What Is ADHD, Again?

Simply put, ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most prevalent childhood conditions that can continue through adolescence and into adulthood.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6.1 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed (12.9%) than girls (5.6%). And it’s incredibly common among adults: Roughly 11 million have ADHD, or 5% of the adult population.

There are three main behaviors associated with ADHD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):

• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsivity

Of course, every kid (and adult) is inattentive or impulsive at times. Who among us hasn’t felt like jumping out of their skin while having to stay in place during, say, a pandemic? But ADHD is different: It’s not being inattentive sometimes, or hyperactive now and then. In children with ADHD, these behaviors:

• are more severe
• happen more often
• interfere with quality of life

What Causes ADHD in Children?

ADHD is a chronic neurobiological condition and its cause is not entirely known. Right now, there’s zero evidence to show that allergies, immunizations, parenting styles, or too much sugar or food additives have anything to do with your child’s diagnosis.

And even though 58% of Americans surveyed believe an uptick in technology and video game play has led to a greater occurrence of ADHD in children, there’s no clear evidence that this is accurate either.

Instead, kids between 8 and 10 who already have multiple ADHD symptoms do seem to game more than others, notes a 2020 report in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The probable reason? Fast-moving video games are pretty effective at holding the attention of kids who find concentrating challenging. Click here to read the rest of the story