Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Annie Swanepoel
Abstract
Abstract Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterized by symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention that impact on functioning. It can be adaptive for an unborn child of a mother, who is stressed due to a dangerous environment, to undergo intra-uterine programming and develop ADHD, which predisposes individuals to a fast life history and increases the chances of reproduction in a harsh environment. In our modern society, children with ADHD may be conceptualized as being caught in an evolutionary mismatch between what they are adapted to cope with and the current school environment, where children are expected to sit still and pay attention. This raises ethical questions about whether medication is justified instead of adapting schools to allow more exercise and hands-on learning. Finally, people with ADHD may be better understood as being at the extreme end of a spectrum of neurodiversity, rather than having a disorder.