ADHD

Hi, I'm Dr. Altmann, nearly 10% of American school kids have ADHD according to some estimates. That's a lot of kids, and there are a lot of myths about ADHD. Here are four you should know about. First up, ADHD is caused by bad parenting, no! ADHD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors that create chemical imbalances in the brain.

Next up, medication is the only treatment for ADHD. Well meds can help many kids with ADHD, lifestyle changes, counseling and behavior modification are also important. Some studies suggest a combined approach works best. Then there's the myth that kids with ADHD can't focus on on anything.

It's true that kids with ADHD have trouble concentrating on things that don't interest them, but some kids with ADHD are prone to hyper focusing that means they get overly absorbed in activities they enjoy, while ignoring the responsibilities they don't. The last myth, that kids outgrow ADHD.

Some kids do put upto 70% of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms into adulthood. That's why early diagnosis and treatment is so important, to help them learn coping with skills that will help them throughout their lives. I'm Dr. Altmann, for more ways to raise happy healthy kids, check out all our smart tips.