Cape Town - It’s easy to misunderstand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and become frustrated with people with ADHD.
The idea of an ‘ADD kid’ has so often been misrepresented by pop culture, it’s tough to know what the condition actually entails and what it’s like to live with ADHD.
In a press release, Janssen Pharmaceutica looks at myths surrounding ADHD:
Myth: ADHD is a made-up condition, constructed by pharmaceutical companies to make money
Fact: ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting around 8-10 percent of children and 4.4 percent of adults worldwide. It’s estimated that up to 75 percent of adults with ADHD are undiagnosed.
Myth: ADHD in children is a result of bad parenting
Fact: ADHD is not a result of bad parenting. No one knows exactly what causes ADHD, but it’s thought to be a combination of genetics and environmental factors. ADHD means some chemicals in the brain, known as neurotransmitters, don’t work properly.
Myth: A child with ADHD can easily grow out of it in adulthood
Fact: Historically, ADHD has been considered a childhood disorder, but this isn’t true – more and more, research shows the condition persists into adulthood. In fact, up to 65 percent of children with ADHD continue to experience the disorder into adulthood.
Myth: It’s possible to develop ADHD as an adult
Fact: There’s no such thing as adult-onset-ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD need to be present from before the age of seven in order for the condition to classify as ADHD. Even if ADHD is only diagnosed when the patient is an adult, that doesn’t mean the symptoms weren’t present in their childhood – they probably just weren’t noticed or diagnosed correctly.
Myth: ADHD medication, such as methylphenidate, is a gateway drug for substance abuse later in life
Fact: The right ADHD medication will help manage the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity in people with ADHD, to help them reach their full potential. If left untreated, ADHD can manifest in substance abuse later in life, as teens and adults attempt to find their own coping mechanisms for their symptoms. With the correct treatment plan, however, ADHD medication can help reduce the chances of substance abuse.
Myth: You can identify a child with ADHD because they’re always ‘bouncing off the walls’
Fact: Although both girls and boys can show symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, these symptoms often manifest very differently. Boys’ symptoms are more ‘external’ – they act out, run around, struggle to sit still and can be physically aggressive.
ADHD symptoms in girls, however, can be more ‘internal’ – they are often daydreamers, who sit and stare out the window and withdraw from the class. They are prone to low self-esteem and anxiety and often engage in taunting, name calling and teasing their peers.
Myth: People with ADHD aren’t as intelligent as others
Fact: Having ADHD doesn’t make the person any less capable or intelligent – it simply means they need the right treatment plan to help them reach their full potential. People with ADHD are often highly intelligent, creative and show original thought.
Comorbid conditions (or associated conditions), such as anxiety, are common in people with untreated ADHD, which is why they often struggle to fit in and are seen to be unmotivated and unfocused. With a holistic treatment plan, people with ADHD can thrive.
If you recognise symptoms of ADHD in yourself, visit a healthcare professional for a formal diagnosis and treatment plan. If your child, loved-one or friend seems to display these symptoms, advise them to seek a formal diagnosis from a healthcare professional. For more information, visit My ADHD on Facebook.
IOL, adapted from a press release
References:
1. NHS Choices. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - information prescription. Causes of ADHD. Internet. Available from: http:// www.nhs.uk/conditions/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/pages/causes
2. Kessler RC, Adler LA, Barkley R, et al. Patterns and predictors of ADHD persistence into adulthood: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry 2005;57(11):1442-1451.
3. Kooij SJJ, Bejerot S, Blackwell A, et al. European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD: The European Network Adult ADHD. BMC Psychiatry 2010;10(67):1-24.
4. Biederman J, Faraone SV, Spencer TJ, et al. Functional impairments in adults with self-reports of diagnosed ADHD: A controlled study of 1001 adults in the community. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2006;67(4):524-540.