Much has been said about ADHD in the media, social networks and by word of mouth. As with all psychiatric disorders, this one has not been free of hoaxes and myths. In fact, along with ASD, ADHD is one of the developmental disorders with the most misinformation.
Some blame parents, others blame the pharmaceutical industry, and others underestimate the severity of the disorder. The list of myths about ADHD could be endless.but today we are going to focus on the most shared ones.
Of all the childhood disorders there are, ADHD, along with ASD, is surely one of those with the most myths and lies surrounding it.. There is a lot of false information about boys and girls who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Whether due to ignorance of its symptoms, attributing less severity to it, considering that childhood is pathologized or, directly, saying that it is an invention of the pharmaceutical industry, the truth is that there are hoaxes that have penetrated deeply about what ADHD is.
Misinformation harms families, but especially children with ADHD. Presenting this disorder and not diagnosing or treating it in time very negatively affects their school performance, social relationships, self-concept and self-esteem. Not knowing why they are doing poorly in school and not receiving help to improve academically will determine their future, believing that they are less intelligent than others and feeling deeply depressed and frustrated because of it. That is why it is so important that, if we suspect that our child may have this disorder, consult professional help.
Next, we are going to see 11 myths about ADHD and we are going to explain them in depth.
1. ADHD is a discipline problem
ADHD has a biological origin, with a high heritability (75%). This psychiatric disorder manifests itself in several ways, having the following as its main components:
Boys and girls who have this psychiatric condition have serious attention and concentration problems, as well as impulsivity inappropriate for their age and developmental stage.
That a child has ADHD is not their parents’ fault. Many believe it is a discipline problem, the result of parents failing to control the child effectively. Certainly, parents may have had this problem, but not because they are bad educators but because that is, precisely, a symptom of ADHD. Their son’s behavior overwhelms them.
The diagnosis of ADHD is very reliable and There are associations of parents with children with this disorder throughout the world that they can turn to for help..
2. It’s not ADHD, there are simply children who are difficult
It is true that most boys and girls are impulsive and tend to pay little attention at times, sometimes to the extreme. However, in the case of a child with ADHD, it is not that he is simply “difficult” for his parents or teachers, nor is it that he has his mind on something else. His hyperactivity and inattention are serious enough to warrant a disability.a problem that prevents him from working normally in his daily life.
His symptoms consistently and severely prevent him from succeeding in school, adjusting to family routines, following household rules, maintaining friendships, and avoiding injuries. The clear functional disability in children with ADHD is what causes pediatricians and child psychiatrists to diagnose the disorder and recommend treatment.
3. The child will have ADHD if he concentrates on his video games for hours
In most cases, ADHD involves problems with tasks that require attention for long periods of time, not so much with activities that are interesting or stimulating. School is especially difficult for children with ADHD because classes are not very stimulating in terms of visuals, sounds, and physical activity, unlike video games.
Most children with ADHD are diagnosed during the school years precisely because the school, social, and behavioral demands during those years are very difficult for them. It may appear that his difficulties are because of school, a possibility that must be considered, but it is more likely that it is a result of the child’s effort to manage that environment.
Other situations that can be difficult for children with ADHD and that occur at school are social interactions; sports where they have to concentrate (e.g. dodgeball, tennis, volleyball…) and extracurricular activities that require them to sit still, listen or wait their turn for long periods of time.
4. ADHD is a new disease or an invention
One of the most widespread myths about ADHD is that it is an invention, a new “disease” created with the purpose of pathologizing childhood behavior and medicalizing boys and girls from a very young age.
It is true that the name ADHD is new and an invention, the acronym with which this disorder of attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity has been known since 1994. However, the symptoms associated with this condition were already known in the 19th century. Various diagnostic labels have been proposed over the last two centuries. Just because the name is new does not mean that the disorder did not exist before.
We have one of the first records about what we know today as ADHD from 1865, the date on which it appears in the story “Der Struwwelpeter” (Der Struwwelpeter), whose author is Heinrich Hoffmann. Originally, it was called “Minimal Brain Dysfunction.” Later, in 1950 it was named “Hyperkinetic Syndrome” and decades later Hyperactive Child Syndrome or Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood.
In the 1980s the name of the disorder was changed again, this time with one similar to the one we have today: Attention Deficit Disorder., with or without Hyperactivity (ADD with H and ADD without H). In the current DSM-5 classification there are three subtypes: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. Its diagnosis frequency is quite constant around the world, ranging between 2 and 6%.
5. ADHD is a false illness, the result of parents’ lack of patience for their son or daughter’s normal behavior.
ADHD should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible because it has a very negative impact on the child. It decreases academic performance and, consequently, can lead to academic failure, failing subjects, repeating courses, abandoning studies.. And even if there is no academic failure, the fact that she has difficulties in class and does not receive an explanation as to why will make the boy or girl think that she is less intelligent, having a very low self-esteem and self-concept.
But there are not only problems in the studies. The social and emotional life of children with ADHD is also affected in the form of problems in relationships with peers, friends and family due to their impulsivity. Children with this condition have few and short-lived friends, which indirectly contributes to repeated failure in school and poor behavior. All of this can cause episodes of depression.
If as children they do not receive the treatment they deserve, when they reach adulthood it will be difficult for them to find work and the jobs they get will be below their capacity. Added to this, adults with untreated ADHD can suffer multiple consequences associated with irresponsibility, such as having children at an early age, a higher rate of substance abuse, lack of work organization, and lower job retention.
If these children do not receive correct treatment, their jobs in the future will be below their capacity.. Added to this are problems such as more pregnancies at early ages, a higher rate of substance abuse, less career progression and less job retention. Children with ADHD who are not treated have a high probability of developing oppositional behaviors: disobedience, defiance, addictions…
Related article: “Respectful parenting of boys and girls: 6 tips for parents”
6. Anyone can diagnose ADHD
To properly manage ADHD and avoid its complications, A correct and early diagnosis is highly necessary. The first to suspect that a boy or girl may have this psychiatric condition are parents and teachers.
No matter how much experience teachers may have with cases of ADHD in their class, they are not the best people to diagnose the disorder, but rather a child psychologist, a child psychiatrist or a pediatrician who is an expert in the psychiatric condition.
We emphasize that The definitive diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist specialized in childhood and adolescence, a neuropediatrician or clinical psychologist.. Once the diagnosis is made, a treatment plan is designed as a result of interdisciplinary collaboration between a clinical psychologist, pedagogue, support teacher and other professionals in the field of mental health and childhood education.
7. Drugs should never be used as the first therapeutic option for ADHD
ADHD It is a disorder that is too complex to be treated with a single option.. Treatment of this condition involves training parents about what ADHD is and how to manage their child’s behavior, in addition to giving the child appropriate support and school adjustment. Added to this, pharmacological treatment is necessary, since medication for this condition affects the imbalanced brain chemistry behind the symptoms of this disorder.
Parents can help children with ADHD by defining clear rules of consequences and rewards for certain behaviors.. They should also collaborate with the child on tasks and duties, breaking them up if necessary, define stable and predictable routines, increase the structure of their time and the order of the house, eliminate distractions and motivate the child.
We have several effective drugs to help boys and girls with ADHD. On the one hand, we have psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate (e.g., Rubifén®, Concerta® and Medikinet®), which mainly affects dopamine. Other non-stimulant psychotropic drugs also help, such as atomoxetine (Strattera®) which affects norepinephrine levels.
8. You should resort to psychotherapy and avoid ADHD medication at all costs
Psychotherapy is essential, not only in ADHD but in all mental disorders. Psychological treatments serve as training for parents about the symptoms, control and management of the child’s behavior..
However, we must understand that ADHD is a condition with a strong neurological basis and that treatments such as psychoanalysis, play therapy or cognitive training to improve concentration, memory and attention have not shown good results without combining them with drugs. The focus of attention should be placed on the school, applying academic support, individualizing study techniques and reviewing the subjects that are most difficult for them..
Any treatment that is offered as magical, that promises immediate, rapid, effortless and permanent cure for ADHD must be questioned. On many occasions, you can find extremely expensive treatments on the market that claim to cure ADHD easily.
The sad reality is that behind them there are people with very few scruples who are willing to take advantage of the suffering of fathers and mothers who, desperate for their child to be “normal”, are willing to pay any price. ADHD is a chronic condition and, although its symptoms improve as the individual matures, requires professional pharmacological and psychological intervention, based on scientific evidence.
9. ADHD only affects childhood
It is true that some of the symptoms of hyperactivity lose intensity as they mature. But, on the contrary, the symptoms associated with inattention and, especially, those of impulsivity persist during adolescence and adulthood.
One third of boys and girls with ADHD “stop” having it before adolescence. The reason for this is a matter of debate, ranging from overdiagnosis (which is real) to a significant enough reduction in symptoms with treatment significant enough to consider that the disorder is no longer there. Another third will stop having ADHD before adulthood. Finally, the remaining third will continue to have ADHD as adults.
Despite these statistics, it is worth saying that some who “recover” maintain symptoms that affect them, which is why it is considered that ADHD, although it is no longer as intense as in childhood, It is a chronic problem that requires long-term management. Likewise, the remission of symptoms in adolescence and adulthood may be relevant enough for the individual to have a successful academic and social life.
Related article: “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also in adults”
10. ADHD only affects boys, not girls
Another myth is that ADHD only affects boys and not girls. This is the feeling it gives, since this disorder goes more unnoticed in girls. The reason for this is that They show less hyperactivity and opposition to adults, showing themselves to be less negative in behavior and learning.. Girls with ADHD do not usually have school performance problems until high school.
11. ADHD drugs are addictive
One of the most frequently used arguments against medication for children with ADHD is that drugs cause addiction. The truth is that Methylphenidate, the main pharmacological option for ADHD, does not cause addiction if therapeutic doses are respected. Although it is true that it is chemically similar to amphetamine, at normal doses for ADHD and taken orally it does not produce a euphoric effect.
This does not mean that you should not be careful with these drugs because they are still medications and, as with all drugs, precautions must be taken. At high doses, methylphenidate does cause euphoric effects and, if given to children who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, its administration should be closely monitored.
