So, there’s this question that I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.

好吧，最近我一直問自己一個問題

I’m constantly distracted...

我經常分心...

Wait...wait...wait.

等等...等等...等等

Umm...

嗯...

I wasn't listening.

我沒在聽

My room is a mess.

我的房間一團亂

I cleaned this yesterday.

昨天我才打掃的說

And I keep forgetting my keys everywhere.

而且我一直忘記我的鑰匙放在哪

Do I have ADHD?

我有過動症嗎？

And it seems like a lot of people on the internet are asking the exact same question.

而且似乎很多人在網路上也對同樣的問題有疑問

But the thing is... diagnosis can be a bit tricky.

但問題是...診斷可能需要有點技巧

And the ADHD community is divided into two sides: People who think ADHD is being over-diagnosed,

然後過動症社群分成兩大派：那些認為患過動症的人數被過度診斷

and people that think it’s being underdiagnosed.

以及那些認為它的人數被低估了

A key criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is that, it shows up at a very early period of life.

對於注意力不足過動症的一項關鍵指標就是，它在年紀很小的時候就會顯現出來

And that's according to the DSM, a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association.

根據美國精神協會發行的精神疾病診斷與統計手冊 (簡稱DSM)

It’s essentially a huge guide with standardized criteria that doctors use to diagnose

這基本上是本非常大的指南，裡頭的標準化指標是醫生們用來診斷

mental disorders.

精神疾病的依據

And according to the latest edition, there are 5 big things that need to be checked off

而根據最新一版，裡頭有五大項目必須去核對

to determine if someone has ADHD.

來確認某人是否患有過動症

First, you need to show persistent patterns of at least 6 symptoms from at least one of two categories.

第一，你必須在兩大類行為模式中的其中一類的裡頭至少持續顯現六項症狀

And these symptoms had to

而且這些症狀必須

exist before the age of 12.

在12歲以前就要顯現出來

Be present in two or more different settings.

在兩個或更多情境下都會顯現

Interfere with your social, academic, or professional abilities.

干擾了你的社交，學業，或是專業能力

And not be “better explained by another mental disorder”.

而且沒辦法「用其他精神疾病來做更好的解釋」

If you do meet these criteria, the good news is that ADHD medications are super effective.

假如你符合這些指標，好消息是過動症的藥物治療非常有效

You might be familiar with Ritalin.

你可能對利他能很熟悉

It was introduced in back in 1955, and since then more pharmaceutical companies developed new types

它在1995年被引入，而那之後，更多製藥公司開發出新型的

of ADHD medication.

過動症藥物

Today, about 75% of ADHD patients respond to 1 of 2 types of stimulants.

今日，大約有75%的過動症病患對兩種興奮劑的其中一種有反應

Methylphenidate —  which is in brands like Ritalin and Concerta — and Amphetamine,

Methylphenidate - 在商品裡用到的有利他能跟專思達 - 和Amphetamine

which is found in Adderall.

阿德拉裡就有此成份

But not everyone thinks this boom in drugs is a positive thing.

但不是所有人認為此藥物的興起事件好事

This is Dr. Allen Frances,

這是 Allen Frances 醫生

and he believes that ADHD is being overdiagnosed.

而他認為患過動症的人數被過度診斷

According to a number of studies done in the US, Taiwan, Iceland, and Canada — the youngest

根據許多在美國，台灣，冰島和加拿大所做的研究 - 教室內

kid in the classroom was way more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than the oldest kid.

最年輕的孩子的表現被診斷出有過動症的機率比年紀最大的孩子還大

In 2013, the DSM’s criteria broadened to include children who had symptoms by age 12.

在2013年，DSM的指標就放寬到12歲前有表現出症狀就算

Where previously, it required symptoms before the age 7.

在之前，它的要求是在七歲前要有症狀的顯現

This looser criteria could possibly increase the risk of more children being misdiagnosed

這寬鬆的指標可能會增加更多兒童被誤判為過動症的風險

for ADHD and put on drugs.

然後就開始用藥

And all drugs have side effects — even the effective ones.

但所有藥物都有副作用 - 即使這些藥物很有效

Studies have found that ADHD medications increase heart rate and blood pressure.

研究顯示，治療過動症的藥物會使心率和血壓升高

Other side effects include strokes, depression, and addiction.

其他副作用還有，中風，憂鬱，和藥物上癮

In rare cases, misdiagnosis can mean treating the wrong problem altogether.

少數案例則是誤診，表示這可能會做出錯誤的治療

On the other hand...

另一方面...

This is Dr. David Goodman and he thinks ADHD is being underdiagnosed.

這是 David Goodman 醫生，他認為患有過動症的人數被低估了

And this is a big problem, especially for women.

這是個大問題，特別是女性

Women are generally harder to diagnose because while hyperactivity is more common in men

女性普遍較難被診斷出來，因為過動較常見於男性和小男孩身上

and boys, inattentiveness is more common for women and girls.

而注意力不集中較常見於女性和小女孩身上

Boys are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as girls are.

男孩被診斷出患有過動症的可能性是女孩的兩倍

But many argue that it’s not necessarily because it’s more common in boys.

但很多人爭論說這沒有甚麼大不了的，因為男孩本來就比較過動

According to psychologist Ellen Littman, studies of ADHD were based mostly on hyperactive young

根據心理學家 Ellen Littman 的說法，過動症的研究基本上大多於建立在過動小男孩的基礎上

boys, — leading to a distorted understanding of the disorder.

- 這導致我們對這疾病只有片面的了解

Dr. Goodman also argues that media portrayals of ADHD can add to a stigma that keeps people

Goodman 醫師也爭辯說，媒體在描述過過症時汙名化了這疾病，讓病人

from seeking treatment.

不願去尋求治療

“Hi there!

「大家好！

What’s your name?

你叫甚麼名字？

My name is Abernathy Darwin Dunlap, but you can call me ADD… on the count of the fact that I have ADD.”

我叫 Abernathy Darwin Dunlap，但你可以叫我過東...因為我有過東」

“Wow.

「哇

You were just the worst student in the world, weren’t you?”

你真是這世界上最差的學生，不是嗎？」

“They said I have AD… something.

「他們說我患有AD...甚麼來著

Can we have class outside?!”

我們可以在外面上課嗎？！」

An extensive study has shown that ADHD patients who get treatment have much more beneficial

有個更廣泛的研究顯示，過動症病患在接受治療後在學業跟社交成果

academic and social outcomes in the long run than those who don’t.

長遠來看比那些沒接受治療的人還能表現得更好

So the real problem here isn’t really whether

所以在這裡，問題的根源真的並非

there are too many or too few people diagnosed

太多或太少人被診斷出

with ADHD.

有過動症

It’s... are the right people, getting the right treatment.

是對的人，並且得到對的治療

And that’s something you’re not going to find on the internet.

而這是你沒辦法在網路上找得到的