Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 6 million children in the United States and more than 366 million adults worldwide.
In this article, Ability Central dives into 8 things you might not know about ADHD, including answers to the following frequently asked questions:
What is ADHD?
How does ADHD affect communication?
Who is most often diagnosed with ADHD?
What causes ADHD?
When is ADHD typically diagnosed?
How often do adults have undiagnosed ADHD?
What role do sugar and stimulants play in ADHD?
Where can I find more information about ADHD?
What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly genetic, brain-based neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects executive functioning skills, the cognitive processes we use to plan and carry out our goals, tasks, and daily routines.
Executive function skills include:
Attention
Concentration
Flexibility (adapting to change)
Hyperactivity
Learning from mistakes
Memory
Metacognition (thinking about our thoughts, or recognizing what we know and do not know)
Motivation and effort
Organization
Perseverance
Planning
Self-control
Social skills
Task initiation and completion
Time management
Because ADHD affects these skills, untreated ADHD can lead to problems at work and school. Many children and adults with ADHD struggle with social skills, impulsive actions, budgeting, and task management.
Untreated ADHD can have potentially serious consequences, including:
Accidental injuries
Depression
Family stress and disruption
Reduced life expectancy
Relationship problems
School and career difficulty
Substance use issues
How does ADHD affect communication?
The distractions, impulsiveness, and difficulty with attention and concentration brought about by ADHD can affect communication. Children and adults with ADHD are prone to interruptions, disordered thoughts, and difficulty following conversations.
Children and adults with ADHD often:
Blurt out answers.
Talk excessively.
Seem like they’re not listening when spoken to directly.
Interrupt others.
Intrude on others’ work or conversations.
Exhibit large emotions that aren’t always appropriate to the situation.
Become frustrated or combative if they don’t understand or feel misunderstood.
Miss social cues, “unspoken rules,” and body language.
Young children with ADHD are also more likely to exhibit language delays than neurotypical children. ADHD may also cause speech disruptions, like long pauses, repeating things multiple times, or “backing up” to reword something they already said.
To learn more about ADHD symptoms, see Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Symptoms in Children and Adults.
Who is most often diagnosed with ADHD?
ADHD affects all genders, races, and ethnic groups, typically in equal measure for children under 4 years old. However, some people are more prone to ADHD than others, and this becomes apparent as children grow older.
For example, by the age of 12, ADHD affects:
12.1% of boys, compared to 5.5% of girls. (This gap decreases significantly in adulthood, with 5.4% of men and 3.2% of women diagnosed with ADHD.)
14% of white children.
12% of Hispanic children.
10% of Black children.
6% of Asian children.
Based on a [2016 survey](https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adult-adhd-facts-statistics) from the California hospital system, ADHD affects approximately:
1.42% of white adults.
1.14% of Native American adults.
0.69% of Black adults.
0.65% of Hispanic adults.
0.39% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults.
0.35% of Asian adults.
0.71% of adults who identify as other ethnicities or races.
What causes ADHD?
The most probable cause of ADHD is genetics. Parents with ADHD pass the condition down to their children. In fact, at least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth have children with ADHD. In addition, a large majority of identical twins diagnosed with ADHD share the trait with their twin.
Beyond genetics, scientists are studying other possible risk factors and causes of ADHD, including:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Exposure to environmental risks during pregnancy or in early childhood.
Alcohol, tobacco, or drug use during pregnancy.
Premature delivery.
Low birth weight.
Despite popular myths, research shows that ADHD is not caused by:
Overeating sugar.
Watching too much television.
Parenting choices.
Social and environmental factors like poverty or family chaos.
When is ADHD typically diagnosed?
Most ADHD symptoms start before age 12, although some children show noticeable symptoms as early as age 3.
The average ADHD diagnosis is 7 years of age, but this varies by the severity of symptoms. For milder ADHD symptoms, the average age of diagnosis is 8 years old. For moderate symptoms, the average age is 7 years old. The average age of diagnosis for children with severe ADHD symptoms is 5 years old.
To learn more about ADHD diagnosis and treatment, see Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): What Happens After an ADHD Diagnosis?
How often do adults have undiagnosed ADHD?
In the United States, ADHD diagnoses among adults are growing four times faster than ADHD diagnoses among children. Even still, it is estimated that fewer than 20% of adults with ADHD are currently diagnosed, with even less receiving treatment.
ADHD diagnosis is an imperfect science, and many children with ADHD are not diagnosed until adulthood, if they’re diagnosed at all. ADHD symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and a lack of social skills are often mistaken for other conditions, like anxiety or mood disorders.
The main reason for difficulty in diagnosing adult ADHD is that the diagnostic criteria for ADHD were designed for children, not adults. In addition, as many as 93% of psychiatrists who treat adults have said they never received ADHD training while pursuing medical degrees or continuing their medical educations. This includes ADHD training to treat children, adolescents, and adults.
Furthermore, ADHD is often under-diagnosed in girls, which is why many women report not knowing they have ADHD until they’re in their 30s or 40s. Overlooked ADHD symptoms can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues in adulthood, especially if ADHD symptoms affected someone’s school and work performance.
To learn more about ADHD’s symptoms and associated conditions, see Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Symptoms in Children and Adults.
What role do sugar and stimulants play in ADHD?
Many parents notice an increase in ADHD-like symptoms when their children have too much sugar. Research shows a strong link between ADHD symptoms and high intakes of refined sugar or saturated fat, although neither sugar nor saturated fat cause ADHD.
Many people with ADHD find that common stimulants like caffeine affect them in different ways compared to their neurotypical peers. While neurotypical people might find themselves jittery or overactive when they drink too much coffee, caffeine often leads to a reduction of ADHD symptoms in people diagnosed with the condition.
Medical stimulants, also called central nervous system stimulants, have similar effects on people with ADHD. Stimulant medications help concentration and focus, while nonstimulant ADHD medications improve memory and attention.
To learn more about treatments for ADHD, see Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): What Happens After an ADHD Diagnosis?
Where can I get more information about ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a complex diagnosis that requires careful research, education, and treatment. Regular visits with doctors, pediatricians, therapists, and psychiatrists can help both children and adults seek a diagnosis and manage their ADHD symptoms.
To learn more about ADHD, see:
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Symptoms in Children and Adults
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): What Happens After an ADHD Diagnosis?
Long-term Support and Resources for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
To learn more about conditions related to ADHD, see:
