Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD and its diagnosis and treatment have been considered controversial since the 1970s. The controversies involved doctors, teachers, politicians, parents and the media. Opinions on ADHD range from not believing it exists at all to believing there are genetic and physiological bases for the condition, as well as disagreement about the use of stimulant medications in treatment. Some sociologists consider ADHD a “classic example of the medicalization of deviant behavior, defining a previously non-medical problem as medical.” Most healthcare professionals in the United States accept that ADHD is a real disorder, the debate of which focuses primarily on how it is diagnosed and treated. Among commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is the most prevalent among youth and children. It is a persistent disorder attributed to neurobehavioral problems. Approximately 3%-5% of all children in America are affected by ADHD. The disorder is characterized by the inability to concentrate or concentrate on a task and behavioral inhibition normally related to age. ADHD affects both children and adults and the manifestation of symptoms differs in some aspects while some aspects are similar. In children, one or more symptoms may be indicative of the disorder, including an abnormally short attention span, hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity. Additionally, children with the disorder may display additional primary characteristics such as noncompliance, inconsistent behavior, insensitivity to punishment or rewards, and becoming bored easily. There are also secondary manifestations... half of the document... National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2011). Methylphenidate and clonidine help children with ADHD and tics. Retrieved from NIND website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_adhd.htmMayo Clinic Staff. (2010, January 28). Adult ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adult-adhd/DS01161Aap recommendations and diagnostic guidelines for ADHD. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/AAP-Recommendations-Diagnostic-Guidelines-for-ADHD.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000- 000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR: No local tokenUnderstanding ADHD How is ADHD diagnosed? children and adolescents. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.chadd.org/Content/CHADD/Understanding/Evaluation/default.htm