Let Kids Be Kids
The Effects of Labeling a Child with ADHD

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Children who are labeled with ADHD feel blamed for their condition. They often feel that they deserve their inferior position, and they then begin to accept oppression as reality. With time a child will be conditioned to internalize, accept, and ultimately, forget about the 'disorder' and they will take on the conditions and traits of ADHD, even when misdiagnosed with the disease. The two forms of oppression important in discussing ADHD diagnosis in children are adultism and psychiatric oppression.

Adultism, through my research, seems like a main reason that more and more children continue to be diagnosed with ADHD. Adultism is the idea that young people are mistreated by adults just because they are younger. Adults feel that because their child is not behaving as an adult does, they have a 'disorder'. Society has been forcing children to grow up faster and faster and when children don't keep up to the pace of growing up; ADHD cases rise. Adultism causes children to feel and believe as though they are of lower rank than adults. They begin to feel and act as though they cannot posses adult qualities, and are incapable of clear thinking and becoming their own authority.

Psychiatric oppression is the mistreatment of people who have "mentally ill" labels. Children labeled with ADHD feel as though they have an "illness" and are not able to function correctly in society. The ADHD symptoms occur after diagnosis because the child has internalized the illness and has lived up to the part. Treatment of ADHD causes the child to feel as though they cannot go about the life without the treatment and dependency occurs. The child with ADHD feels inadequate, defective, unworthy of respect, and in need of drugs to cope with the ADHD.

Society today needs to let kids be kids. They need to learn to accept the fact that children at times will possess ADHD symptoms. Labeling a child with ADHD can cause many negative effects and parents as well as other adults need to be careful as to not misdiagnose this disorder. Make sure you rule out other conditions that are commonly mistaken as ADHD and get many different opinions from professionals in the medical field before you give a child an ADHD diagnosis.

Questions or comments may be directed to Rochelle at knaackrs@uwec.edu

Page last updated on April 2, 2004