Myth Busting There are a number of myths around ADHD that you might have read or heard of before receiving your diagnosis. Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation on social media and this can have severe consequences for people who read it as it can change how you view yourself and your diagnosis.
Myth 1: ADHD is over diagnosed.
As stated in an earlier section, ADHD is thought to be present in up to 5% of the adult population and up to 8% in the child and adolescent population. We can estimate that just over 2 million adults in the UK will have ADHD and just over 1 million children and adolescents will have ADHD. From the data, dated 2021, there is an estimated 120,000 formally diagnosed adults in the UK. This is significantly below the expected number of individuals with ADHD.
It is important to note that not all who have ADHD will require a diagnosis, if ADHD is not impacting on their lives then it might not be recognisable to the person.
Myth 2: Only children have ADHD.
ADHD is a lifelong condition. Children diagnosed with ADHD will become adults with ADHD. It isn’t something you grow out of, rather it is something you learn to accommodate and live with. Hence the need for strategies to thrive.
Myth 3: ADHD is caused by a lack of discipline as a child.
While we know ADHD can affect how children behave it is not caused by a lack of discipline or parenting style. While parenting isn’t the reason that a child will have ADHD, it can be part of the solution. By assisting the child through their difficulties, helping develop and learn strategies that help, can be the difference between a child managing or not. Myth 4: ADHD can’t exist if you’re fine one minute and then struggling the next. It is important to remember that symptoms and difficulties will fluctuate. Being able to complete a task quickly one day might not be repeated again on a different day. People with ADHD often report using a significant amount of energy trying to keep themselves focused and on track which can be exhausting. Myth 5: ADHD is just an excuse for laziness We hear people refer to themselves as “lazy” often, especially if they have heard others calling them this, they begin to believe it. ADHD is not about being “lazy”. Individuals with ADHD will exert as much effort into their activities as those without ADHD. The difference is how they approach, plan and execute the activity. It might take longer to process, plan and complete the task. There are different obstacles to manage such as being distracted, preventing procrastination and focusing attention.
DEVON ADULT AUTISM AND ADHD SERVICE 9
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