ADHD Awareness Month October

Our therapists in Orem stand with hundreds of other health care professionals in recognizing October as ADHD Awareness month. This year’s theme is Awareness is Key! And the goal is to provide reliable information and resources to help people thrive with ADHD.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults. Nearly every mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organization in the United States long ago concluded that ADHD is a real, brain-based medical disorder. It is described as a “persistent” or ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that gets in the way of daily life or typical development. Individuals with ADHD may also have difficulties with maintaining attention, executive function (the brain’s ability to begin an activity, organize itself and manage thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve goals and tasks) and working memory, which aids in complex cognitive tasks like learning, reasoning, and language comprehension.

In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the percentage of children ages 3-17 in the United States who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD was 9.5%. In 2024, while holding somewhat steady, we saw a slight incline to about 10% Boys are diagnosed two to three times as often as girls.

Among adults, the Harvard/NIMH National Comorbidity Survey Replication found 4.4% percent of adults, ages 18-44 in the United States, experience symptoms and some disability.

What makes ADHD different from other conditions is that the symptoms are excessive, pervasive, and persistent. That is, behaviors are more extreme, show up in multiple settings, and continue showing up throughout life.

But don’t despair. ADHD is NOT caused by moral failure, poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers or schools, too much TV, food allergies, or excess sugar. Instead, research shows that ADHD is both highly genetic (with the majority of ADHD cases having a genetic component), and a brain-based disorder (with the symptoms of ADHD linked to many specific brain areas).

Currently, available treatments focus on reducing the symptoms of ADHD and improving functioning. Treatments include medication, various types of psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, education or training, and educational support. Usually a person with ADHD receives a combination of treatments. While diagnosing ADHD is a complex process, our therapists in Orem offer testing for ADHD diagnosis and can offer valuable resources for you and your loved ones. Please call us at 801-224-2313 if you are interested in learning more about our services.