Debunking the Myths About ADHD: Facts, Misconceptions & Support

Kaitlyn Boudreault
Jul 30, 2024
6 min read

Updated: Jun 6

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a term many of us have encountered at some point in our lives.

ADHD a common neurotype affecting millions of Canadians across all ages and influences how individuals engage with the world. This can lead to traits such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and emotional dysregulation .

In fact, according to the Canadian Centre for ADHD Awareness, approximately 4–6% of adults and 5–7% of children in Canada receive an ADHD diagnosis.

Thanks to advancements in ADHD research, our understanding of ADHD has significantly improved.

Despite growing awareness, many myths about ADHD continue to create confusion and stigma around this neurodivergence, often hindering individuals from accessing support and obtaining accurate diagnoses.

Showing common myths about ADHD and facts.

Understanding the facts about ADHD is essential for improving access to accurate diagnoses, effective ADHD coaching, and supportive ADHD therapy, especially for adults receiving a diagnosis later in life.

At Blue Sky Learning, a team of neurodivergent-affirming therapists and coaches are committed to raising awareness for ADHD and debunking common misconceptions that hold people back from getting the support they deserve

In this blog, we’ll explore the most prevalent myths about ADHD and provide evidence-based facts to empower you on your ADHD journey.

Myths about ADHD

While society has made notable progress in ADHD acceptance, there is still a lot of work to be done to dispel the myths surrounding this neurotype.

Here are some prevalent myths about ADHD:

ADHD isn’t real.
ADHD is overdiagnosed.
You can’t have ADHD if you are not hyperactive.
Only boys have ADHD.
Bad parenting causes ADHD.
ADHD can be cured.
Those with ADHD are just lazy.
ADHD is only diagnosed in childhood.
ADHD is a learning disability.
Accommodations for ADHD are an unfair advantage.

Myth: ADHD isn’t real.

One of the most damaging myths about ADHD is the belief that it isn’t a legitimate condition.

The absence of a single diagnostic test can create confusion about ADHD's legitimacy, leading some to doubt its existence

However, there is evidence to suggest that ADHD is a valid neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic roots and can be passed down from family member to family member.

Studies, including brain imaging research, indicate key differences in specific brain areas associated with ADHD that can be inherited. For example, a 2019 study found that increased functional connectivity in certain brain areas correlates with ADHD traits.

Moreover, the medical and psychological communities recognize ADHD as legitimate. Organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association recognize ADHD as a legitimate diagnosis, officially listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

If you’re navigating your own ADHD diagnosis or seeking ADHD coaching or therapy, it’s important to know that your experience is real and supported by decades of research and clinical expertise.

Myth: ADHD is overdiagnosed.

Professionals diagnose ADHD more frequently today than in previous decades, leading some to believe the myth that it is overdiagnosed.

Instead, experts attribute the rise in ADHD diagnoses to improved understanding surrounding the neurotype and better diagnostic practices.

Historically, many individuals, especially adults and marginalized groups like women, BIPOC, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals likely had ADHD but went undiagnosed due to ineffective diagnostic tests or a lack of awareness of ADHD across diverse populations.

Myth: You can’t have ADHD if you are not hyperactive.

The term "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" can mislead people into thinking that hyperactivity is a requirement for the diagnosis.

In reality, many individuals with ADHD do not exhibit hyperactivity traits.

ADHD has three primary types, each characterized by different trait presentations.

Both the hyperactive-impulsive and combined types of ADHD include hyperactive traits, while the inattentive type lacks any hyperactivity.

Instead, individuals with inattentive ADHD experience inattentive traits such as challenges with focus, organization, and memory.

Myth: Only boys have ADHD.

Past ADHD research primarily focused on cisgender, straight, white males, leading to an emphasis on hyperactive traits, which boys typically exhibit more than girls. This focus resulted in boys receiving more ADHD diagnoses than girls and nonbinary individuals.

However, ADHD affects all genders, but there continues to be a lack of understanding surrounding the presentation of ADHD in girls and nonbinary individuals. Girls and nonbinary individuals present less with hyperactive traits and hide their traits more.

More research on ADHD in girls and nonbinary individuals is vital for enhancing diagnostic measures and treatments.

Myth: Bad parenting causes ADHD.

Some people perpetrate the myth that lax parenting leads to ADHD. They assume that children's behavioural issues signal problems at home.

But this belief is false; ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference similar to autism.

The brains of ADHDers differ from non-ADHD brains. When a student blurts out answers in class or acts impulsively, it reflects brain wiring related to impulse control, not parenting style.

Parents with any parenting style can have a child with ADHD. Punishing children for behaviour beyond their control may also exacerbate ADHD traits.

Myth: ADHD can be cured.

While there is no cure for ADHD, treatments like ADHD coaching can help individuals manage their traits.

ADHD is a neurodivergence that alters how individuals interact with the world.

Some people with ADHD may develop skills over time to better handle their traits, but the neurotype itself is lifelong and does not fully disappear.

Myth: Those with ADHD are just lazy.

This damaging myth insinuates that individuals with ADHD simply lack effort.

However, the reality is that ADHDers exert just as much effort as non-ADHDers, but they face unique barriers.

ADHD isn't simply a matter of laziness or a lack of motivation. Instead, tasks demanding executive functions, such as focusing and waiting, present great challenges for ADHDers.

Telling someone with ADHD to "just focus" is akin to instructing a blind person to "just try harder to see." It has nothing to do with attitude.

Myth: ADHD is only diagnosed in childhood.

Although ADHD is frequently diagnosed in children, many adults also receive the diagnosis.

Consequently, ADHD can affect individuals of all ages, disproving the notion that it is exclusively diagnosed in childhood.

Furthermore, while traits may evolve over time, they generally don't fully dissipate. Long-term studies indicate that ADHD remains lifelong, persisting in 50%–80% of cases into adolescence and in 35%–65% of cases into adulthood (Owens et al. 2015).

Myth: ADHD is a learning disability.

ADHD's relationship with learning is complex.

While ADHD is a disability that may make learning challenging, it is not classified as a learning disability like dyslexia. This is because it doesn’t specifically impair learning in any single area.

However, ADHD often coexists with learning disabilities. Studies suggest that around 20–60% of individuals with ADHD also experience learning disabilities (Czamara et al., 2013).

Myth: Accommodations for ADHD are an unfair advantage.

Individuals with ADHD face significant challenges in educational and workplace environments.

The unemployment rate among adults with ADHD reflects this. Men with ADHD are 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed compared to their non-ADHD counterparts (Biederman et al., 2006).

Women with ADHD have slightly better statistics, being 1.3 times more likely to be unemployed than adult women without ADHD (Biederman et al., 2006).

Those with ADHD are also less likely to attend and graduate from college or university.

Accommodations aim to level the playing field, providing individuals with ADHD the equal opportunity to succeed in employment and education.

Flexibility in the work environment and hours helps individuals with ADHD achieve positive outcomes like obtaining and maintaining employment and graduating from school.

Accommodations do not create an unfair advantage because those without disabilities don’t need them to succeed. You may prefer remote work but could be fine without it. This is different from needing remote work to stay employed.