{"id":30871,"date":"2021-10-27T07:36:56","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T11:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/?p=30871"},"modified":"2021-10-27T11:28:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T15:28:36","slug":"debunking-the-most-popular-adhd-misconception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/2021\/10\/debunking-the-most-popular-adhd-misconception\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunking the Most Popular ADHD Misconception"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of many significantly misunderstood diagnoses in the world. In fact, even psychologists have misconceptions about ADHD, so you\u2019re not the only one in the dark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopefully, as someone with ADHD, I can shed some light on what this diagnosis actually means for the people who have it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cADHD is Overdiagnosed\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo by Fernando<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This myth is a loaded one. Why? Because it\u2019s just plain wrong, but it\u2019s also wrong in <\/span>so<\/span><\/i> many ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHDers of all ages are wildly underdiagnosed throughout their lives — especially if you\u2019re a woman (or femme presenting), a person of color, an adult, or someone without access to healthcare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lack of affordable healthcare directly correlates with undiagnosed disorders — both physical and mental. This phenomena is fairly self-explanatory, but what about young girls and other minority groups? Why are they being dismissed?<\/span><\/p>\n

Underdiagnosis in Young Girls<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n

First of all, traits often (but not always) present themselves differently in young girls than they do in young boys<\/a>. For example, girls often exhibit forgetfulness, disorganization, and issues focusing more frequently than boys. Similarly, boys present more \u201cdisruptive\u201d symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both children experience <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> of these traits, but unfortunately, the hyperactive behavior is more obvious in most boys. Additionally, the inattentive behavior seen in girls is often dealt with internally instead of externally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These variations in presentation could have an array of explanations including differences in socialization and even differences in hormones and puberty<\/a>. For example, women\u2019s hormones often exacerbate the anxiety or depression experienced alongside ADHD. Because of this, medical providers will treat the anxiety diagnosis without considering comorbid disorders — leading to a delayed diagnosis<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Underdiagnosis in Children of Color<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hispanic children are 56%<\/a> less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than their white peers. As for African American children, they are 36%<\/a> less likely to receive a diagnosis, and the remaining minority groups are 48%<\/a> less likely to receive one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The explanation behind these discrepancies is very complicated. In many cases, the barriers include healthcare provider bias, teacher bias, and lack of \u201cculturally competent\u201d healthcare providers as well<\/a>. These obstacles are systemic and harder to overcome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, the same symptoms seen in caucasion children are perceived as defiant and aggressive in children of color<\/a> as a result of systemic racial bias. Therefore, instead of receiving intervention, they recieve discipline, and this can cause comorbid disorders and mental illness as well as the worsening of their symptoms<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD in Adulthood<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo by Christina Victoria Craft<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sorry, folks! There will be no visits from the neurotypical fairy on your 18th birthday. While it\u2019s true that symptom intensity can decrease over time, ADHD does not disappear when you become an adult<\/a>. In fact, adults experience many of the same symptoms as children do, but they experience them in a different environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a list of symptoms experienced by both children and adults with ADHD:<\/span><\/p>\n