Attention Deficit Disorder example essay topic

1) The definition of ADD given by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common core features include: . distractibility (poor sustained attention to tasks). impulsivity (impaired impulse control and delay of gratification). hyperactivity (excessive activity and physical restlessness) 2.) ADD is NOT caused by poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers or schools, too much TV, food allergies, or excess sugar. One early theory was that attention disorders were caused by minor head injuries or damage to the brain, and thus for many years ADHD was called "minimal brain damage" or "minimal brain dysfunction". The vast majority of people with ADD have no history of head injury or evidence of brain damage, however.

Another theory, is that refined sugar and food additives make children hyperactive and inattentive. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that this may apply to only about 5 percent of children with ADD, mostly either very young children or children with food allergies. 3.) Huckleberry Finn is believed to have had this disorder by research. In David Nylund's "Treating Huckleberry Finn", he states that if Huck were alive today, he would have probably been diagnosed as having ADD.

Evidence in the book back his belief because Huck is a fidgety, restless, and ornery kid who would rather be exploring the Mississippi River and smoking his pipe than sitting in a classroom learning something, and would most likely be labeled a troubled kid and diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. 4.) However, in my opinion Huckleberry Finn did not have ADD. Although, he was very rebellious and did is own thing all the time. He never had anyone really caring for him and really forcing him to do the right things. I believe that even though he wasn't book smart, he was street smart and that is what got him so far.

Also he was just like any other kid today. I'm sure if the kids today had a chance and didn't have to go to school, had a good job without school, and made a lot of money, I'm sure they would take it. Because school is basically just to get you to college and college is help find your future occupation, but if we didn't have to waste time learning unnecessary things at a school that had nothing with what we really wanted to do in the future, and just got to what we want to do in life, we would be just like Huckleberry Finn. I believe that if he is diagnosed with any disorder at all, he is a bad kid. This is basically what it comes down to because I believe he has control of everything he does, but just chooses to do whatever he feels, and chooses when to be good and when to be bad, it all depends on "if he feels like it", and I'm think that kids today are the same and choose when to obey, study, and also when to rebel and talk back. So in conclusion, I believe Huck Finn was nothing more than an ordinary boy and researchers are confusing themselves by thinking too hard about the book..