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Melissa Cahue
Mr. Newman
English 101: Rhetoric
8 October 2014
ADHD: Its All in the Mind
Originally, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was defined as a chronic
condition that includes difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The
use of medications for ADHD has more than doubled since 2008. Has the definition of ADHD
been misunderstood, that it is causing more and more people to be diagnosed with this condition?
Dr. Richard Saul, neurologist in the Chicago area, has studied the condition of ADHD and the
increase of people being diagnosed with it. In the Times magazine article, Doctor: ADHD
Does Not Exist Dr. Richard Saul successfully uses ethos and logos to make the argument that
the definition of ADHD has become too general, causing a negative effect on people.
In the beginning of the article, Dr. Richard Saul establishes his credibility to inform about
ADHD by stating, I see more and more people coming in claiming they have trouble paying
attention at school or work and diagnosing themselves with ADHD. Although, Dr. Saul does
not have ADHD, he has met with a variety of patients dealing with ADHD, therefore he has
become familiar with the disorder, which makes him a credible source. Throughout the article,
Dr. Saul incorporates the discoveries of another doctor, Dr. Charles Bradley, When Dr. Charles
Bradley discovered that children who displayed symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity
responded well to Benzedrine, a stimulant, we have been thinking about this disorder in almost
the same way. The findings from Dr. Charles Bradley are used in Dr. Sauls article to support
his argument on how the use of ADHD medication is increasing because people believe

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stimulants are the only way to treat ADHD. Without finding the source of problem, people are
becoming dependent on the drugs prescribed to them. The fact that Dr. Saul uses examples from
other experts on the issue, it helps his credibility become successful.
Throughout Dr. Richard Sauls article, he also uses a logical appeal to achieve his
reasoning as to why ADHD does not exist. Dr. Saul goes on to explain, Today, the fifth edition
of the DSM only requires one to exhibit five out of 18 possible symptoms to qualify for an
ADHD diagnosis. He utilizes logos to show the audience how wide of a range the definition of
ADHD has become, making it easy for people to become diagnosed with it. Although, he also
explains instances where symptoms are severe that they truly need help, I have found more than
20 conditions that can lead to symptoms of ADHD, each of which requires its own approach to
treatment. If anyone fits the ADHD criteria, they are required to take stimulants instead of
taking more time to find the source of the problem. No matter how severe the symptoms are,
taking stimulants can actually harm the patient even more. The patient can become addicted to
the medication and start developing many different kinds of side effects. Furthermore, stimulants
generally work for people in the short term but can be covering the real source of the condition.
The use of logos helps the audience realize the large impact ADHD is having on people.
Over time, the meaning of ADHD has become more general to include a greater amount
of people diagnosed with the disorder. Dr Richard Saul successfully uses ethos and logos to
prove that ADHD is just part of the publics imagination, and it has only caused the increase of
stimulants. The strategy of Dr. Saul allows readers to open their eyes to the awareness of being
diagnosed with ADHD and the negative effects it has.
Work Cited
Saul, Richard. "Doctor: ADHD Does Not Exist." Time. N.p., 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 1 Oct. 2014