The most common misconceptions about ADHD
What the reality is for those with the condition
How these misconceptions affect those with ADHD
How to mitigate the effect of misconceptions
In this module, you will learn:
The most common misconceptions about ADHD
What the reality is for those with the condition
How these misconceptions affect those with ADHD
How to mitigate the effect of misconceptions
Common Misconceptions Regarding ADHD – 5m50s
13.1 The Most Common Misconceptions Linked to the
Condition
One major problem regarding ADHD is that there is a tendency for people to
misunderstand what it involves, how it affects people and what it means for them.
There are so many areas in which people believe they know everything about the condition - and yet
they are badly misguided - often due to misinformation about ADHD. This is not something that
should be allowed to continue.
We begin by looking at the most common misconceptions linked to the condition. Misconceptions
arise due to people being uneducated on the condition and, ultimately, interpreting their limited
knowledge in their own way. However, as we will see later on in the module, it does truly affect
those individuals who are trying to combat the condition and it can make their lives even harder as a
result.
There are a number of misconceptions that we could examine, but the ones included here
are those that are the most common, and potentially the most damaging.
Remember, the stress of dealing with the condition and the difficulties that it poses for the individual
can trigger reactions, so when you then add in these erroneous beliefs you can imagine how they
can make life with ADHD much more challenging.
As we examine each misconception below, we compare the myth with the reality of the situation.
It only affects boys
There still exists a general belief that only rambunctious boys have ADHD.
However, while studies have shown that more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD, it is also
accepted that both males and females are underdiagnosed with the condition, and the reality is that
girls and women do have ADHD.
Studies suggest that symptoms of ADHD may be easier to identify in boys as the focus is often on
hyperactivity (it may be easier to spot 'disruptive boys') whereas girls tend to have the inattentive
type of ADHD.
This misunderstanding is an issue, because adult women, and parents and teachers of girls, could
potentially ignore certain types of behaviour and not seek the required help. It is important that
everyone is made aware that ADHD in females is a real possibility - and that treatment is a potential
solution that is worth exploring.
It is not a real disorder
There is a misconception that ADHD is not actually a real disorder and that it is more of an excuse
for the erratic behaviour of badly behaved children.
However, ADHD has long been recognised as a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder and has been
studied from a neurobiological and medical perspective that has confirmed this to be the case.
Research also shows that the condition is often inherited from one or both parents.
There are often also co-occurring conditions with ADHD that can include Oppositional Defiant
Disorder, Conduct Disorder, personality disorders, depression and anxiety. These are all very real
conditions which can significantly impact the life of a person with ADHD.
It only affects children
There is a belief that ADHD can only affect children and by this, we mean up to the teenage years
when they supposedly grow out of it.
This is patently untrue. Statistics suggest that more than half of those individuals who had ADHD as
a child continue to be affected by its symptoms as an adult.
One of the real issues around this misconception is that it increases the likelihood of teenagers with
the condition being misunderstood, and having their behaviour attributed to hormonal issues. This
error could, potentially at least, cause teenagers to miss out on receiving the correct treatment that
could help them to navigate those difficult teenage years more easily.
Everyone has ADHD these days
There are some people who flippantly suggest that everyone seems to have ADHD nowadays and
that being diagnosed with ADHD is a convenient way to get out of boring duties or get hold of
amphetamines for recreational use. Others attribute their own disorganised day to 'being so ADHD',
in the same way that having repetitive, precise habits is referred to by neurotypical people as 'being
so OCD'.
These myths demonstrate a lack of awareness about the real challenges of the condition. Nobody
seeks an ADHD diagnosis to avoid having to concentrate or regulate their emotions; they seek it
because those things are extremely challenging for them. Yes, there are more people being
diagnosed with ADHD than ever before, but those diagnoses are only reached after a rigorous and
involved process of examination.
Rather than using ADHD as an 'excuse', the rise in diagnoses is better explained by a greater
awareness of the condition, by specialists and medical professionals, as well as the general public.
This means that people are more likely to consider and seek a diagnosis of ADHD than perhaps
would have been the case 40 years ago.
ADHD is not a big deal
Remarkably, there are a number of people who believe that ADHD is not particularly significant.
They think that it is all about just having too much energy or being a bit disorganised.
However, nothing could be further from the truth, because the reality is that ADHD can significantly
affect many aspects of the individual's life. It can affect social and family relationships, school, work,
dealing with disappointments, interactions with people, planning and organisation, the ability to pay
bills on time or remember important appointments, and many other aspects of day-to-day life which
neurotypical people take for granted.
People with ADHD don't care about the consequences of their actions
This is another very damaging misconception, as people believe that individuals with ADHD do not
just experience poor impulse control, but rather, they just do not care about the consequences and
have no respect for others.
This is an incorrect way for people to think, as there is an internal battle going on inside the mind of
the ADHD person, and the problem is not that they do not care about the consequences, but rather,
that there is a breakdown in the cognitive process between thought and action. People with ADHD
often lack the ability to consider the consequences of their actions before they act.
To show that people with ADHD do understand the consequences of their actions, we only have to
look at one of the most common emotions that they deal with, which is embarrassment - and it is
linked to their shame at the consequences of the things they have either said, or actions they have
carried out, or some other way they have been unable to meet the expectation of the significant
people in their life.
People with ADHD are lazy or slow learning, and not intelligent
Some people think that those with ADHD lack intelligence, or they are simply too lazy or headstrong
to make an effort to learn or complete the tasks their peers perform.
This misconception is rather offensive and totally inaccurate. People sometimes mistake inattention
and lack of focus for a lack of interest or respect; however, this is not the case. As a hidden
condition, others are not aware of the internal battle that takes place in the mind of the person with
ADHD.
The idea that people with ADHD are less intelligent comes from the difficulties that they have with
concentration and focus at school or work, and the subsequent issues with making achievements in
these settings. It is not that they are unable to understand what is going on, but rather, they have
the problem of being distracted by external stimuli that might, to the uneducated, make them seem
as if they are uninterested, or lack intelligence in some way.
However, scientific studies have shown that there is no difference in intelligence levels between
those with the condition and those without. ADHD has no connection with IQ or intellectual ability.
Many very intelligent people have ADHD.
There is only a single type of ADHD
The majority of people know that there is a condition called ADHD, but they are not aware that there
are actually three different versions of the disorder.
There are also varying degrees of severity of the condition, and several common comorbid
conditions, so how it affects one person does not necessarily mean that everybody else is affected in
the same way.
The fact that there are several forms of ADHD means that it can affect people in different ways.
Symptoms can vary significantly between people, and their impact on day-to-day life, and the
difficulties faced may also differ. Someone with the inattentive type of ADHD will have significantly
different challenges to a person with the hyperactivity-impulsivity type.
One issue with this misconception is that it colours neurotypical people’s perception of what to
expect from a person with ADHD, and will inevitably affect their ability to make adjustments for that
person. This could be problematic in all settings of an ADHD person’s life.
Discipline cures ADHD behaviour
This is a belief held by some - that good old-fashioned discipline, both in the home and at school, will
cure a child of their ADHD behaviour.
A parent who is guilty of trying to use hard discipline on their child to 'cure' them of the condition is
more likely to make matters worse, simply because they fail to understand that punishing them will
increase their stress levels, which will often lead to a negative reaction. ADHD cannot vanish with
discipline at all. However, positive parenting techniques can improve symptoms.
Rather than using discipline, the establishment of clear boundaries, expectations and consequences
can be useful in teaching people about how to behave in certain circumstances. The key is
understanding how to set the ADHD person up to succeed – rather than fail - and that is why it is
important for individuals fully understand the condition and, if appropriate, to seek some specific
guidance with parenting or teaching a child with ADHD.
Medications prescribed for ADHD are addictive and may make the person feel high
Because the most commonly-used ADHD medications are stimulants, people think they have the
same effect as similar drugs used recreationally.
This is not the case. The goal of ADHD medication is to target key neurotransmitters such as
dopamine and/or noradrenaline, and when properly prescribed they will sharpen a person's focus
and help them control their behaviour better. They are not typically addictive – and, in fact, their use
has been linked to lower rates of substance and alcohol addiction among people with ADHD.
One of the issues related to this myth is a tendency for some people to be distrustful of the
medication and not consider it as a treatment option. This is particularly true of parents, who could
understandably be concerned about the impact of the medication on their children’s health. The
irony of course is that in most cases the medication will have a significantly positive effect on their
ADHD symptoms and their long-term health.
ADHD medications are not effective after puberty
In the past, it was thought that ADHD medications were only appropriate for young children, and
that idea still lingers in the minds of many.
Nowadays, ADHD drugs continue to be prescribed after puberty and into adulthood and are
considered extremely effective at all ages. It’s important for people to be aware of this, so that if
ADHD is discovered later in life, then medication is considered as part of the treatment plan.
Having ADHD means you have no future
Finally, there are still some people that believe that if an individual has ADHD, it means that they
have little chance of success in life, because of the way in which it affects them.
This is untrue. We accept that it can make life more difficult, but, at the same time, that does not
mean that life with ADHD is impossible to cope with. Instead, it is fundamentally a case of seeking
the correct treatment and support and being organised through an action plan.
Although the effects of ADHD as a chronic disorder cannot be underestimated, with the correct
advice and guidance, people with ADHD can have a successful future. When people with ADHD
receive timely intervention in terms of medication and therapy, their lives can be as successful and
happy as that of others. In fact, people with ADHD are often known to be more creative and can
accomplish more. In our next module, we celebrate the success stories of many famous people who
have done just that.
It’s important that people understand that ADHD is not a barrier to success and that adjustments
can be made to help. For example, there are strategies which teachers and employers can use in
school or in the workplace which can help to lessen the impact of ADHD symptoms and harness key
strengths. The more society understands ADHD and its effects, the more chance those with the
condition have of fulfilling their full potential.
As previously mentioned, there are other misconceptions regarding ADHD, but the ones included
here are the most common and possibly the most harmful.
These misconceptions are down to misguided individuals, poor education about the disorder, and
ignorance regarding the research that has taken place in the last few decades.
13.2 How Misconceptions Affect People with ADHD
Aside from trying to strike the balance between those misunderstandings or
misconceptions about the condition and examining the reality of ADHD, we should also be
aware of the consequences of these errors of judgement on individuals concerned.
We have touched on this in some specific examples above, but there are also some more general
outcomes of ADHD ignorance.
First, we need to remember the way in which each individual struggles on a day-to-day basis with
the condition - and all of the negative things that it brings with it. They will struggle with the way in
which they have to deal with normal situations, let alone more challenging issues in life.
So, keeping that in mind, these misconceptions have the ability to affect those who have
ADHD in the following ways:
They can limit life choices
If people think that dealing with an individual with ADHD is difficult and they are just unable to
focus or do anything correctly, then clearly, that person's options will be limited. However, when
people with ADHD are encouraged to channel their energy effectively, they can be extremely
successful individuals at work or at school, even though there has to be an acceptance that, at times,
external stimuli can be difficult to contend with.
They can lead to social exclusion
If people have the wrong impression of ADHD, it can actually lead to the individual being largely
ostracised from their peer group, especially within a social setting. People could wrongly believe
that a person with ADHD will always be strange or argumentative, but nothing could be further from
the truth. However, when mentoring an individual who has ADHD, it is important to coach them on
how to deal with social situations to ensure they have the best chance of success in this area.
They can affect self-confidence
Low self-esteem is a recurring problem for anybody with ADHD - and the mistakes that people make
about the condition run the risk of amplifying a person's existing difficulties. It is essential to work
with those individuals who have the condition and to continually remind them of their strengths. If
there is no one to do this, there is a risk of them developing depression and anxiety - and this is
certainly something that must be avoided.
They can contribute to a feeling of hopelessness
It is common for children or adolescents with ADHD to be used as a scapegoat for the bad behaviour
of other children - and this has a bigger impact on their psyche than many people realise. If this
happens time and time again - and it can even occur in adulthood - it is known to lead to a situation
where those with ADHD believe that there is just no point in them fighting against it. In other words,
continually combating misconceptions is known to sometimes cause those with the condition to
basically give up.
From the perspective of helping people with ADHD, it is important that work is done to build their
self-esteem, by reinforcing the idea that they are worthwhile people, that they are not alone, and
that it is society that needs to be educated about their needs.
They can lead to people with ADHD being considered problematic
If you believe that any individual with ADHD is incapable of acting in the normal fashion, then you
will restrict contact with them, or simply not trust their actions or ability to do anything that is asked
of them. In other words, they will be viewed as being the problem. What is really required in this
instance is for the ADHD person to be understood, treated with compassion and not to be
underestimated.
This could mean that the ADHD person needs to have the confidence to confront people about the
condition, but in a calm manner - and point them in the direction of advice that will show that they
are wrong. However, it would be unfair to place this burden solely on individuals who have ADHD.
Society has a responsibility to understand and make reasonable adjustments for people with the
condition as outlined under the Equality Act. It is not acceptable to discriminate against someone
who has a disability, even if it is indirect discrimination. Employers, schools and all public and
private bodies have a responsibility to adjust their thinking and practices so that people have equal
opportunities in life. This can only be done if they follow disability-friendly strategies.
Misconceptions about people with ADHD and their abilities can affect the individual not only in
relation to how they feel about themselves but also to the way in which they are able to make
progress in life. This is one of the most disheartening aspects of the mistakes that are made by a
number of people on a daily basis, as it does restrict the opportunities that are available for people
with ADHD.
As we know, there is no connection between ADHD and intelligence, and so not recognising people's
strengths and contributions to society is - apart from anything else - a waste of talent and human
resources.
FACT
The NHS has only accepted ADHD as a recognised condition since 2000.
Source: adhdcoaching.org
13.3 How to Mitigate the Effect of Misconceptions
As you can imagine, all of this is rather stressful for the person who has ADHD - as well as
those connected to the individual.
It does mean that people will come up against various barriers throughout their lives - and the
problem is further exacerbated by the fact that disappointment can often be a trigger for certain
types of behaviour. This means that these misconceptions about ADHD can then appear to be
accurate, due to the way in which people react - and this appears to make the problem more difficult
to deal with.
If you are faced with an individual who has the wrong understanding of the condition, the only way
forward is to re-educate them. This often needs to be done on a person-by-person basis. However,
relevant charities and campaigning organisations are also making the public more aware of how we
need to adjust our thinking in relation to ADHD.
It is important that places such as schools and major employers are brought up to speed regarding
ADHD so that those individuals who have it can be given the correct support and help to progress.
In order to mitigate the issues that are caused by these misconceptions, it is recommended
that you think about the following points:
Misconceptions are caused by poor education, so improving education will improve the
situation
It’s important to advocate for people with ADHD, to reduce the impact it has on them
Misconceptions should never be allowed to get the better of the individual with ADHD
Discrimination on the basis of ADHD should never be allowed under any circumstances
ADHD is a condition protected under the Equality Act
ADHD is a condition that can be managed and is no barrier to success
SUMMARY
In this module, we have looked at how important it is to deal with the different misconceptions about
ADHD.
It is important that we address them so that there is a positive grasp of the condition. Incorrect
assumptions and misinformation can have a major impact on the life of people with ADHD.
In the next module, we will provide some positive examples of individuals with ADHD by examining a
number of success stories. These show how people with ADHD have been able to manage the
condition and become extremely successful.
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