ADHD Help

My son suggested that today I include my list of the seven most destructive ADHD myths. I decided to list them in reversed order.

7. You have to be hyperactive to have ADHD.

Children with inattentive ADHD are not hyperactive. Many are hypoactive (less active). They are daydreamers who are distracted by their own thoughts.

6. A child who can play a video game for long periods of time can’t possibly have ADHD

Children with ADHD are better able to stay on task when the task is highly attractive, with built in rewards and punishments. Video games meet these criteria. Children with ADHD also do better one on one and in new situations.

5. Too much sugar and food additives cause ADHD.

Not only has the myth never been proved, but research has also not proved that special diets reduce symptoms.

4. Medication should only be used at times when the children are in school.

We used to use the medication only for school, deemphasizing the fact that the children have problems with ADHD throughout the entire day. By only medicating for school, we made home management much more difficult.

3. Children magically outgrow ADHD when they reach adolescence.

We now know that many people continue to have problems with ADHD throughout their lives. Often the hyperactivity decreases as people age, but the problems with inattention and impulsivity remain. However, some people with ADHD do have a significant decrease in their symptoms as they age.

2. Using stimulant medications leads to drug addiction.

Children with ADHD are at a greater risk for drug and alcohol problems than children who don’t have the disorder. Treatment actually reduces that risk.

1. ADHD isn’t a neurological disorder. It is just an example of poor parenting.

ADHD is a real neurological disorder which is usually inherited. Since many of these children are difficult to parent, it is easy to incorrectly conclude that ADHD is due to poor parenting. Lot of parents are still being unfairly blamed for this neurological condition.