There is little doubt that ADHD is a twenty-first century global phenomenon, or that it is having a significant affect on the lives of children, parents and teachers worldwide. Reasons for the growth in diagnoses of the condition are debatable and contentious. This edited collection unpicks the myths surrounding ADHD, and leaves no stone unturned in its search for answers. Whether ADHD has evolved because of the dominance of US psychiatric models; the need for new markets for major pharmaceutical companies; or because of the increasing use of the Internet amongst parents and professionals; the contributors to this book take a critical, highly international perspective on the topic and raise a number of concerns that are often not covered by material currently in the public domain. In a world where moves to educational inclusion are paradoxically paralleled by ever increasing use of medication for children's behaviour, this book scrutinizes current accepted practice and offers alternative perspectives and strategies for teachers and other educational professionals.
Anyone with a professional or personal interest in ADHD and other behavioural difficulties cannot afford to ignore this book.