9 Surprising Facts About Childhood ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
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How many ADHD facts do you know?Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 6 million American children. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health and 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, 3 to 9% of all children have ADHD, which means that most typical classrooms include at least 1 to 2 (possibly more) students with ADHD.
Because ADHD affects focus and attention, it affects a child’s relationships. The more you know about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the better able you’ll be to understand and connect with children who have ADHD. -
1. ADHD was first recognized in 1902.The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were first described in 1902, when clinicians noticed that some children were more inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive than others. Over time, this condition has been known by a variety of names, including “hyperactivity,” attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and, now, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
All children, of course, are occasionally inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive, particularly when they are toddlers and preschoolers. In children with ADHD, these symptoms persist and affect the child’s function at home and school. Children with ADHD, for instance, usually struggle in school more than their classmates who don’t have ADHD. -
2. There are three types of childhood ADHD.There are three subtypes of ADHD: 1) predominantly inattentive; 2) predominantly hyperactive-impulsive; and 3) combined. Children who have predominantly inattentive ADHD are more likely to daydream than fidget in class. Because their behavior doesn’t usually disturb others, parents and teachers may not even consider ADHD a possibility. Children with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD are kids who have a hard time staying still. They may be in near-constant motion, and may blurt out answers, rather than raising their hands. Children with combined ADHD show symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
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3. Children are usually diagnosed around age 7.Because toddlers are normally very active and impulsive, ADHD isn’t usually diagnosed until children are older. Many children begin the path toward diagnosis after they begin school, when teachers and parents notice behaviors that make it difficult for the child to thrive.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), several symptoms must be apparent before age 12 for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms include difficulty following instructions, disorganization, difficulty waiting, impulsive actions, daydreaming, fidgeting, and frequent roughhousing. -
4. Children with ADHD are not being “difficult” or “disobedient.”Because children with ADHD are often impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive, they may miss instructions or do the exact opposite of whatever they’ve been asked. Many adults mistakenly attribute this behavior to willful disobedience; when, in reality, the child has a brain disorder that makes it very difficult for them to pay attention and process information.
Learning more about ADHD may help adults better understand the challenges of a child with ADHD, and develop more compassionate, effective strategies for interaction. -
5. ADHD increases the risk of substance abuse.Because the condition is characterized by impulsivity, children with ADHD are at increased risk of developing an alcohol or drug problem in adolescence or adulthood. Children and teens with ADHD are also more likely than those without ADHD to drive recklessly and participate in risky sexual behaviors.
Treating ADHD can decrease the risk of these behaviors. Studies have shown that individuals who receive treatment are no more likely to participate in harmful behaviors than people who do not have ADHD. -
6. More than 60% of children with ADHD have a co-existing condition.Most children with ADHD also have at least one other physical or mental health condition. Many children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism. According to ADDitude magazine, as many as half of all children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have ADHD.
Other common co-existing conditions include depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, Tourette syndrome, sleep disorders, and learning disabilities. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of any co-existing conditions can improve outcomes. While not a condition, a child with ADHD may also be gifted. The child may possess great intelligence, academic skills, creativity, physical ability, social-emotional intelligence, leadership, or a combination of these traits. (Giftedness may mask ADHD and delay diagnosis.) -
7. Medication improves functioning in about 70 to 80% of children with ADHD.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends behavior management as the first line of treatment for children younger than 6. For children older than age 6, the AAP recommends a combination of behavior management and medication.
Prescription stimulant medicine can help children with ADHD focus and control their behavior. Non-stimulant prescription ADHD medicine is also available. It may take time and trial and error to discover which medicine works best for a child, but 70 to 80% of children with ADHD respond positively to medicine, according to CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). -
8. ADHD may be related to narcolepsy.There is some evidence to suggest a possible link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by daytime drowsiness and a tendency to fall asleep suddenly during daylight hours. Interestingly, doctors have found that a drug normally used to treat narcolepsy—modafinil (Provigil)—also improves ADHD symptoms in some people.
Be sure to share information about your child’s sleep habits with your healthcare provider. This information can help the provider effectively manage your child’s health condition. -
9. ADHD usually persists into adulthood.There is no cure for ADHD, and most people don’t “grow out of it.” Medication and treatment can dramatically reduce symptoms and improve functioning but, in most cases, a child who has ADHD will continue to struggle with attention, focus, organization and activity in adulthood. In fact, ADHD persists from childhood to adulthood in about 60 to 80% of affected individuals, according to CHADD.
Continued treatment can help adults with ADHD effectively meet their responsibilities and reach goals.
Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: 9 Surprising Facts
