The document compares rates of ADHD diagnosis between American and French children. In the US, around 9-11% of children are diagnosed, compared to just 0.5% in France. This large discrepancy is thought to be due to differences in how ADHD is defined and treated. In France, ADHD is more narrowly defined and treatment focuses on environmental causes rather than medication. Factors like diet, television exposure, and parenting styles are considered, rather than just treating symptoms with drugs.

1. {
American ADHD
vs. French ADHD
Why are the numbers so
significantly different?
Author: Chandler Owens

2.  Parents
 Doctors
 Counselors
 Teachers
 Anyone working or dealing with children on a
daily basis
Target Audience

3.  I made this artifact in hopes to make aware the huge
difference in number of children diagnosed with ADHD in
American and in France
 Why do we have so many more children with this condition?
 Is there anything we can do?
Why?

4.  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic
condition that affects millions of children and often persists into
adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of problems
Definition of ADHD

5.  Difficulty paying attention
 Frequently daydreaming
 Difficulty following through on instructions and apparently
not listening
 Frequently has problems organizing tasks or activities
 Frequently forgetful and loses needed items, such as books,
pencils or toys
 Frequently fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks
 Easily distracted
 Frequently fidgets or squirms
 Difficulty remaining seated and seemly in constant motion
 Excessively talkative
 Frequently interrupts or intrudes on others' conversations or
games
 Frequently has trouble waiting for his or her turn
Symptoms of ADHD

6.  9% of children in the United States have been
diagnosed with ADHD
 Only 0.5% of children in France have been
diagnosed for the same
Let’s Look at the Numbers

7.  This year, 11% of children ages 4-17 have
been diagnosed with ADHD in the
United States
 Out of 6.4 million children who are
diagnosed, most of them have no
psychological differences dealing with
being distracted than any other child
without the diagnosis
More Numbers..

8.  American psychiatrists state that ADHD is a biological disorder that can be
treated with biological medications
 There is no scientific evidence of this
 French psychiatrists believe it to be a medical condition resulting from
situational causes
 The French believe in treatment by finding the root of what could be
causing stress on the child, not medication
 More of a social aspect than a brain aspect
 Counseling is a top priority
 Only 25% of ADHD diagnosis’ in the United States are given behavioral therapy
The Main Difference

9.  The definition of ADHD in France is much more narrow, resulting
in fewer diagnosis
 The French have a classification known as CFTMEA
 This focuses on finding the true root of the psychosocial problems
 Rather than just giving medication
 Counseling is number 1
 American has a classification known as DSM
 Most children are given medicines, such as Adderall, to treat the symptoms
of ADHD
 Instead of figuring out what could be causing these things
When making the
diagnosis

10. DIET
 Preservatives, artificial ingredients, chemicals all play
a role in our brain function
 American food isn’t known for its “health” benefits
 We are a pretty unhealthy country
 French food is much more fresh and free of fake
ingredients
 When a child is diagnosed with ADHD in France, the
diet is one of the first things to be examined
 In America, the diet gets ignored with most children
Other Factors

11. Child Rearing
 How a child is raised varies parent to parent
 It also varies significantly from America to France
 France: more strict and structured
 American: more laid back and leisurely
 The French emphasize self control in children early on,
which results in adolescents and young adults who know
how to control themselves
 In the US, children are more free to do as they please and
act out how they want, resulting in uncontrolled
behavior
Other Factors

12. TV
 Any shows geared toward children under the age
of 3 are banned in France
 Not so much in the United States
 TV has been shown to cause attention and
concentration problems
 Studies are shown that watching TV at a young
age can slow development
 America has numerous shows aimed at children of
three years and younger
 This isn’t saying that French children don’t watch TV, it is just
not supported and encouraged as much as it is in America
Other factors

13.  According to PBS Frontline, “The US drastically outpaces the
rest of the world in its consumption of stimulant drugs used
to treat the symptoms of ADHD; we produce and consume
about 85 percent of the world’s methylphenidate (the
active ingredient in Ritalin).”

14. Stanler, The Cincinnati Post 2000

15.  France –find and treat the root of the social
causes for the ADHD
 America – treat the symptoms and cover them
up enough to be dealt with
**If we can find the stresses and causes, then maybe so many cases in
America can be avoided and our numbers won’t be so high
To Sum it up…

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adhd
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References