ADHD Myths Debunked
Exposing the Facts About ADHD
ADHD is often misdiagnosed. The disorder can parade as depression, anxiety, emotional or disciplinary problems and other learning disabilities.
Though it is still unknown what causes ADHD, it is thought that a combination of factors contribute to its onset, including genetics, which play the largest role. Symptoms fall within three categories: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Myth #1: Refined Sugar Causes ADHD and Makes Symptoms Worse
Fact: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, most scientific research shows that refined sugar has no effect on ADHD symptoms. One study gave sugar to half the children monitored and the other half got a sugar substitute in equal amounts. Researchers found that the kids who ate real sugar had no different behavior issues or trouble learning.
The perception that sugar exacerbates ADHD symptoms, however, has been shown to affect how a child's behavior is analyzed. In one study, mothers who felt their children were sensitive to sugar were given aspartame, a sugar substitute. Half of the mothers were then told that their children had been given sugar, while the other half were told the kids had been given aspartame. Results indicated that the mothers who thought their children were getting sugar rated them as more hyperactive and were generally more critical of their behaviors than the aspartame group.
Myth #2: ADHD Doesn't Exist. A Child Simply Needs More Discipline
Fact: ADHD is a recognized disability by many national institutions. It is not just a child acting willfully, but rather a treatable condition. Though it is normal for children to be inattentive, hyper and impulsive sometimes, ADHD children experience more extreme bouts of this behavior more often. If experienced over the course of at least six months and more intensely than other children in the same age group, the following symptoms can point to ADHD:
- Nonstop talking
- Impatience
- Difficulty focusing on one thing at a time
- Switching from one activity to the next because they are easily distracted
- Trouble sitting still
- Difficulty waiting their turn
- Becoming bored with a task after a few minutes if it's not fun
Though parenting techniques can influence the way a child reacts to his or her ADHD symptoms, a lack of discipline does not cause the disorder.
Myth #3: ADHD Symptoms Will Go Away With Time
Fact: ADHD isn't a disorder that only affects children. About 70 to 80 percent of children with ADHD will have symptoms in their teenage years, and 50 percent will struggle with it in adulthood. Though hyperactivity tends to decrease with age, teens who don't shed this trait tend to take on too many tasks at once and choose activities with a quick payoff over those that build to a larger goal over time.
Since they are generally more well behaved as children than those with other types of ADHD, teens who suffer from inattentive symptoms can be initially diagnosed after childhood, when academic demands become tougher and more responsibilities are introduced into their lives.
People with adult ADHD have trouble holding down a job, keeping appointments, getting up on time, getting to work on time and being productive at work. They often have a history of failed relationships, problems at work or school, and the desire to do many things at once, even though not many of them are successful. Many adults with ADHD don't know they have it because it is generally thought of as a children's disorder.
Successful Treatment of ADHD Symptoms
Treatment of ADHD in adults, teens and children is a delicate process and should be individualized for each patient. Behavioral counseling, psychotherapy and medications are all used to help people with the disorder. Though diagnosing ADHD can be challenging because symptoms are hard to replicate in clinical settings, children and adults can learn to work with their symptoms with time, patience and by knowing the facts about ADHD.
Sources:
"Misconceptions About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)," by Jeannette Curtis, MSN.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), National Institute of Mental Health
ADHD Kids Have More Difficulty Concentrating
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