What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting over 6.4 million people in America. It’s characterized by hyperactivity, difficulty with paying attention, and showing impulsive behaviors. There are 3 forms of ADHD: predominantly inattentive when people struggle mostly with paying attention and following instruction; predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, when people are hyperactive and impulsive; and combined presentation, which is a combination of both.
Symptoms & Treatment
ADHD can be caused by various factors such as brain injury, premature birth, and genetics. Having trouble focusing, organizing, and following directions are some of the large range of symptoms that can be experienced by someone with ADHD. In terms of treatment, people with ADHD often use psychological and behavioral therapy to learn how to control and live with their impulses.
Fact or Myth?
While ADHD is widely known and research on it is plentiful, there are several harmful misconceptions that are constantly being debunked by research. Here are a list of some common myths:
ADHD isn’t a “big deal”: What often isn’t realized is how much ADHD can affect people in daily life, and creating this misconception has lessened the accommodations that could be made for people with ADHD to guide them to their full potential. Some people with ADHD aren’t taken seriously and are diagnosed later in life because of having their symptoms be dismissed.
Girl’s don’t get ADHD: Boys are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, which may be due to the fact that symptoms are often more subtle and internal for girls, often expressed in low self esteem, inattentiveness, and being withdrawn. What makes this misconception so harmful is that girls who show symptoms of ADHD are not able to get evaluated or treated as often as boys. When left unaddressed it can increase likelihood of anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, and other conditions or difficulties in adulthood.
ADD vs ADHD: While ADD (attention deficit disorder) is still well known, it is actually an outdated term. Instead, predominantly inattentive ADHD is the correct term that covers all of the symptoms.
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