MYTHS ABOUT ADHD (Part 2)
Myth #6. ADHD affects only boys.
Fact: Population-based data reveal that the male:female sex ratio for ADHD in childhood approximates 3:1. ADHD may be underdiagnosed in girls in clinical practice.
A common explanation for the observed sex differences in referral and diagnosis is that girls with ADHD are more likely to present with predominantly inattentive symptoms, rather than the more potentially disruptive hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, as well as greater levels of internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depression which might lead to alternative diagnoses.
Myth #7. All kids with ADHD are hyperactive.
Fact: all kids with ADHD have hypertactivity as a symptom. Three subtypes of ADHD are now recognized: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and a combined type, characterized by a combination of the first 2 subtypes. So, when a child has an inattentive type, he fails to give close attention to details, doesn’t seem to listen when spoken to directly, doesn’t follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork and etc.But he hasn’t hyperacivity.
Myth #8. Having ADHD “isn’t that serious” or ADHD is a condition that doesn’t cause severe problems.
Fact: ADHD is one of the most common diagnosis in educational and children’s mental healthsettings and it can have serious implications on a person’s overall quality of life. ADHD symptoms and their impact may also vary across an individual’s lifespan — and they even can become more severe.
When children often fail to give close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, have trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities, don’t follow through on instructions and fail to finish schoolwork, leave seat in situations when remaining seated is expected, often blurt out an answer before a question has been completed and etc., adults with ADHD experience difficulties in all aspects related to employment, from the initial job search, to the interview and performance on the job itself. Patients complain consistently on mood swings, difficulties in dealing with stressful situations, frequent irritability and frustration, emotional excitability and getting angry over minor things.
Myth # 9. ADHD is a problem of school-aged children.
Fact: ADHD is believed to typically onset in early childhood, although diagnosis is typically determined in the school age years.
Myth # 10. ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar.
Fact: There is no research to support this theory. Good nutrition is always important.
Myth # 11. ADHD is not passed down through genetics.
Fact: Current research shows that 75 percent of ADHD diagnoses are linked to genetic causes.
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Anastasiya Kuzniatsova M.D., Child Neurologist
