A lot of people don't know the difference between stupid, lazy, or ADHD. Misinformation abounds. This article is the first in a series to help clear up some of the confusion.
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I am pretty open about my late diagnosis of ADHD and the difficulties I have faced because of it. A lot of the hardship I have faced stems from the fact that there is so much misinformation out there about the disorder. There are a lot of disreputable people out there preying on the vulnerable and pushing unscientific "cures" and treatments. There are just as many good-intentioned people who are trying to "help" but have no clue. This article is the first in a series that I hope will shatter some of the misconceptions and bring the facts of ADHD out into the open.
ADHD FACTS
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is one of the most common mental illnesses. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it affects an estimated 5% of children and 2.5% of adults.
Usually, it is diagnosed in childhood, when the affected child starts having trouble in school. The condition is diagnosed more frequently in boys than girls. Unfortunately, there are some people who do not get diagnosed until much later in life.
ADHD is broken down into three types: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, and combined type.
Hyperactivity is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) as when "a person seems to move about constantly, including situations in which it is not appropriate, excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with their activity."
The NIMH defines impulsivity as when "a person makes hasty actions that occur in the moment without first thinking about them and that may have high potential for harm; or a desire for immediate rewards or inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may be socially intrusive and excessively interrupt others or make important decisions without considering the long-term consequences."
According to the NIMH, inattention is characterized by a person who "wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized; and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension."
ADHD severity and type vary per person. Males are more often diagnosed with the hyperactive-impulsive type. Females are more often diagnosed with the inattentive type.
ADHD FICTION
There are a great many misconceptions about what ADHD is, and isn't.
"There's no such thing as ADHD. That child is just spoiled." ADHD is a condition, not a result of poor parenting. According to the CDC, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
"Everyone has a little ADHD." According to the APA, even though ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders, it only affects approximately 5% of children and 2.5% of adults.
"All children act that way!" While all children may display the symptoms of ADHD occasionally, affected children have the symptoms more severely, more often, and the symptoms reduce social function, school function, and quality of home life.
"Only boys have ADHD." It is true that males are diagnosed more often, but females also have ADHD. Obviously, since I am female!
"All kids with ADHD are hyperactive." Children with inattentive type ADHD often appear dreamy or lost in their own world.
"There's nothing wrong with you, you just need to try harder." Believe me when I say that those with ADHD are most likely already trying as hard as they can.
