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chemical imbalance. The result can be
improper behaviors.
Which behaviors? The name itself helps explain what
they are: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. (See ADHD Symptoms.) People who have ADHD have trouble paying attention, staying still, and controlling their impulses.
Everyone at some point may show these behaviors. But
in people with ADHD, these ways of acting are more
intense. They last longer. And they are not appropriate
for the person's age. They can occur at home, at
school, and in social settings. People with ADHD may
do poorly at school or may struggle with friendships.
ADHD is more common than you might think. It
affects about 3% to 9% of school-aged children and
teens. But ADHD is not just a childhood problem. It also affects 4% of adults in the world. Overall, up to 80% of children with ADHD still have symptoms as teenagers and young adults.
ADHD is not treated in adults as often as it should be.
By this time in life, most people who don't know that
they have ADHD have already found ways to try to
deal with it without results. They can even be self-destructive. They may try things like gambling and
drinking. That's why often in adults, ADHD can be
mistaken for other conditions, such as depression.
If not treated, ADHD can lead to marital and mental
health problems. This is why it is important to get help
as early as you can.
Causes of ADHD
You may wonder where ADHD comes from. As it
turns out, ADHD runs in families. Genes may play a
role in who gets the disorder. Close family members
(parents, siblings, and children) of people with
ADHD have a higher risk—5 to 7 times higher—of
having it than others. This is important for families to
know. Having one family member with ADHD could
lead others to get the help they need, too.
No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. It may be
a chemical problem in the brain. Or it may be a
difference in brain structure. Whatever the cause,
ADHD seems to be more common among boys than
girls. This could be because girls are less often
diagnosed, or are treated more often as adults. One
reason for this is because their symptoms seem harder
to recognize. Girls tend to be less hyperactive and
aggressive. Instead, they have more problems with
attention, mood, and anxiety.
We do know what doesn't cause ADHD. No matter
what you've heard, it is not caused by bad parenting
or poor schooling. It's not caused by watching too
much TV. It doesn't come from eating too much
sugar. It's a real medical condition that needs real
medical attention.
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ADHD Symptoms