October is ADHD Awareness Month? Every year in October, ADHD Awareness Month gives Canadians an opportunity to become more aware and educated about ADHD. According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC), ADHD conservatively occurs in 4% of adults and 5% of children worldwide.
When my son was diagnosed with ADHD I had a world of learning to do. I was one of the millions of people who did not truly understand ADHD. My hope this month is to share what I have learned, to help others understand ADHD. As well as resources I have come across. to help other parents of ADHD with resources that they may not have found already.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity. ADHD begins in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. As many as 2 out of every 3 children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as adults[ref] https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/understanding-adhd-basics [/ref].
To kick off ADHD Awareness Month let’s discuss some facts about ADHD.
ADHD Facts
- ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder
- ADHD is the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorder in Canada
- ADHD remains under-recognized and underdiagnosed
- Children with ADHD are frequently labelled as problem children rather than children with a medical problem
- 80% of children maintain their diagnosis into adolescence and at least 60% remain impaired by symptoms in adulthood
- All regulation of attention is impaired in ADHD. Over-focusing can be as much of an issue as inattention.
- Executive functioning impairment and mood dysregulation also impact many children and adults with ADHD
Courtesy of CADDAC
Coming up in my next blog post, symptoms of ADHD. ADHD vs. Active Child.
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