ADHD DIAGNOSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL COMPLAINTS

Abstract

This article discusses the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from the perspective of children and adolescents with school complaints. Initially, it outlines the description of ADHD in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a classification that is criticized for its medicalizing characteristic from a Historical-Cultural approach. Next, the methods adopted in the fieldwork are described, and, lastly, the statements of six children and adolescents about the main criterion for the diagnosis of ADHD are presented, along with an analysis of these statements in the light of a historical-critical approach. The goal of the discussion is to contribute to a critical interpretation of behavior problems in the school context.