A diagnosis of ADHD can (correctly) be made only if the problem is occurring in more than one setting. That is, trouble concentrating in school is not sufficient for a diagnosis.
Boredom in the school setting or inappropriate instruction is obviously a problem for lots of kids, and can lead educators to make incorrect assumptions about ADHD; but responsible physicians look at functioning at home and in other non-school settings, as well as at school, before making a diagnosis or prescribing meds.
In the current environment, there are lots of places where this process can go wrong and lead to incorrect diagnosis; I get that. But the current public conversation around this issue often throws out the baby with the bathwater.
DeeDee
