| Myths about Attention Deficit Disorder abound, and | | | | pure myth. |
| sadly, they are believed by many uninformed | | | | A third myth is that ADHD is only a disorder affecting |
| individuals. Many of these myths have developed from | | | | hyperactive boys. This myth originates in the many |
| many years of medical professionals diagnosing | | | | years that it was considered as fact by the medical |
| mostly hyperactive young boys. | | | | community. Not only is it untrue, but it is also untrue that |
| One of the big myths that is very prevalent today is | | | | more boys than girls suffer from ADHD. Since girls |
| that ADD is the popular diagnosis for this time period: | | | | have only recently been diagnosed with this disorder, |
| the "flavor of the month", in a manner of speaking. If a | | | | an accurate picture of how many actually have it is |
| child acts up in the classroom, he or she is said to | | | | unavailable. |
| have ADD and requires medication. While there | | | | Yet another myth that can be very damaging is that |
| appears to be an explosion of ADD in America, this is | | | | having ADD is only a small problem in life. Yes, some |
| due to a variety of factors. One factor that needs to | | | | individuals who have ADD may fare better than |
| be considered is the evolution of technology and | | | | others, but many suffer real problems in dealing with |
| medicine: we continue to learn more and more about | | | | everyday life issues and routines; their difficulties should |
| every type of disorder, and ADD just happens to be | | | | not be taken lightly. |
| one of them. This does not make it a fad diagnosis. | | | | A myth that has just recently been discounted is that |
| We must also take into account that at times children | | | | people outgrow ADD by the age of twelve or thirteen. |
| are slapped with a label before having been formally | | | | While some individuals may outgrow, or their |
| diagnosed. In fact, the ADD label is informally used so | | | | symptoms may dissipate over time; however many do |
| often, that the number of children that actually suffer | | | | not. In general, ADD is not something that just goes |
| from the disorder is misconstrued. | | | | away on its own. |
| Another myth is that ADD is overly diagnosed. This is | | | | And lastly, a myth believed by many people is that |
| simply not true. ADD is not formally diagnosed unless a | | | | medication is the only thing that can help individuals with |
| psychologist or psychiatrist tests the individual in | | | | ADD. Yes, it's true that medications help in many |
| question. Testing can either be formal (which is | | | | cases, but it is the only the beginning of the help |
| preferable) or informal; where an individual history is | | | | needed. Counseling and learning how to structure your |
| taken and evaluated. Doctors simply do not quickly | | | | time are also very important components in the |
| state ADD as their diagnosis, and over diagnosis is | | | | treatment of ADD. |