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