COMMON MYTHS ABOUT ADHD

Fact vs Fiction

MYTH: ADHD is a “sign of the times”, an American fad or the product of poor parenting/environment. It doesn’t exist.

ADHD is an internationally-recognised, complex neurobiological disorder, affecting up to 5% UK schoolchildren.  Research shows that people with ADHD have a few structures within the brain that are smaller and that their neurotransmitters – the chemical messengers in the brain – do not work properly.  A child with ADHD is more vulnerable to his environment.  The pressures of parenting a child with ADHD can tear families apart.  ADHD blights a childhood and damages a future and causes immense stress to the child and family. Understanding of the reality of suffering from and living with ADHD is essential to providing the most effective support.

MYTH: All children/teenagers with ADHD are hyperactive/if there is no hyperactivity/sleep difficulties, it is not ADHD

Although hyperactivity is important, hyperactivity per se is not a benchmark of diagnosis and can be the least disabling symptom of ADHD.  Some people mistakenly believe that a child or teenager with ADHD must be hyperactive.  They may be unaware that by the teenage years, hyperactivity may often be no longer present – and that not all children with ADHD are hyperactive.  Many – especially girls – have the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD and have never been hyperactive but still experience significant problems because of their very poor concentration.  Others remain impulsive.  Sleep problems can be a complication of ADHD but are not essential for diagnosis.

MYTH:  Children who can concentrate for hours on computers/video games etc don’t have a problem with concentration or ADHD

Many children with ADHD can overfocus on things they find interesting and do well but have extreme difficulty in starting or sustaining things they find boring.  Most people with ADHD have a few activities where their impairments are absent.

MYTH:  Diet is the only effective treatment
Dietary modification is extremely difficult to implement. It may modify hyperactivity but there is no scientific evidence that it improves poor concentration and impulsivity.

MYTH:  Medication is all that is needed
On average 90% of children with ADHD respond to stimulant medication which is a safe and effective treatment. The optimum treatment of ADHD usually involves a combination of educational/behavioural and other strategies and may also include the use of medication.

MYTH:  ADHD resolves by puberty
Concentration/impulsive difficulties often persist and manifest themselves in different ways in teenagers, causing them significant problems.  Instead of being hyperactive, teachers may notice restlessness, inattentiveness, garrulousness, “tuning out.”  Approximately 60% of children with ADHD have symptoms into adulthood and it can be diagnosed in adults.

MYTH:  Medication should only be used for school hours
Where ADHD symptoms are impacting significantly on everyday life both at home and school, medication usually has a role both in and out of school hours.  The length of time a child will require medication is determined by regular monitoring and is very individual. 

MYTH:  The medications are addictive with long term effects. Psychostimulant medication to treat ADHD has been used in over 5 million people over the past 50 years with no apparent long term side-effects.  There is no evidence of addiction to the medication used to treat ADHD.  Conversely, evidence shows that untreated ADHD can lead to significant educational and social underachievement.  There is an increased risk of substance misuse, involvement in the law and other serious difficulties, which can be greatly reduced by medical treatment.

MYTH:  The medications for ADHD have worrying side effects
The perception of side effects is sensationalised and inaccurately portrayed by the media and the ignorant.  Any medication for any condition, including those bought over the counter, can have potential side effects in some people.  It is important to put the situation into perspective.  Approximately 20% of children on psychostimulant medication may have transient, mild, short term side effects that can usually be alleviated by careful dosage or timing adjustments.

MYTH:  If the child just tried harder to concentrate/wasn’t so lazy he would do well

Children with ADHD are often inconsistent in ability.  Their skill deficits are real and not due simply to laziness or lack of motivation.  They are often judged on the few occasions when they do well, which are then held against them for the rest of their life.  They have a brain chemistry problem, which is often genetic and impairs their ability to concentrate.  

MYTH:  ADHD is over diagnosed and over treated

Fears and prejudices about ADHD and its treatment are perpetuated by the media and the ignorant. They are not based on hard facts.  This prevents children and adults getting effective treatment.   ADHD has been under-diagnosed for years.  Some researchers consider that we are “catching up” on the predicted 5% prevalence rate of ADHD and many believe that this and the increased awareness and knowledge of ADHD amongst professionals are the primary reason for increases in the number of children being diagnosed and appropriately treated.