ADHD - An Illustrated historical overview

"Environmental contributions have been rather under-researched and under-emphasised until recently; and I would argue that social and cultural influences have yet to be given their full importance. There are probably strong cultural influences, not on the neurobio- logical variation, but on the extent to which it leads to impairment or to disability – and especially to diagnosis. The differences between cultures in recognition and acceptance are not just trivial nuisances in ascertaining a “true” prevalence rate. They emphasise that the extent of impairment is a function not only of the children but of the context in which they are growing up. I suggest that public and professional attitudes can be helped by learning from history the interplay between scientific understanding and social change.“ Eric Taylor, 2011.