I have seen this first hand with a (non-teenager) family member. They self-diagnosed with ADHD over the past two years.
Then they paid to get a private assessment and sure enough got diagnosed with ADHD. Do I think they have ADHD? Nope, not at all.
So why the official diagnosis and treatment with pharmaceuticals? He learnt everything he needed to know to easily fool the doctor assessing him. He knew every test they would use and exactly how to respond. And as he is an intelligent guy he didn't go in there and flag every single thing but just enough to look like a legitimate person struggling with attention and executive function. He told me before the assessment he wants the medication and he got exactly what he wanted.
My son was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago so I have seen first hand how the assessments work and it is a joke how much "flexibility" there is. It isn't like a blood or culture test where you can detect the presence or lack of some substance. It is mostly voodoo for want of a better word.
One question I ask myself is does he genuinely think he has ADHD or did he just want the meds and figured out a way to get them while looking genuine?
Then they paid to get a private assessment and sure enough got diagnosed with ADHD. Do I think they have ADHD? Nope, not at all.
So why the official diagnosis and treatment with pharmaceuticals? He learnt everything he needed to know to easily fool the doctor assessing him. He knew every test they would use and exactly how to respond. And as he is an intelligent guy he didn't go in there and flag every single thing but just enough to look like a legitimate person struggling with attention and executive function. He told me before the assessment he wants the medication and he got exactly what he wanted.
My son was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago so I have seen first hand how the assessments work and it is a joke how much "flexibility" there is. It isn't like a blood or culture test where you can detect the presence or lack of some substance. It is mostly voodoo for want of a better word.
One question I ask myself is does he genuinely think he has ADHD or did he just want the meds and figured out a way to get them while looking genuine?