AD/HD: Uncovering Cultural Myths for Greater Understanding and Treatment Options

by Angela Scott


“Girl, they trying to tell my that Jamal has AD/HD! Now, I know my son has problems staying focused in class, but that’s because he gets bored easy. Yeah, I always have to get on him about homework and stuff, but that’s because he’s busy. I’mma have to let his principal know that she ain’t medicating my child!

So often, this conversation repeats itself in many black households today, where more families are faced with the reality of coping with their child’s diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder known as AD/HD. Unfortunately, many more questions are left unanswered because of stigmas and labels.

A survey entitled, Cultural Attitudes & Perceptions About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) was released by Harper Interactive in January 2003. This survey examined the parents and caregivers of African American, Hispanic and Caucasian school-age kids. Among the 3,300 participants in the nationwide study, "more than one in three African Americans (36%), compared to 19 percent of Hispanics and 13 percent of Caucasian respondents believe that treatment was based on their racial or ethnic background. Such perceptions of being singled out or “labeled” created a “barrier” that prevented proper diagnosis and treatment for children with AD/HD.

Breaking down labels
Christopher Griffith, a black private practice psychiatrist of children, adolescents and adults in Atlanta, Georgia and clinical assistant professor at Emory School of Medicine strongly agrees with the survey's findings.

“Parents are afraid of having their child be labeled. Let’s look at identifying the diagnosis as opposed to the conditions this disorder set up with the school and others to make sure that kids are getting the services needed to achieve.”

Griffith says that the cultural perceptions survey revealed that black parents, especially those poor and/or living in the inner city, lacked knowledge on where to get help and how to look for symptoms in their children. Alicia Akins of Paducah, Kentucky, says that she did notice “some” behavior issues at the time her then 7-year-old daughter, Amber, was initially diagnosed. Amber was “off-task” and extremely impulsive, according to Akins.


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