder. That is quite a high percentage and work is ongoing to show that there is indeed a genetic link.

There is no definitive medical test which can exclude or confirm the diagnosis of ADHD and that has led to so many problems. As the diagnosis is largely based on questionnaires answered by parents and teachers, there is room for loose interpretation as the criteria have to match categories such as ‘often’ or ‘present on certain days’. That is all open to subjective interpretation which could be one of the reasons why ADHD is overdiagnosed , in my opinion. This is another reason why people continually ask ‘Is ADHD real?’

ADHD is so real that if it is left untreated , it can ruin many lives and often children carry it into adulthood because nobody bothered to have it checked out. Result ? Their lives are marred by difficulty in the workplace because they cannot stay focused on one task, they lack concentration, they may be hyperactive and their relationships at the personal and work level will suffer

Is ADHD real? The answer is a resounding yes and the effects of this condition affect the lives of millions of children and adults. As to the treatment available, the best option many parents have found is not to neglect ADHD behavioral therapy which will have a profound and lasting effect on how children control their behavior. In addition, there is a stormy debate about the use or overuse of psychostimulants and whether natural homeopathic remedies are the answer. Find out more by clicking on the link below.