The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website extensively offers information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how it affects children (CDC, 2021). Parents play an active role in overseeing the management of children suffering from ADHD. As a result, there is a need for them to be well informed on the disorder. Treatment of the disorder is properly highlighted on the website as it will be crucial for the parents. Most guardians readily seek the medication to ensure the safety of children. Avoiding the development of the ailment to adulthood explains the need for early medication among children. However, some adults have also been reported to be affected with ADHD. A treatment program is also set for them. Training, psychotherapy, and medication are some of the treatment plans set for adults. The CDC uses ethos, pathos, and logos effectively for passing information on ADHD to parents and guardians.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is grounded on a mission of ensuring the well-being of Americans. Continued enhancement of public health by the department resulted in many trusting it. In return, the department has upheld the provision of information and other services regarding various disorders. Such progressiveness prompted their in-depth research on the ADHD disorder and informed the public on the appropriate response. Information on ADHD disorders is part of the many initiatives by the department to fight the enemy. The intended readers, the parents, and any other adult, have faced challenges in appropriately dealing with the disorder. Information on the disorders has to be structured strategically to capture their attention for them to read. The measure will be a step to enhancing public health.
The audience is convinced through the website by the use of rhetorical tools. Logos is one of the tools that has been majorly used, which is evidenced by statistics and facts. The facts enhance the parents’ proper understanding of the disease and provide valuable information. Similar facts have also been stated on the extent to which the disorder may affect children. Affected children are said to suffer from paying attention, and their relationships with other children and families are majorly affected. As a result, a parent taking care of an affected child will believe in the informative traits associated with the website. (Panigyrakis et al., 2019).
Timeliness in offering ADHD disorder medication is also a rhetorical strategy embraced by the CDC website. The strategy, referred to as Kairos, has been seen through various instances on the website (Trapani, & Maldonado, 2018). Recommendations on treatment have majorly been based on time. Training has been recommended for children younger than six years. In addition to that, the training has to be administered before any other medication is offered to the child. The writing captures a decisive moment among the readers. A parent with an ailing child will pay close attention to the recommendation being stated on the website. In addition to that, they will continue reading through keenly in such of any other information. Apart from stating the actions that will require promptness, the website has also stated alternative recommendations in situations where one could have missed the stated time. The seeking of information will be done by both readers who have ailing children within and outside the recommended timelines. For example, the website has stated behavior therapy and medication for children under the age of 6. It states that for children up to the age of 12, parents have to train them on behavior management, hence affirming the use of timeliness in capturing the readers’ attention (CDC, 2021).
Readers’ appeal is enhanced by the design of the website. It presents the experiences of children, which is key for society. Information on the ADHD disorder on the website depicts the use of pathos as a rhetorical tool. ADHD is a childhood disorder majorly affecting children and partially in adults. Signs and symptoms of the disorder have been well outlined on the website. The information is key when one has to identify the disorder before seeking medication. As a result, it appeals to the readers’ emotions. The appeal affirms the effectiveness of pathos as a rhetorical tool.
Information contained on the site highly informs and engages the reader. The fact that the site has extensively invested in rhetorical tools approves of its ability to capture readers’ attention. Increased focus on the information provided communicates that the site is highly effective. As a result, the average time that readers will spend on the site is significant. Majoring on the health of the future generation enhances the website’s value. The website has posted a motto on the top left side of the page. The motto reads, “Saving Lives, Protecting People,” and this emphasizes their role in promoting health behaviors.
Information on ADHD disorder, especially among children, has been presented on the CDC website. The responsibility to watch the healing of children suffering from ADHD disorders has solely been left with parents and guardians. As a result, information on the website has been organized to capture their attention wholesomely. Rhetorical tools have been embraced to enhance the ability to capture the parents’ attention and any other person reading the website. Examples of the tools utilized include logos and Kairos. The utilization of the tools has enhanced the effectiveness of the site.
References
CDC. (2021). What is ADHD?. Retrieved 8 June 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
Panigyrakis, G., Panopoulos, A., & Koronaki, E. (2019). All we have is words: applying rhetoric to examine how social media marketing activities strengthen the connection between the brand and the self. International Journal Of Advertising, 39(5), 699-718. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2019.1663029
Trapani, W. C., & Maldonado, C. A. (2018). Kairos: On the limits to our (rhetorical) situation. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 48(3), 278-286.
