20 Time Reflection

For my 20-time project, I worked on improving the diagnostic test for Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with my partner Veda. I have been passionate about ADHD for a while now, mainly because so many people are affected by it as they are either misdiagnosed with ADHD, diagnosed properly but aren’t receiving proper treatment, or not diagnosed at all. So for my 20 time project, I wanted to address the most problematic aspect of ADHD — its diagnostic process.

ADHD patients rely on a survey, that is by no means comprehensive, that is completed by adults that regularly interact with the child. However, this method doesn’t allow the test to properly assess the brain composition of the child. ADHD patients have smaller brains, and specifically have smaller frontal lobes, temporal grey matter, caudate nucleus, and cerebellum.

Our initial was to create a test that would replace the current one and actually address the brain composition with a test for the child. I came into this project thinking that all we really had to do was just fix it. Fix the diagnosis. Fix ADHD. However, little did I know the vastness and magnitude project would have.

ADHD is such a complex disorder with little research and barely any awareness, which is what made it especially tough for us. The lack of information made it difficult to get the background information to do the test.

However, in the end, we were able to come up with an idea for a viable test that addresses the parts of the brain that are noticeably different from non-ADHD patients. Our idea includes testing memory, concentration, and reflexes through ways that aren’t difficult for doctors to embrace and use.

20 Time has been an immense learning experience for me. Although I learned a lot and truly enjoyed this experience, there were a few things that I wish I could have changed. ADHD has been a disorder that I have been extremely passionate about, and this project has been one that I have been thinking about doing for a long time, and I just wish I had done this project individually. After all, I was the primary contributor, as it was my idea, mostly my research, my hard work, and my passion that drove this project and got it to where it is today.

But, I was still able to really enjoy this experience. I have always had the mindset of not giving up, and this experience showed me the results of this. This experienced showed me how hard work will get you places. By not giving up, we were able to create an idea for a diagnostic test for ADHD.

Due to the deadline of 20 Time, we weren’t able to refine our idea and create our test. However, this project just made me more passionate about ADHD, and our idea made me extremely hopeful and excited about the future of ADHD research. I am definitely not done with my research on ADHD, and regarding this test, there is a long way to go, and I will definitely continue my work on ADHD. I want to spread awareness. I want to encourage others to work on ADHD.

I am very excited about ADHD research and I am even more excited about our project. Until there is a proper diagnosis, a cure, and until everyone knows about ADHD, my work will not be done. There is still a long way to go, but I am willing to go the distance.

For further information about our 20 Time project:
http://twentytimeadhd.blogspot.com/