Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a term many of us have encountered at some point in our lives.
It’s a common neurotype that can occur across the lifespan 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, totaling around 1.8 million Canadians.
Thanks to advancements in ADHD research, our understanding of ADHD has significantly improved.
However, despite these advancements, myths about ADHD still persist, often hindering individuals from accessing support and obtaining accurate diagnoses.
For instance, finding an ADHD coach or therapist who genuinely understands your neurotype can also be a challenge.
At Blue Sky Learning, a team of neurodivergent-affirming therapists and coaches aims to debunk some of these myths in this blog. Read on to discover more.
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 condition.
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 a childhood problem.
ADHD is a learning disability.
Accommodations for ADHD are an unfair advantage.
Myth: ADHD isn’t real
The absence of a single diagnostic test can create confusion about ADHD's legitimacy. Some people may even convince themselves that ADHD doesn't exist.
However, there is evidence to suggest that ADHD is a genuine genetic condition that can be passed down from family member to family member.
Studies 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 a legitimate condition. The American Psychiatric Association includes ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
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.
In earlier times, many individuals likely had ADHD but went undiagnosed due to ineffective diagnostic tests or a lack of awareness of ADHD across diverse populations.
Currently, certain groups, including women, BIPOC, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, often remain misdiagnosed or undiagnosed due to insufficient research on how ADHD manifest in these 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 symptoms.
ADHD has three primary types, each characterized by different symptom presentations.
Both the hyperactive-impulsive and combined types of ADHD include hyperactive symptoms, while the inattention 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 symptoms, 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 symptoms 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 individuals with ADHD differ from those without the condition. 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 symptoms.
Myth: ADHD can be cured
While there is no cure for ADHD, treatments like ADHD coaching can help individuals manage their symptoms.
ADHD is a neurodivergent condition that alters how individuals interact with the world.
Some people with ADHD may develop skills over time to better handle their symptoms, but the condition 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 those with ADHD exert just as much effort as those without the condition 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 a childhood condition
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 a childhood condition.
Furthermore, while symptoms may evolve over time, they generally don't fully dissipate. Long-term studies indicate that ADHD remains a lifelong condition, persisting in 50%–80% of cases into adolescents 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).
Accommodations aim to level the playing field, providing individuals with ADHD the equal opportunity to succeed in employment and education.
Flexiblity 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.
Continue Learning About ADHD
Now that you've explored 10 myths pertaining to ADHD, we encourage you to dig deeper into the subject.
Please share this post with others: the more people understand ADHD, the better equipped society becomes.
Book a Free Consultation With Blue Sky Learning
At Blue Sky Learning, the team embodies compassion, empathy, and a person-centered approach to care.
Are you seeking coaching or therapy for ADHD? Or do you need an adult ADHD assessment?
Book a free 20-minute consultation with a member of the Blue Sky Learning team by emailing hello@blueskylearning.ca or following the link below.
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