ADD: Does It Really Exist?

Phi Delta Kappan

Volumn 78, Issue FEB, 1996, Pages 424-428

  Armstrong, Thomas ^a  

^a NONE

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0346761505     PISSN: 00317217     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (40)

1. In this article, I've used the generic term "attention deficit disorder" (ADD) rather than the American Psychiatric Association's current diagnostic category of "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" (ADHD) because of its wider use in popular culture.
2. Ritalin production figures were provided in a personal communication from the Drug Enforcement Agency's public relations department.
3. Esther K. Sleator and Rina L. Ullmann, "Can the Physician Diagnose Hyperactivity in the Office?," Pediatrics, vol. 67, 1981, pp. 13-17.
4. Russell A. Barkley, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment (New York: Guilford, 1990), pp. 56-57.
5. R. G. Jacob, K. D. O'Leary, and C. Rosenblad, "Formal and Informal Classroom Settings: Effects on Hyperactivity," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 6. 1978, pp. 47-59; and Donald H. Sykes, Virginia J. Douglas, and Gert Morgenstern, "Sustained Attention in Hyperactive Children," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 14, 1973, pp. 213-20.
6. R. G. Jacob, K. D. O'Leary, and C. Rosenblad, "Formal and Informal Classroom Settings: Effects on Hyperactivity," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 6. 1978, pp. 47-59; and Donald H. Sykes, Virginia J. Douglas, and Gert Morgenstern, "Sustained Attention in Hyperactive Children," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 14, 1973, pp. 213-20.
7. Diane McGuinness, When Children Don't Learn (New York: Basic Books, 1985), p. 205.
8. Sydney S. Zentall, "Behavioral Comparisons of Hyperactive and Normally Active Children in Natural Settings," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 8, 1980, pp. 93-109; and Sydney S. Zentall and Thomas R. Zentall, "Optimal Stimulation: A Model of Disordered Activity and Performance in Normal and Deviant Children," Psychological Bulletin, vol. 94, 1983, pp. 446-71.
9. Sydney S. Zentall, "Behavioral Comparisons of Hyperactive and Normally Active Children in Natural Settings," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 8, 1980, pp. 93-109; and Sydney S. Zentall and Thomas R. Zentall, "Optimal Stimulation: A Model of Disordered Activity and Performance in Normal and Deviant Children," Psychological Bulletin, vol. 94, 1983, pp. 446-71.
10. Gabrielle Weiss et al., "Hyperactives as Young Adults," Archives of General Psychiatry, June 1979, pp. 675-81.
11. 9. Barkley, p. 61.
12. Eric Taylor and Seija Sandberg, "Hyperactive Behavior in English Schoolchildren: A Questionnaire Survey," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 12, 1984, pp. 143-55.
13. Malka Margalit, "Diagnostic Application of the Conners Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire," Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, vol. 12, 1983, pp. 355-57.
14. John S. Werry and Herbert C. Quay, "The Prevalence of Behavior Symptoms in Younger Elementary School Children," American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 41, 1971, pp. 136-43.
15. Nadine M. Lambert, Jonathan Sandoval, and Dana Sassone, "Prevalence of Hyperactivity in Elementary School Children as a Function of Social System Definers," American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 48, 1978, pp. 446-63.
16. McGuinness, pp. 188-89.
17. Barkley, p. 329.
18. Russell Schachar et al., "Attaining and Maintaining Preparation: A Comparison of Attention in Hyperactive, Normal, and Disturbed Control Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 361-78.
19. Jaab van der Meere and Joseph Sergeant, "Focused Attention in Pervasively Hyperactive Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 627-39.
20. See Esther Benezra and Virginia I. Douglas, "Short-Term Serial Recall in ADDH, Normal, and Reading-Disabled Boys," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 511-25; and Robert A. Rubinstein and Ronald T. Brown, "An Evaluation of the Validity of the Diagnostic Category of Attention Deficit Disorder," American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 54, 1984, pp. 398-414.
21. See Esther Benezra and Virginia I. Douglas, "Short-Term Serial Recall in ADDH, Normal, and Reading-Disabled Boys," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 511-25; and Robert A. Rubinstein and Ronald T. Brown, "An Evaluation of the Validity of the Diagnostic Category of Attention Deficit Disorder," American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 54, 1984, pp. 398-414.
22. For an overview of the function of paradigms in scientific development, see Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962).
23. For a look at the image of the machine as it affects special education perspectives in general, see Lois Heshusius, "At the Heart of the Advocacy Dilemma: A Mechanistic World View," Exceptional Children, vol. 49, 1982, pp. 6-11.
24. Matthew Galvin, Otto Learns About His Medicine: A Story About Medication for Hyperactive Children (New York: Magination Press, 1988).
25. See, for example, Lisa J. Bain, A Parent's Guide to Attention Deficit Disorders (New York: Delta, 1991), pp. 150-51.
26. Russell Barkley was quoted in a keynote address titled "Help Me, I'm Losing My Child!," included in the Proceedings of CH.A.D.D. Fourth Annual Conference (1992), available from Caset Associates Ltd., 3927 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030.
27. Most of the articles I've located in this area center on children labeled both "gifted" and "ADD." See, for example, James T. Webband Diane Latimer, "ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, 1993, pp. 183-84; and James Delisle, "ADD Gifted: How Many Labels Can One Child Take?," The Gifted Child Today, March/April 1995, pp. 42-43. One exception was Sydney Zentall, "Production Deficiencies in Elicited Language but Not in the Spontaneous Verbalizations of Hyperactive Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 657-73.
28. Most of the articles I've located in this area center on children labeled both "gifted" and "ADD." See, for example, James T. Webband Diane Latimer, "ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, 1993, pp. 183-84; and James Delisle, "ADD Gifted: How Many Labels Can One Child Take?," The Gifted Child Today, March/April 1995, pp. 42-43. One exception was Sydney Zentall, "Production Deficiencies in Elicited Language but Not in the Spontaneous Verbalizations of Hyperactive Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 657-73.
29. Most of the articles I've located in this area center on children labeled both "gifted" and "ADD." See, for example, James T. Webband Diane Latimer, "ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, 1993, pp. 183-84; and James Delisle, "ADD Gifted: How Many Labels Can One Child Take?," The Gifted Child Today, March/April 1995, pp. 42-43. One exception was Sydney Zentall, "Production Deficiencies in Elicited Language but Not in the Spontaneous Verbalizations of Hyperactive Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 16, 1988, pp. 657-73.
30. See Dorothea M. Ross and Sheila A. Ross, Hyperactivity: Current Issues, Research, and Theory (New York: John Wiley, 1982); and Cynthia A. Riccio et al., "Neurological Basis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, pp. 118-24.
31. See Dorothea M. Ross and Sheila A. Ross, Hyperactivity: Current Issues, Research, and Theory (New York: John Wiley, 1982); and Cynthia A. Riccio et al., "Neurological Basis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, pp. 118-24.
32. A. J. Zametkin et al., "Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Adults with Hyperactivity of Childhood Onset," New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 323, 1990, pp. 1361-66.
33. Some of the national media articles highlighting the Zametkin study include Philip Elmer-DeWitt, "Why Junior Won't Sit Still," Time, 26 November 1990, p. 59; Gina Kolata, "Hyperactivity Is Linked to Brain Abnormality," New York Times, 15 November 1990, p. A-1; and Sally Squires, "Brain Function Yields Physical Clue That Could Help Pinpoint Hyperactivity," Washington Post, 15 November 1990, p. A-18.
34. Some of the national media articles highlighting the Zametkin study include Philip Elmer-DeWitt, "Why Junior Won't Sit Still," Time, 26 November 1990, p. 59; Gina Kolata, "Hyperactivity Is Linked to Brain Abnormality," New York Times, 15 November 1990, p. A-1; and Sally Squires, "Brain Function Yields Physical Clue That Could Help Pinpoint Hyperactivity," Washington Post, 15 November 1990, p. A-18.
35. Some of the national media articles highlighting the Zametkin study include Philip Elmer-DeWitt, "Why Junior Won't Sit Still," Time, 26 November 1990, p. 59; Gina Kolata, "Hyperactivity Is Linked to Brain Abnormality," New York Times, 15 November 1990, p. A-1; and Sally Squires, "Brain Function Yields Physical Clue That Could Help Pinpoint Hyperactivity," Washington Post, 15 November 1990, p. A-18.
36. Jeanne Gehret, Eagle Eyes: A Child's Guide to Paying Attention (Fairport, N.Y: Verbal Images Press, 1991).
37. Alan J. Zametkin et al., "Brain Metabolism in Teenagers with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 50, 1993, pp. 333-40.
38. Robert Reid, John W. Maag, and Stanley F. Vasa, "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a Disability Category: A Critique," Exceptional Children, vol. 60, 1993, p. 203.
39. Debra DeLee is quoted in a 29 March 1991 letter from the National Education Association to the Office of Special Education Programs, written in response to the federal government's Notice of Inquiry regarding ADD.
40. Peg Dawson is quoted in the APA Monitor (a publication of the American Psychological Association), November 1990.