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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) affects over 8% of children and 2.5% of adults according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA). That makes it one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in kids.
Yet, despite its frequency, there are many ADHD myths and misconceptions about what the condition really entails. As with other mental health conditions, these misunderstandings are harmful. They perpetuate stigma—which can delay diagnosis or treatment, and leave people feeling ashamed or ignored.
ADHD Myth #1: ADHD isn’t a real disorder.
ADHD Fact: People often question, “Is ADHD real?” It’s misunderstood as bad behavior. The truth is, it’s a proven medical condition. Its defining symptoms were first described in 1902, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s been recognized as a legitimate diagnosis since 1980 by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the symptoms guidebook for psychiatrists and physicians.
Additionally, research shows there are differences between an ADHD brain, and one without it—differences in the size of certain segments, and the connections between them. This impacts how quickly the brain matures, and how quickly it understands and responds to cues from the outside environment. In other words, what looks like acting out is a legitimate neurological difference.
ADHD Myth #2: It’s not ADHD, it’s bad parenting.
ADHD Fact: “ADHD is a biological condition,” says Jeff Copper, founder of DIG Coaching Practice, Attention Talk Radio, and Attention Talk Video. Meaning, kids with ADHD don’t want to misbehave. They aren’t choosing to disobey their parents wishes. More discipline won’t fix it.
Many interpret ADHD behaviors as purposeful defiance—interrupting conversations, constant fidgeting, or staring into the distance when someone’s talking. In actuality, these are expressions of the core symptoms of the condition: impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Children don’t do these things because their parents haven’t taught them they are wrong. They do them because their brain chemistry makes it harder to control impulses and direct focus.
ADHD Myth #3: People with ADHD are just lazy.
ADHD Fact: Like any medical condition, just trying harder doesn’t eliminate ADHD symptoms. It’s like asking someone with a vision impairment to “just see better” without the aid of glasses. People with ADHD are often already putting in a superhuman effort to fit in to a world that isn’t designed for their neurodiverse brains.
It’s not a problem of willpower or laziness. It’s a difference in how the brain understands and acts on priorities. “ADHD is not about motivation, it’s about brain chemistry differences that make it hard to stay focused and initiate and complete tasks,” explains Melissa Orlov, author of The ADHD Effect on Marriage. “Those with ADHD are some of the hardest workers I’ve seen—they have to constantly work hard to keep ADHD symptoms from getting in their way. It’s just that a lot of that work goes on inside their heads, where it is invisible to others around them.”
In fact, there are many well-known people with ADHD who are high achievers: Olympians Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, Justin Timberlake, Solange Knowles, Virgin Airlines founder Sir Richard Branson, and world cup champion Tim Howard.
ADHD Myth #4: Only boys get ADHD.
ADHD Fact: Nearly 60% of people, and over 80% of teachers believe that ADHD is more common in boys. In fact, girls are just as likely to have the condition. But because of this misconception, boys are over twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, according to the CDC.
Some research says that boys are more likely to have stereotypical “externalizing” behaviors like hyperactivity, while girls tend to have predominantly inattentive symptoms, like daydreaming. But that’s not always the case. “ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity, so boys and men can have the distracted [inattentive] version of ADHD, without the hyperactivity, just as girls and women can have both the distracted version and hyperactive version of ADHD,” says Orlov. “ADHD is about brain chemistry and is not linked to gender or intelligence. The reason we associate it with boys is that more boys than girls display the hyperactive symptoms and they are easier to spot than the distracted symptoms. This doesn’t preclude girls from being hyperactive, though.”
A late, or missed, diagnosis can mean fewer accommodations at school to help them succeed, which can impact performance at school and self-esteem.
ADHD Myth #5: You outgrow ADHD.
ADHD Fact: It was once thought that ADHD was a childhood condition. Now, it’s accepted that it continues into adulthood—though symptoms may change as a person gets older. Nearly 70% of people who were diagnosed as children still have symptoms in adolescence and beyond, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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ADHD Myth #6: Medication is the only treatment, and it leads to addiction.
ADHD Fact: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends behavior therapy as the first line of treatment for preschoolers, and a combination of behavior therapy and medication for older children and adults. There are a number of natural treatments for ADHD, such as exercise and nutritional changes.
“Medications are just one tool in the toolkit for treating ADHD, and many research studies demonstrate that using multiple treatments, such as medications combined with behavioral therapy, improves outcomes,” Orlov says.
Parents are often concerned that the stimulant medications used to treat ADHD are addictive. Yet, many studies show for people with ADHD, the effect is the opposite. Treating ADHD is likely to reduce the risk of substance abuse problems, possibly because there is less self-medication with alcohol and drugs.
If you think you or your child might have ADHD, visit your doctor. There are many effective treatment options that can make a real difference in your lives.
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Summary: Fast facts and ADHD statistics
- ADHD was first described in 1902.
- ADHD has been recognized as a legitimate diagnosis since 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- ADHD affects over 8% of children, and 2.5% of adults, making it the most common neurodevelopmental condition in kids.
- Boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as girls.
- 60% of people and 80% of teachers believe that ADHD is more common in boys.
- ADHD isn’t just a childhood condition. Nearly 70% of people diagnosed with ADHD still have symptoms in adolescence and beyond.
- ADHD is a biological condition. Research shows there are differences between an ADHD brain, and one without it.
- There are many celebrities with ADHD, including Olympians Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, Justin Timberlake, Solange Knowles, Virgin Airlines founder Sir Richard Branson, and world cup champion Tim Howard.
