Mythbusting ADHD

Maddie Barrett
7 minutes ago
3 min read

ADHD prevalence has certainly surged in the last couple of decades. And along with increased diagnoses, more research, and greater support for those with ADHD, there are more myths. These myths or stereotypes about ADHD have the potential to be quite harmful to people with ADHD, to people without, and to people learning more about ADHD.

So here is a collection of common myths floating around - busted by yours truly.

Setting the scene:

To start, let's get on the same page about ADHD.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neuro-developmental disorder, meaning that people with ADHD experience differences in their brain (neurological function), and as they grow (development). It is a type of neurodiversity, meaning differences in brain function. You might hear some people describe this as "having different wiring in their head".

The number of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD globally is estimated to be between 6% and 8%, and more than half of this number may experience symptoms persisting into adulthood (Ayano et al., 2023). New Zealand Health Survey data show that the proportion of children aged 5–14 years diagnosed with ADHD is 5.3% in 2023/24 (Ministry of Health 2024). An additional 5–10% of children may have substantial difficulties with ADHD symptoms, but do not meet the threshold for diagnosis.

In the entire NZ population, approximately 6% of Kiwi have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Now, onto the common myths you might have heard...

Myth #1: ADHD Goes Away in Adulthood...

Due to our understanding of ADHD as a neuro-developmental disorder, it is very unlikely for ADHD to just 'disappear' in adulthood. What is more likely is that the developmental processes in young children are continuing to develop into adulthood, leading to fewer symptoms. This type of statistic is measured against diagnostic figures, so if the individual no longer meets the clinical threshold for ADHD, they will be considered to no longer have it (even if they still experience difficulties).

Recently, more research has been done on adults and their experience of ADHD - leading to better insights around which tools work best to manage symptoms, and how symptoms may look different during adulthood.

Myth #2: Only Boys have ADHD...

While the current prevalence rates regarding ADHD in children show much higher percentages of boys than girls, it is important to consider the history behind this phenomenon. The original screening methods for ADHD would have been created based on the symptoms that boys tend to experience, leaving out the experiences of young girls. Now, however, clinical practice is catching up and is recognising how social and cultural norms influence what ADHD looks like in young girls.

At the end of the day, ADHD just looks different in girls, and we need to take their symptoms and struggles just as seriously.

Myth #3: ADHD is becoming way over-diagnosed...

While there are significantly higher prevalence rates of ADHD now compared to twenty years ago, there is no reason to assume that this means over-diagnosis. There are many factors at play here, such as better clinical methods, increased recognition of ADHD in various groups, and less stigma attached to the label of ADHD. So, it's pretty likely that instead of over-diagnosis, or increasing numbers of individuals with ADHD, we're just better at recognising ADHD.

Myth #4: ADHD simply refers to a 'lack of attention'...

A diagnosis of ADHD encompasses a variety of symptoms and behaviour that apply to all areas of life. Reducing it down to simply a 'lack of attention' shows a huge misunderstanding of the many other struggles experienced by children and adults with ADHD. If a child is not paying attention in class, it could be the tip of the iceberg. Maybe the child is fatigued, has a learning difficulty, or even just requires a different teaching methods (we don't all learn best in a classroom). Instead of discounting the experiences of ADHD in children, stay curious about your child's behaviour and what the underlying causes may be.

Myth #5: ADHD is just poor behavioural choices...

No, ADHD is not just a badly behaved child, or the product of bad parenting (parents, you are doing great!). There is a good amount of research out there pointing to biological and neurological causes of ADHD. So while certain parenting practices may make ADHD harder to manage, they cannot cause ADHD.

Most importantly, ADHD does not have to be a barrier to thriving. While ADHD does entail challenges in certain areas of life, there are ways to manage symptoms, and there are tools to adapt and overcome. And don't forget to celebrate those strengths while you're at it!