Home And Family

ADHD continues to be one of the most misunderstood conditions. In fact, ADHD is just about as misunderstood as children, adolescents, and teens most often are. From conspiracy claims to accusations of bad parenting, many people continue to miss the most relevant and pressing issue:

ADHD needs to be separated out from everything else in life.

ADHD is a not a life threatening condition, and it does not influence all aspects of life. I am often amazed when someone asks a question like the following:

Should a 12-year-old boy with ADHD be carrying a knife?

Here’s my first thought, “Why does a 12-year-old need to be carrying a knife?” Next I want to know, “What does ADHD have to do with it?”

This might seem to be a trivial point, but it’s actually one of the most important components to really understanding our children, particularly a child with ADHD.

Here’s the truth:

A child with ADHD is no more or less likely to succeed in life. Sure, they might face certain challenges that we (in the medical community) have identified, but there are no absolutes. The common characteristics of a child with ADHD are hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. But those can be very powerful traits to the right person and in the right situation.

I used the example above as a very basic illustration of how ADHD is so misunderstood. I want to encourage parents to separate out the real issues. Whether or not a child has ADHD really has nothing to do with whether or not he or she should be carrying a knife. Quite frankly, it’s the same about whether or not a child with ADHD is actually capable of doing well in school.

These two issues have almost nothing to do with one another. Most people will tell you that a child with ADHD will struggle with attention and focus, therefore impacting his or her ability to perform in school. But that’s a total lie! There is no reason that child cannot learn strategies, and find ways to be successful in school.