An interesting piece in Psychology Today explains that in the US, ADHD is viewed as a biological disorder with biological causes, so it is treated biologically–Ritalin, Adderall.
The French view ADHD as a medical condition with underlying social and situational causes. They look at the child’s social context and more commonly treat with counseling and dietary changes. The article says the American system tends to “pathologize much of what is normal childhood behavior.”
I grew up before the Ritalin craze, and don’t recall any classmates taking such medications. Speaking from the sidelines, amidst ignorance and lack of experience as a parent, it seems to me that we’ve gone a bit overboard.
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