Misconceptions about ADHD

Some of the misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include the following:1

Myth
There is no such medical condition as ADHD.

Fact
ADHD is a medical disorder, not a condition of the child's will. A child with ADHD does not choose to misbehave.

Myth
ADHD is caused by bad parenting. All the child needs is good discipline.

Fact
ADHD is not caused by bad parenting, however, parenting techniques can often improve or worsen some symptoms.

Myth
ADHD is a life sentence.

Fact
Although ADHD symptoms usually continue into adulthood, the person learns ways to cope with the symptoms. People with ADHD have plenty of energy, are creative, and can often accomplish more than people who do not have the condition.

Myth
Having ADHD means the person is lazy or dumb.

Fact
ADHD has nothing to do with a person's intellectual ability. Some highly intelligent people have ADHD.

Myth
The diagnosis of ADHD is confirmed if certain medications (psychostimulants) have a positive effect on what seem to be symptoms of ADHD.

Fact
Children without ADHD respond to psychostimulants similarly to children with ADHD. A trial of medication is not used to diagnose the condition.

Myth
Medication for ADHD will make a person seem drugged.

Fact
Properly adjusted medication for ADHD sharpens a person's focus and increases his or her ability to control behavior.

Myth
Medication prescriptions for ADHD have greatly increased in the past few years because the condition is being overdiagnosed.

Fact
ADHD is estimated to affect approximately 3% to 7% of all school-age children in the United States.2 There is little evidence to support claims that ADHD is overdiagnosed and ADHD medications overprescribed.3

Myth
Psychostimulants are no longer useful after puberty.

Fact
Teens and adults with ADHD continue to benefit from medication treatment.

Myth
Children with ADHD are learning to use the condition as an excuse for their behavior.

Fact
ADHD is a disability. Children with ADHD have to learn ways to deal with their symptoms (inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) that cause them to have difficulties in life.

Myth
Children outgrow ADHD.

Fact
About 70% to 80% of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms during their teen years and about 50% have symptoms into adulthood.4

Myth
If a child has ADHD, he or she can always be diagnosed in the health professional's office.

Fact
A child may not always show symptoms of ADHD, especially in an unfamiliar setting. Evaluating a child from one office observation may result in failure to recognize or diagnose symptoms.


Citations
Robin AL (1999). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents: Common pediatric concerns. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 46(5): 1027–1038.

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Attention-deficit and disruptive behavior disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text rev., pp. 85–103. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Brown RT, et al. (2001). Prevalence and assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in pimary care settings. Pediatrics, 107(3): 1–11.

National Institute of Mental Health (2003). Attention Deficit Disorder. NIH Publication No. 03-3572. Available online: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm.

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