What Is ADHD? Here’s a Primer on the Common Neuro Disorder

This informational guide, part of PS’s Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

We all know the stereotype of a person with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a child or young adult, typically a man, who acts impulsively and can’t sit still. But that image doesn’t tell the whole story. Women suffer from the disorder, too. And because women’s symptoms are often subtler, they’re more likely to fly under the medical radar and remain undiagnosed until adulthood – which is a problem, since untreated ADHD can have a serious impact on your life.

What’s more, there still tends to be tons of misconceptions around the condition, particularly online. And there isn’t as much research on adult ADHD. Ahead, a breakdown of ADHD, including types of ADHD, causes of ADHD, and best management/treatment options for ADHD.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, is a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and an ADHD specialist.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder – one of the most common in children. In fact, Nearly 10 percent of US kids are diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 2 and 17. The condition is marked by executive dysfunction, or disruption in ability to manage emotions, thoughts and actions, per the Cleveland Clinic. Those with ADHD may have difficulty:

• Managing behaviors
• Regulating mood
• Staying organized
• Concentrating
• Paying attention
• Following directions
• Controlling overactivity

Types of ADHD

Doctors now recognize three distinct types of ADHD, per Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Predominantly inattentive, with symptoms like daydreaming, forgetfulness, and distractibility.
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, which is characterized by fidgeting, recklessness, and impulsivity.
• A combination of predominantly inattentive and predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. This is the most common type of ADHD>

How Is ADHD Diagnosed?

There is no one test for an ADHD diagnosis. But diagnosis typically starts with an evaluation from a mental health professional, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, or by a primary care provider, like a pediatrician, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Providers will use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (DSM-5)” to help diagnose the condition.

The condition almost always starts in childhood, even if it’s not diagnosed until later, says Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and an ADHD specialist.

There’s also a gender gap in diagnosis: boys (who usually have hyperactive-impulsive or mixed ADHD) are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed in childhood than girls (who more often have the inattentive form). That’s partially because the inattentive type is “less noticeable to adults,” he says. So while boys’ symptoms are spotted, evaluated, and treated, girls’ might go overlooked, delaying diagnosis. But even though people with inattentive-type ADHD may be able to develop coping strategies without realizing that’s what they’re doing, not getting a diagnosis can be harmful. Research shows that untreated ADHD can increase the risk of anxiety and depression.

People of color, including Black, Asian, and Latinx people, are also underdiagnosed. Black children specifically are diagnosed at “two-thirds the rate of white children, despite displaying greater ADHD symptomatology,” according to a study in Clinical Psychology Review. This gap may be due to implicit biases and racism causing teachers or doctors to attribute the symptoms of children of color to behavioral issues rather than ADHD. Family beliefs about the condition and access to healthcare could also play a role.

Causes of ADHD

There’s no single cause of ADHD, but several different factors may be associated with the condition.

• Genetics may predispose people to ADHD. Research shows ADHD runs in families. A number of genetic variants, rather than a single gene, seem to increase the risk.
• Environmental factors, like lead exposure in childhood, may play a role, reports the Mayo Clinic.
• Parents’ lifestyle habits. Smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy seems to increase the risk of the child later being diagnosed with ADHD, according to a study in the journal Psychiatry Research.
• Premature and low-birth-weight babies appear to be more likely to develop the disorder, too, a 2018 review of 12 studies found.

Most Effective ADHD Treatments

Treatment is individual and often involves one or a combination of the following: medications (typically stimulant medications like Adderall, but sometimes antidepressants or atomoxetine, a cognition-enhancing medication); cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches you skills for behavioral management and helps you recognize and shift negative thought patterns; and lifestyle habits. Dr. Hinshaw, for instance, recommends that people with ADHD aim to do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day and avoid sugar and refined carbs. “Healthy lifestyle habits can’t cure ADHD,” he notes, “but they support brain health – and over the long term, they can help.”

Ginny Graves is an award-winning writer in the San Francisco Bay Area whose work focuses on science, psychology, health, nature, and the human-animal bond. In addition to PS, her features have appeared in Time, Vogue, Runner’s World, Men’s Health, O The Oprah Magazine, Elle, Prevention, Scientific American, and National Geographic Adventure.