What Parents Need To Know About ADHD In Kids

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become the neuro-behavioral disorder that is most commonly diagnosed in U.S. children.

There are many studies that focus on the ADHD and parents need to stay informed about the most recent findings. For instance, a recent study published by the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that girls with childhood ADHD are more at risk of adulthood obesity compared with girls without the condition. 

While ADHD is a popular research subject, many parents and teachers still do not grasp yet a fully understanding of the condition and how it could affect children at home and in school. Many still think that ADHD is simply about students who can't sit still of focus on their work. However, this condition includes a great deal more and it is often misunderstood. For this reason, student achievement in school could suffer.

According to a recent article in The Washington Post, ADHD is a brain-based medical disorder that affects people's behavior across a diverse range of socio-economic lines, intelligence levels, gender and age. Children who have ADHD may talk too much, daydream a lot, frequently forget and lose things, fidget, have trouble making decisions, display impulsivity and risk-taking behavior.

 The Centers for Disease Control report that 5.6 percent of girls and 13.3 percent of boys aged 4-17 had been diagnosed with ADHD in the period 2011-2013. The prevalence of diagnosed ADHD was higher among non-Hispanic white children.

One of the country's foremost experts on ADHD, Ned Hallowell, explained for The Washington Post what teachers and parents need to know about how ADHD affects children. Hallowell is a psychiatrist and the founder of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, Mass., and New York City.

The expert pointed out that ADHD is not a disorder but rather a trait, and it is not deficit of attention but rather a wandering of attention. The condition is composed of a wide array of often contradictory and complex tendencies and it is genetically transmitted.

Children with ADHD can wander off when they lose interest or can super-focus when they are really interested.  This can lead to underachievement in school due to inconsistent performance. Hallowell also added that the correct diagnosis of ADHD is not a brain deficit but rather a brain difference.