ADHD Diagnosis

ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence; attention and intelligence are distinct capacities. Many children diagnosed with ADHD may need better study skills and a stronger conceptual foundation rather than psychiatric medication. The DSM criteria for ADHD are entirely subjective, with no blood test, imaging, or objective biomarker used to confirm the diagnosis. The DSM diagnostic criteria are broad enough that most people would qualify under several items from both the inattention and hyperactivity lists. Poor attention in children is frequently the result of inadequate foundational education rather than a psychiatric disorder.