<p>It’s remarkable how many projections of anger, confusion and misinformation a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD engenders, especially when coupled with relaxed test-taking standards.</p>
<p>I think that for people who don’t understand the concept, it seems like if you’re the least bit scatterbrained, you get a special privilege. The issue really comes down to how to determine what degree of ADD qualifies as a true disability. And that is really the issue up for debate. If and when is it a disability warranting time extensions that other kids don’t get? </p>
<p>Although one post above implies that diagnosticians can be “bribed”, this is quite unfair to assume. The criteria for diagnosis are fairly loose and there is a great deal of variability. </p>
<p>I guess the anger that arises is that kids who appear “normal” seem to get a special privilege at test-taking time, and whether this is fair to others. This is not a debate about whether ADD exists or whether it has negative effects on the individual - just on whether this practice should continue. But don’t blame the folks with the disorder or the people who diagnose them.</p>