ADHD Medications Work Differently Than Previously Thought |
Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes a mix of ongoing challenges, such as having difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In the U.S., ADHD afflicts an estimated 7 million children, ages 3 to 17. According to one study, among American children, the prevalence of this diagnosis rose from 6.1 percent in 1997-1998 to 10.2 percent in 2015-2016.[1]
Children with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem, have troubled relationships, and demonstrate poor school performance. Symptom severity and frequency may lessen with age, and while some people never completely “outgrow” their ADHD symptoms, they can develop ways to live with them successfully.
The DSM-5 identifies three types of ADHD:
Predominantly inattentive. Most symptoms fall under inattention; having trouble focusing and staying on a task, along with difficulty getting and staying organized.
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. Most symptoms involve hyperactivity and impulsivity. Hyperactive means being overly or problematically active and having too much energy—typically flitting from stimulus to stimulus, depending on whatever catches the person’s interest (think “squirrel!”) in ways that can be disruptive to the task at hand or to the immediate (classroom) environment. Being impulsive means acting without thinking ahead or considering the effects of behavior.
Combined. A mix of inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive symptoms. The person meets the criteria for both predominantly inattentive and predominantly hyperactive and impulsive types of ADHD.
ADHD occurs more often in boys........