Dictating the boundaries of ab/normality: a critical discourse analysis of the diagnostic criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and hyperkinetic disorder |
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Authors: | Justin E. Freedman Juho M. Honkasilta |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Teaching and Leadership, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USAjefreedm@syr.edu;3. Department of Education, University of Jyv?skyl?, Jyv?skyl?, Finland |
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Abstract: | In this article we report the findings of a critical discourse analysis of the diagnostic criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hyperkinetic disorder (HD) in two clinical manuals – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition and International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition. We examine the actions (behaviors) that are said to indicate the presence of ADHD/HD and analyze what the inclusion of these actions reveals about the relationship between ADHD/HD, cultural knowledge, and values. Our analysis reveals that both manuals use subjective, value-laden language to construct a mentally ill individual in opposition to an unseen, supposedly ‘normal’ person. We argue that the current criteria draw into question whether ADHD/HD meets the manuals’ own definitions of a disorder, and further that the discourse of the manuals is intertwined with the everyday practices of schools and serve to legitimize status quo educational practices. |
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Keywords: | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder hyperkinetic disorder critical discourse analysis clinical manuals |
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