{"id":6064,"date":"2019-10-02T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T12:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=6064"},"modified":"2025-09-28T15:55:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T19:55:47","slug":"adhd-facts-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/adhd-facts-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"6 ADHD myths and misconceptions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) affects over 8% of children and 2.5% of adults according to the <\/span>American Psychiatric Association<\/span> (APA). That makes it one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, despite its frequency, there are many ADHD myths and misconceptions about what the condition <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> entails. As with other mental health conditions, these misunderstandings are harmful. They perpetuate stigma\u2014which can delay diagnosis or treatment, and leave people feeling ashamed or ignored.<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD Myth #1: ADHD isn\u2019t a real disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

ADHD Fact:<\/b> People often question, \u201cIs ADHD real?\u201d It\u2019s misunderstood as bad behavior. The truth is, it\u2019s a proven medical condition. Its defining symptoms were first described in 1902, according to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span> (CDC). It\u2019s been recognized as a legitimate diagnosis <\/span>since 1980<\/span> by the <\/span>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, <\/span><\/i>the symptoms guidebook for psychiatrists and physicians.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> shows there are differences between an <\/span>ADHD brain<\/span><\/a>, and one without it\u2014differences 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD Myth #2: It\u2019s not ADHD, it\u2019s bad parenting.<\/span><\/h2>\n

ADHD Fact:<\/b> \u201c<\/span>ADHD is a biological condition,\u201d says <\/span>Jeff Copper<\/span><\/a>, founder of <\/span>DIG Coaching Practice<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Attention Talk Radio<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Attention Talk Video<\/span><\/a>. Meaning, kids with ADHD don\u2019t <\/span>want <\/span><\/i>to misbehave. They aren\u2019t choosing to disobey their parents wishes. More discipline won\u2019t fix it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many interpret ADHD behaviors as purposeful defiance\u2014interrupting conversations, constant fidgeting, or staring into the distance when someone\u2019s talking. In actuality, these are expressions of the core symptoms of the condition: impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Children don\u2019t do these things because their parents haven\u2019t taught them they are wrong. They do them because their brain chemistry makes it harder to control impulses and direct focus.<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD Myth #3: People with ADHD are just lazy.<\/span><\/h2>\n

ADHD Fact:<\/b> Like any medical condition, just trying harder doesn\u2019t eliminate ADHD symptoms. It\u2019s like asking someone with a vision impairment to \u201cjust see better\u201d without the aid of glasses. People with ADHD are often already putting in a superhuman effort to fit in to a world that isn\u2019t designed for their neurodiverse brains.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a problem of willpower or laziness. It\u2019s a difference in how the brain understands and acts on priorities. \u201c<\/span>ADHD is not about motivation, it’s about brain chemistry differences that make it hard to stay focused and initiate and complete tasks,\u201d explains Melissa Orlov, author of <\/span>The ADHD Effect on Marriage<\/span><\/i><\/a>. \u201cThose with ADHD are some of the hardest workers I’ve seen\u2014they 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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