Le TDA/H, un diagnostic qui agite les familles. Les quêtes diagnostiques autour d’enfants agités, entre rupture et continuité

Abstract

Cet article porte sur les liens entre problèmes de santé et trajectoires sociales. À travers l’exemple d’enfants diagnostiqués TDA/H, il met au cœur de l’analyse les quêtes diagnostiques qui les entourent, c’est-à-dire la recherche de sens et de solutions que les jeunes et leur entourage mènent pour faire face à leurs difficultés. Cette quête peut prendre des directions variées, car elle se déploie en fonction des caractéristiques et trajectoires sociales passées (genre, milieu social, configuration familiale…), mais aussi d’enjeux présents qui nécessitent de s’organiser au quotidien et de prendre des décisions pour l’avenir (en matière de scolarité, d’éducation, de traitement…). S’appuyant sur 45 entretiens menés auprès d’enfants et/ou de membres de leur entourage, l’article met en lumière les déterminants des variations de ces quêtes diagnostiques particulièrement longues et complexes, mais qui éclairent les ressorts des manières de faire face à de nombreux problèmes de santé.

The multiple meanings of ADHD: between deficit, disruption and hidden potential

“…Is it because children's descriptions are taken from gendered norms and expectations, that physical activity, energy expenditure, and mobility are valued more in men than in women, and that intelligence is associated more with men than with women? It has been shown in the French corpus that connotations of attention deficit and disability are more often associated with girls, while boys are more often described in the register of speed and hyper-intelligence (Béliard et al, 2018).…”

“…For example, with regard to academic performance, ADHD children are never described as "normal": they are either described as having significant difficulties or, conversely, as having some degree of intellectual superiority (Rafalovich, 2004). In a previous article, we were particularly interested in the ambivalence of the meanings attributed to ADHD (Béliard et al, 2018). While there are large numbers of negative cultural meanings surrounding ADHD, there is also a set of positive meanings and representations that underscore the special or exceptional abilities associated with this condition.…”

“…While there are large numbers of negative cultural meanings surrounding ADHD, there is also a set of positive meanings and representations that underscore the special or exceptional abilities associated with this condition. Certain children can be described as restless and violent, but according to some parents these traits are associated with the rewarding description of a strong character and charismatic personality, in which hyperactivity is related to "hyper-intelligence", intellectual speed and creativity (Béliard et al, 2018).…”

Rethinking medicalization: discursive positions of children and their caregivers on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Chile

“…However, the perspective of medicalization tends to overlook the productive process through which the recognition of ADHD and its pharmacological treatment make sense for institutions, professionals, parents and children (Béliard et al, 2018). Being "moral technologies" (Jenkins, 2011) whose meanings have pragmatic consequences in people's daily lives, psychopharmaceuticals are objects that embody ideals and cultural values that cannot be reduced to the simple idea of "medicalization".…”

Presentation - Concepts, trajectories, and approaches to “agitation” and “non-conforming children”: social and cultural experiences in Brazil, Chile and France

“…This third perspective emphasizes the multiplicity of points of view and negotiations between all the actors concerned (the child, his/her parents and siblings, the school and care professionals, etc.) (Béliard et al, 2018;Nakamura;Planche;Ehrenberg, 2018;Singh, 2004Singh, , 2012.…”