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It is entirely possible that many children are diagnosed with ADD who merely have behavioral disorders, or even just normal acting out. But there are children and adults witha very real and very serious form of ADD. This has nothing to do with boys being bad in class. It has to do with kids who have ADD severe enough that they cannot learn to read, cannot study, cannot control their emotions well enough to function. For many of these kids medication has been the difference that enabled them to get an education at all. I find it troubling when a medical issue becomes the plaything of a political ideology, in this case conservatism. Smirks from know it alls who do NOT know it all are not a viable approach to medical issues. The condition exists and I know the histories of kids who are very much affected by it. These kids' parents would have given their right arms to cure the condition in 5 easy lessons. It's not that simple.

My grandson has "IT." Boy, would I love to lay my hands on him, because I LOVE HIM!!!

How come we did NOT have these diseases when I went to school from 1937 - 1950???

When we were acting out in school, we were NOT sent to a school-shrink, but down to the school Principal asking us to lean over his desk and lowered down our pants and swiped by his thin bamboo stick. If we went home complaining, our parents would repeat the "treatment." Guess if we would pay better attention in class and at home as well!!!

Ignorance is bliss I hear.
Psychology is a relatively new science. The term ADHD did not exist in the 30’s, but that does not mean it did not exist. I have carefully considered all 100+ posts, and with the exception of few, as expected, there is an obvious misunderstanding and misinterpretation of not only symptoms, but mental illnesses in general, in addition to a blatant disregard and professed lack of respect for the field of psychology as a whole. Such opinions are particularly troublesome, as they perpetuate the manifestation of the very symptoms you willingly fail to acknowledge, thereby maintaining the cycle of emotional maladjustment you so readily identify but so vehemently deny.
Yes, ADHD is most often misdiagnosed. As an informed parent, it would be essential to familiarize yourself with the diagnostic criteria and differential diagnostics of ADHD to completely understand the complexities of the issue. Parents often fail to educate themselves and blame any failure on the “system” as an easy escape. There was no evidence of any such knowledge expressed on this thread, and in fact, to the contrary, it was very evident that the critics of this forum knew very little if anything at all about the diagnostic criteria or epidemiology of ADHD, yet they proceeded to argue irrelevant points. If I thought anyone would listen, I would elaborate.....And yes, medications are prescribed without a definitive diagnosis. But the same thing happens to me nearly every time I go to the doctor for an ear infection, or sinus problems, or pretty much whatever. They prescribe a medication to treat the symptoms without a certain diagnosis. It’s not just psych meds that are over-prescribed and have serious if not fatal side effects. But the influence of pharmaceutical companies does not negate the presence of mental disorders. They have existed for many years. We are just beginning to understand them at the same time that unfortunately drug reps control physicians and insurance companies dictate health policies. Such factors should in no way diminish the credibility of psychiatry, at least not on this thread, where ignorance truly is bliss.