The medicalization of education: implications for the constitution of the subject/learner

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) generates controversy among researchers in the field of health. Organicists argue that the disorder is the result of a neurobiological, genetic disorder. Countering the hegemonic paradigm, researchers aligned with the social-historical perspective understand ADHD as part of a phenomenon called medicalization of education. This study aims to reflect on the social construction of ADHD (from school admission to medical diagnosis) and its implications for the subjectivity, socialization and learning of students that are seen as resistant to the education proposed by schools. This is a qualitative, cross-sectional field research study (case analysis) conducted within a socio-historical theoretical-methodological framework (BAKHTIN, 2006; VYGOTSKY, 2010). For the analysis of the history of a 10-year-old child diagnosed with ADHD, the study used interviews with the child, her teachers and her mother, as well as classroom observation, speech-language evaluation and documentary research (teaching materials, evaluative reports of schools attended by the child, expert opinion from health professionals etc.). Results indicate that in-depth research on the quality of a child’s social interactions can shed light on the socio-educational foundations underlying the alleged disorder.

ADHD; Medicalization of childhood; Subjectivity; Learning