| The history of ADD - ADHD has gone through two | | | | Almost everyone considers the evolution of the |
| stages, and it needs to evolve into one more. The | | | | diagnosis from a moral one to a medical one to be |
| three stages are: | | | | significant progress in the field. |
| Stage 1: The Moral Diagnosis | | | | However, there is a 'dark side' to the medical diagnosis. |
| Stage 2: The Medical Diagnosis | | | | The ultimate limitation of this stage of ADD is that the |
| Stage 3: The Strength Based Diagnosis | | | | medical diagnosis stage establishes the belief that |
| Stage 1: The Moral Diagnosis: | | | | people with ADD are flawed, and they have a |
| For most of the 20th century (and still in many parts of | | | | pathology which is negative. They have 'deficits'. This |
| the world today), ADD was a 'moral diagnosis'. This | | | | leads us to the direction that the field needs to move |
| refers to the fact that people with ADD were | | | | toward ' the natural evolution for ADD: |
| considered to just be 'bad'. They were judged as | | | | Stage 3: The Strength Based Diagnosis |
| weak, inadequate, and they needed to try harder. This | | | | This stage in the history of ADD as not yet taken hold. |
| was a dark time for the understanding of ADD. This | | | | One could say that it is in fact a paradigm shift ' which |
| view of the diagnosis is restrictive, negative and | | | | we advocate the field to move toward. There are |
| perpetuates shame and guilt. Although the field of ADD | | | | some practitioners and experts out there who are on |
| has moved past the stage of the 'moral diagnosis', | | | | the 'leading edge' and are already working in this |
| unfortunately it is still around today. The press | | | | paradigm. However, they are generally few and far |
| frequently reports on how ADD is due to bad | | | | between. The basics of the 'strength based diagnosis' |
| parenting, weakness of character or even music | | | | include the fact that ADD has gifts within it. These are |
| videos. There is no evidence to support these beliefs | | | | gifts which can be difficult to unwrap, and are based |
| (or any social causes at all) and we strongly believe | | | | on the strengths that many people with ADD have. |
| that everyone needs to get far past this view of ADD. | | | | While many medical diagnoses are considered to have |
| The advent of new scientific research has led to a | | | | no positive side (i.e. what is the 'gift' of arthritis, or heart |
| newer understanding of ADD, which brought out the | | | | disease?), when the diagnosis of ADD is made ' |
| second stage... | | | | because it is in the mind ' it surprisingly does have gifts |
| Stage 2: The Medical Diagnosis: | | | | within it. |
| The Medical Diagnosis of ADD refers to the newer | | | | Right within and intermingled with the core symptoms |
| research which documents that ADD is in fact a real | | | | of ADD are the gifts ' but you have to look for them |
| medical condition. New research in brain imaging, | | | | (also nurture & unwrap them)... - An inattentive |
| genetics and neuropsychology clearly established that | | | | mind can be great at multi-tasking - A mind which |
| people with ADD have differences in their brains... and | | | | moves rapidly from one topic to another seemingly |
| these are highly related to genetics. Thus, ADD has | | | | 'inattentive' can see things in a way which others don't ' |
| been recognized as a real medical condition. | | | | great for 'out of the box' thinking - An impulsive mind |
| This new stage in the evolution of the diagnosis of | | | | which isn't afraid of taking risks ' can be brave enough |
| ADD has led to more scientific research, and more | | | | to innovate, and lead the world in new directions - The |
| support for the medication treatment for ADD. This | | | | level of creativity in the ADD brain can be |
| stage has largely led to significant progress in the field | | | | awe-inspiring - ...if it is nurtured properly - And there are |
| of ADD. It has generally improved options for medical | | | | many more gifts within ADD if they can be |
| and non medical treatments, and has led to | | | | 'unwrapped' |
| improvements in functioning and the quality of life for | | | | In summary, the new paradigm for ADD is that there |
| those with ADD. | | | | are strengths in it ' and we need to find those |
| Ideally, this stage of 'medical diagnosis' would have | | | | strengths, build on them, and change the lives of those |
| eradicated the 'moral diagnosis'. Unfortunately, it hasn't | | | | touched by ADD and ADHD. |
| completely eradicated this view ' as mentioned above. | | | | |