Everything You Need To Know About ADHD
While ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, it’s also among the most misunderstood
April 15, 2024
The human condition is one of distraction. Learning to place our attention on certain people, items, tasks, or concepts is a skill everyone must learn from a young age, and it takes time.
For some people this skill is harder than for others. Anyone who has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has experienced challenges with attention.
It’s important to note that ADHD is about much more than attention. Increasingly, experts on the topic describe it as a disorder of regulation. Difficulties with regulating emotions, along with misunderstandings about what ADHD looks like and what is driving the symptoms, can cause lifelong challenges for those who don’t get help.
The good news? ADHD is both common and treatable. It is often caught in early childhood but can still be diagnosed and treated in adulthood as well.
If you believe you or someone you care about has ADHD, don’t be afraid to find help.
Keep Reading To Learn
- What ADHD is—and what it isn’t
- How ADHD differs across gender and age
- What diagnosis and treatment look like
- How to reduce the stigma surrounding ADHD
Understanding ADHD: The Basics
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. In fact, the condition is usually first diagnosed in this phase of life.
Although we think of ADHD as a childhood condition, it frequently continues well into adulthood or becomes lifelong. People with ADHD have trouble regulating attention—they can find it difficult to maintain focus and can become hyperfocused or struggle to shift attention.
They also commonly experience difficulty controlling impulsivity, monitoring or attending to biological needs, sleeping, managing emotions, and navigating relationships. Individuals with ADHD also demonstrate differences in cognitive processes, such as working memory and processing speed.
Fast Facts About ADHD
ADHD is common. According to the CDC, national surveys show that about six million children between the ages of 3 and 17 (9.8% of the total) have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point.
This breaks down to 265,000 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years (or 2% of the population), 2.4 million children between the ages of 6 and 11 (10% of the population), and 3.3 million children 12 to 17 years old (13% of the population).
Boys are more than twice as likely to receive the diagnosis than girls. However, many experts report that girls are underdiagnosed due to gender stereotypes and misconceptions about the disorder. Consequently, ADHD can still present a serious difficulty in the lives of girls and women.
ADHD is often a co-occurring condition. According to survey data used by the CDC, 60% of kids with ADHD experienced at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral condition. More specifically, about half of children with ADHD struggled with a behavioral issue, 30% with anxiety, and many with other conditions such as autism and depression.
ADD vs. ADHD
It is important to understand the difference between ADD (attention-deficit disorder) and ADHD. Over time, the two conditions have been separated and recombined. As a result, the general public’s understanding of ADHD has become clouded.
In the past, people with the condition were grouped into two diagnoses: ADHD and ADD. As the ADHD advocacy organization CHADD points out, in 1994, the diagnostic term changed to ADHD for both groups. The change applies even to those who do not experience the hyperactivity (“H”) component of the condition.
Many laypeople and physicians still use the outdated label. For example, they may use ADD to refer to someone who has trouble with attention but doesn’t exhibit hyperactivity. They may say “ADD” because the term is shorter, when in fact, they mean ADHD.
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Presentations of ADHD
To better comprehend today’s ADHD definition, we can look at the three basic presentations of the condition.
The diagnosed presentation depends on which symptoms are strongest in the individual. As people change over time, their symptoms and type may change as well. The same is true for how severe the condition is.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
The person struggles most with attention. They have trouble staying present with a task, organizing it, and finishing it.
They find it difficult to follow instructions, tune into conversations, and focus on details. Creating and maintaining routines is difficult because the person is so easily distracted.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
The condition manifests more physically, with lots of fidgeting and twitching, running and jumping, frenetic movement, or restlessness.
The person may exhibit impulse control issues, such as interrupting, grabbing, or throwing.
Combined Presentation
The combined presentation exhibits an equal distribution of the above symptoms.
Severity Levels of ADHD
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) now requires medical professionals to select a severity level when diagnosing ADHD. This breaks down as follows:
- Mild – The child or adult exhibits only a few of the symptoms required for diagnosis. These symptoms do not present a huge impairment when it comes to school, work, or social life.
- Moderate – More symptoms are present than with a mild case, but less so than with a severe one.
- Severe – The condition creates a significant negative impact on the person who has it. Symptoms result in a high level of impairment in daily life, relationships, school, or work.
Severity levels do change over time, sometimes without warning. The condition may change form as well. Some children grow out of ADHD, while others find that most or all of the symptoms persist.
According to CHADD, those who grow out of childhood ADHD are diagnosed as having “ADHD in partial remission.”
ADHD in Women
According to the DSM-5, ADHD occurs in about 2.5% of adults in most cultures.
ADHD is more common in males than in females at any age.
However, research suggests the gender ratio narrows in ADHD among adults, with 1.6 males for each female with the condition.
As the Cleveland Clinic points out, research indicates that the condition is not necessarily less common in women but instead is underdiagnosed.
In other words, many adult women experience ADHD and can have debilitating symptoms if they don’t get the help they need.
In women, ADHD typically manifests as inattention. Women with ADHD are less likely to have issues with hyperactivity and impulsivity, although these symptoms can still occur.
If you think you or someone you care about may have ADHD, it’s important to push past any barriers to diagnosis.
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Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
It’s normal for children to have trouble focusing, keeping their hands to themselves, sitting still, paying attention to details, and remembering routines. If you are just noticing such issues in a developing child, you might want to wait to see if they grow out of them in a few months.
However, if the issues persist over time or the signs of ADHD become worse, it is important to seek the guidance of a mental health professional.
The following list of symptoms applies to child as well as adult ADHD.
Inattention
Signs of inattention include:
- Frequent daydreaming
- Forgetting and losing things
- Making unnecessary mistakes
- Missing details
- Having trouble sustaining attention
- Finding it hard to follow through on instructions or routines
- Not listening when spoken to
- Having trouble with organization
- Avoiding tasks that require effort
- Becoming easily distracted by outside stimuli or inner thoughts
- Hyper-focusing on some activities or interests and having trouble breaking away
Some people assume that inattentive ADHD symptoms only apply to the tasks or routines that people find unpleasant, such as chores, school, work, calls, or errands.
However, ADHD often impacts people during their most relaxed times. They can have symptoms when they try to play games with family members, enjoy downtime, pay attention to a movie, and so on.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Hyperactivity and impulsivity may permeate every area of a child’s life. Signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity include:
- Squirming and fidgeting while seated or standing
- Talking too much or too loudly
- Leaving seat during a time when it’s expected to stay seated
- Finding excuses to move around
- Having trouble taking turns
- Finding it hard to resist temptation
- Cutting people off, interrupting, or predicting others’ thoughts rather than waiting for them to finish
- Looking or feeling restless
- Running and jumping at inappropriate times
Inattention and hyperactivity can combine in countless ways depending on the person, their age, their gender, and other factors.
Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation isn’t part of the current diagnostic criteria for ADHD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). However, clinicians and researchers increasingly recognize emotion dysregulation as a core feature of ADHD.
Signs of emotion regulation challenges can include:
- Fast-building, high-intensity, and short-lived emotions
- Emotional reactions that seem out of sync with their cause
- Feeling “overwhelmed” by emotions
- Difficulty recognizing emotions in oneself and others
- Experiencing many more emotions at once than a typical person might
- Difficulty shifting focus away from emotions
Some of these symptoms are developmentally appropriate and normal. However, when they are particularly prominent or the child doesn’t grow out of them, they may be signs of ADHD.
Distinguishing ADHD From Similar Presentations
Getting a diagnosis is often the main concern of a parent who has a child with ADHD, or an adult who is seeking treatment for themselves.
A critical milestone when seeking a diagnosis is to separate the above ADHD symptoms from signs of another condition.
Several conditions present in similar ways to ADHD, which can muddy the waters.
Misdiagnosis is a common problem in children as well as adults. Since misdiagnosis prevents proper treatment, it’s important to know which conditions look similar to ADHD.
According to Healthline, conditions that can be confused with ADHD include:
Bipolar Disorder
This condition also manifests as restlessness, talkativeness, impatience, impulsivity, and outbursts. However, mood shifts are more pronounced with bipolar disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Similar to children with ADHD, children with autism face social challenges.
While those with autism may have less social awareness of others, those with ADHD often have some degree of awareness, but still struggle to overcome impulses that interfere with social interactions.
Both may dominate conversations, but while individuals with autism may focus extensively on a specific interest, those with ADHD often switch topics frequently during conversation. Each may find that this can make peer interactions tricky.
Sensory Integration Issues
When children have trouble processing sensory input, such as touch or sound, they may present similarly to those with ADHD. Signs of sensory processing issues include trouble focusing, difficulty following directions, and hopping quickly between activities. However, children with sensory integration issues often seem more overwhelmed and less excitable than those with ADHD.
Sleep Disorders
Some children with ADHD may have trouble falling asleep. People with sleep disorders may have difficulty concentrating or staying on task during the day. It can be hard to tease the two conditions apart.
Hearing Loss
When children cannot hear, they cannot follow directions effectively. They may not know they have trouble hearing, or they may try to mask the issue. It is helpful to rule out hearing loss when assessing for ADHD.
Learning Disabilities
When children don’t understand the material being taught or what is being asked of them, they may appear to have ADHD.
Depression and Anxiety
Kids who are sad or anxious may find it hard to concentrate, be present, follow directions, or remember routines. For that reason, any ADHD test should include a screening for these issues.
Substance Misuse
When ADHD symptoms arise later in adolescence, substance use should be considered. Substance misuse can mimic the symptoms of disorganization, trouble concentrating, trouble interacting with peers, and even manic or “hyperactive” behaviors.
ADHD at All Ages
ADHD symptoms may present at all ages. The ADHD assessment for adults is a little different from that for children.
Adults are unlikely to grow out of ADHD symptoms, as some children do. Adults have different environmental demands than children.
ADHD in Children
In kids and teens, ADHD often causes problems in school. An ADHD diagnosis entitles children to certain rights in an educational setting.
If a student has ADHD, and it is shown to impair their learning, they can qualify for special education services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.
Typically, extra support falls under an individualized education program, or IEP. An IEP is a plan that parents set up with teachers and the school district.
An IEP includes services to help children who qualify succeed, such as extra instruction, preferred seating, alternative teaching requirements, or a different curriculum.
If they don’t need special education but could use extra support in the classroom, they may qualify for a Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Section 504 states that students with disabilities must have the same opportunity to participate in educational programs, services, and activities as their non-disabled peers.
While an IEP provides a required modified curriculum or special education services to those who qualify, 504 plans include accommodations that help students access the general education curriculum. IEPs may also include accommodations similar to those in a 504 Plan.
ADHD in Adults
Adult ADHD symptoms often appear different from those in children. For instance, we do not typically describe adults as “hyper” but rather as “restless” or “stressed out.”
For adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD as children, symptoms often remain the same and require ongoing treatment. For those who have not been diagnosed when younger, it may not occur to them or even their physician to look for the issue.
However, a diagnosis is critical to receiving treatment, such as medication or psychotherapy. It’s important to request tests if you suspect ADHD.
Learning To Work With—Not Against—ADHD
Melinda Macht-Greenberg, PhD, addresses the challenges both children and adults with ADHD face, provides ways to face these obstacles head-on, and answers audience questions about ADHD and hyperactivity.
The Genetics of ADHD
Some folks wonder if ADHD is genetic, and the answer is yes. ADHD can run in families. In fact, genetics is a big indicator.
For example, according to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), research indicates that children with siblings who have ADHD are nine times more likely to have the condition than children whose siblings do not have ADHD. Four out of ten parents who have ADHD will have a child with ADHD.
ADDA cautions that while genetics play a role, people should not automatically assume that a child will inherit the condition. The environment can also play a part in whether a child develops the disorder. For example, studies of twins demonstrate that one twin may develop ADHD while the other twin does not.
Given the genetic link, if you’re wondering about an ADHD diagnosis for someone whose family members already have been diagnosed, it’s important to get it checked out.
What Causes ADHD?
While ADHD does have a genetic influence, other factors increase a person’s risk of developing the condition.
According to the CDC, risk factors for ADHD include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Substance use during pregnancy
- Environmental toxins in pregnancy or early childhood
- Premature birth or low birth weight
Over the decades, many other factors have been incorrectly attributed to causing ADHD.
Common ADHD Misconceptions
As with any condition, several myths surround the medical issue of ADHD. Such misinformation makes it harder to address the situation. Let’s take a look at the most common ADHD myths.
Myth: Too Much Sugar Causes ADHD
Scientific evidence does not support the notion that too much sugar or other “trouble foods” (such as red dye) cause ADHD.
While sugar can make children hyperactive, a “sugar high” disappears as a normal metabolic process. It does not cause a lasting condition such as ADHD.
Myth: Too Much Television or Video Games Can Cause ADHD
There is no evidence that watching too much television or playing too many video games can cause the condition. Children who already have ADHD may be at risk of spending too much time on these pursuits since they can hyper-focus or fixate on preferred activities.
Myth: Parenting or Environmental Factors Are at Fault for ADHD in Children
While the physical environment during and after pregnancy is indicated as an ADHD cause, the emotional environment is not. How you are parented or raised does not “cause” ADHD, although it may make symptoms worse.
Myth: Stress Brings on ADHD
While stress does not cause ADHD, it can worsen the symptoms.
Myth: Poverty Makes ADHD More Likely or Worse
Poverty may make it more difficult for someone to receive proper diagnosis and treatment, but it does not cause ADHD.
The Challenge of Diagnosing ADHD
Many people who want to know if they or their child has ADHD seek an ADHD test. This is understandable, but there are many factors to consider when looking for an ADHD assessment.
For example, ADHD is a collection of symptoms that we all have at times. Most of us can relate to experiencing distraction, difficulty concentrating, trouble interacting with peers, and hyperactivity. It is only when these symptoms come together and cause significant difficulty in one or more areas of life that they are considered ADHD.
The general requirement for diagnosis is that a person’s symptoms fall into at least one of the following categories:
- Chronic or long-lasting
- Impairing functioning
- Causing a person to fall behind in work, school, or other areas of life
Most people receive an ADHD diagnosis during elementary school. If you or a loved one is seeking an ADHD diagnosis in adolescence or adulthood, your symptoms must have been present since before the age of 12 to qualify. If symptoms appear after age 12, then the condition is likely another that can present as ADHD.
Because so many factors are involved in an ADHD diagnosis, there isn’t one single “ADHD test.” Instead, an individual should get a comprehensive evaluation that rules out other conditions, considers family history, checks health and social factors, and assesses symptoms since childhood.
Psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and pediatricians can all provide this evaluation.
Understanding ADHD in Kids & Teens
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Treatment for ADHD
Treatment for ADHD is not only possible, but also widely available and highly effective. Although there is no cure for ADHD, psychotherapy and medication can bring about significant changes in a person’s functioning at school, work, home, and with others.
Psychotherapy
Either in combination with medication or alone, psychotherapy may provide relief from ADHD symptoms. Therapy for ADHD can include, but is not limited to:
- Behavioral therapy – This fundamental therapy helps a child or adult recognize behavioral triggers and find better responses to them. It can help with emotional reactions, organization, and attention.
- Parenting skills training – Sometimes, parents need a leg up when it comes to helping their child succeed in the face of an ADHD diagnosis. Without the right tools to help kids, parents may not be able to provide compassionate, loving care and cheerleading. Skills training can help.
- Family therapy – Life at home often becomes frustrating for a family before a child gets a diagnosis and may remain so afterward. Family therapy can help address built-up tension and return the home to a more pleasant state.
- Classroom interventions – Children with an IEP or 504 plan may qualify for additional help in the classroom. An IEP or 504 plan can help kids modify their behavior, stay on task, get preferential seating, reduce academic requirements to manageable levels, and provide more time for tests.
- Stress management – Although stress does not cause ADHD, it may make it worse. Therapy approaches that help children and adults process stress effectively can help them manage ADHD symptoms.
- Support groups – ADHD is difficult, and it’s often a relief to have somewhere to turn. Support groups exist for both ADHD-diagnosed individuals and their families.
Medication
Many individuals with ADHD benefit from medications that limit impulsivity, improve focus, and heighten their ability to take in information and follow directions. Medications come in two basic classes:
- Stimulants – Stimulants are the most commonly recommended medication to address ADHD. It may seem counterintuitive to prescribe a stimulant to someone who is hyper and unfocused. However, these medications increase the vital neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. As a result, the brain’s ability to think and focus improves.
- Non-stimulants – For some individuals, stimulants might not be the right fit. If a person negatively reacts to stimulants and shows no improvement with stimulants, non-stimulants can be effective alternatives. In some cases, a combination can be effective. For example, suppose an individual can’t tolerate the side effects of a high enough dose of a stimulant medication to be effective. In that case, a lower dose combined with a non-stimulant can help achieve the desired effect while minimizing side effects.
Depending on coexisting conditions, medical professionals may prescribe other medications to children and adults with ADHD, such as antidepressants. Typically, though, these are not used to treat ADHD directly.
Destigmatizing ADHD
Unfortunately, ADHD has accrued stigma. Many people don’t want their children labeled as having ADHD. Others believe ADHD is a problem invented by the modern age that simply masks how active, dreamy, or undeveloped children naturally are.
It’s important to understand the difference between normal developmental phases and an actual condition. In cases where ADHD symptoms go beyond typical childhood distractions and create true impairment, it is critical to fight stigma. First, we have to recognize it.
Stigmatization may look like:
- Denying symptoms exist
- Believing someone is a troublemaker or just “likes being the class clown”
- Labeling children as slow or daydreamers
- Doubling down on discipline rather than seeking help
- Undermining family members who are trying to get appropriate help
- Refusing to grant or use educational supports, such as an IEP
- Guilting a child or partner about their symptoms
According to CHADD, inequitable rates of diagnosis and treatment are more likely to impact children of color, whose adult caregivers, teachers, and clinicians are more likely to link symptoms to behavioral problems than to pursue a diagnosis for ADHD. The organization points out that because of such stigma, rates of diagnosis are higher for white children than for children of color.
It is also important to remember the deep and often traumatic history between people of color and the medical community. An understanding of historical trauma must inform ADHD treatment to minimize further harm.
Fighting stigma looks like:
- Believing someone when they say they cannot focus
- Understanding that hyperactivity and other behaviors are beyond the person’s control
- Embracing rather than fearing a label
- Providing appropriate support in learning or work environments
- Actively addressing bias in diagnosis and treatment
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When To See a Professional
If you believe there are enough signs and symptoms present to consider an ADHD diagnosis, don’t wait.
You should see a professional if:
- You notice multiple symptoms of ADHD
- You or your child is having trouble functioning
- School, work, or relationships seem more difficult than they should be
Any of the above is reason enough to seek an ADHD consultation.
Living Fully With ADHD
ADHD is a condition that affects nearly one in ten children as well as a significant percentage of adults. Although relatively common, ADHD deserves to be taken seriously. The condition can affect a person’s quality of life if it remains unaddressed.
Symptoms such as inattention, restlessness, disruptiveness, emotional dysregulation, and talkativeness can make it hard for someone with ADHD to learn at school or perform in the workplace. The inattention and distraction that are part of ADHD can be so disruptive they can interfere with a person’s enjoyment of their favorite activities. ADHD symptoms can also negatively impact relationships.
It’s important to realize that the symptoms of ADHD are not a person’s fault. They are, instead, the result of a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Once someone is diagnosed with ADHD, they can find support and resources. Children with ADHD have the right to protections in school and may qualify for accommodations or specialized learning programs in their schools. People of all ages with ADHD benefit from psychotherapy, medication, and often, a combination of both.
With the right help, many people with ADHD learn to cope, and even thrive. The earlier ADHD is diagnosed, the sooner people with the condition can fully embrace all aspects of their lives.
For information about McLean’s treatment programs and services, call 617.855.3141.
Want More Information?
Looking for even more information about ADHD? You may find these resources helpful.
Interesting Articles, Videos, and More
Learn more about ADHD and what you can do if you or a loved one is displaying signs they are struggling.
- Video: What You’ve Always Wanted To Know About ADHD
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- Everything You Need To Know About Child & Teen Mental Health
- Video: Promoting Positive Mental Health in K-12 Students
- Video: Diagnostics – OCD, Anxiety, ADHD, and Phobias in Kids and Teens
- Understanding Anxiety in Kids and Teens
- Nixie and Nimbo learning videos
- Deconstructing Stigma – Kyle’s Story
- Deconstructing Stigma – Jackie’s Story
- Find access to all of McLean’s ADHD resources
Helpful Links
These organizations may also have useful information:
Attention Deficit Disorder Association
This nonprofit organization is a worldwide inclusive community of supportive ADHD adults who make it possible to thrive with ADHD. ADDA was created by and run by adults with ADHD for adults with ADHD. The organization provides a welcoming and safe environment, delivers reliable information, encourages innovative approaches, and models ADHD best practices.
ADDitude
Since 1998, ADDitude Magazine has been a trusted resource for families and adults navigating ADHD and related mental health conditions. Dedicated to providing the most accurate and up-to-date information, ADDitude provides expert guidance from leading professionals and empathetic voices of those living with ADHD, helping readers tackle the challenges of these conditions with evidence-based insights.
Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
CHADD is a leading nonprofit organization that empowers those affected by ADHD through evidence-based information to support individuals, their families, and professionals who assist them throughout their journeys. The organization advocates for equity, inclusion, and universal rights.
Understood
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to shaping the world for difference. They provide resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive—in school, at work, and throughout life.