Does Everyone Have a Little ADHD?- Know the Truth About ADHD!

MYTH: Everyone has a little ADHD.

FACT: Between 90-95% of the population does not have ADHD.

Have you ever heard the comment, “everyone has a little ADD?” When a person says this, they mean that people in today’s fast paced world experience similar symptoms to ADHD, such as running late or being forgetful. While this may be true, the majority of people, 90-95% do not a physical difference in their brain. 

Brain Differences

“Ongoing neurological studies find many differences in the ADHD brain. The structure, volume, chemical activity and pathways in the brain are different for people with ADHD than those who do not have ADHD. Scientists have linked several genes to the condition.”

- Attention Deficit Disorder Association

“While the increasing of our culture’s smartphone addiction, distractibility and fast paced media forks geared toward ‘snackable' is worth noting, it isn’t just ‘diluted ADHD’ because ADHD develops in utero and very early infancy. The behaviors people with ADHD experience are due to a brain that is fundamentally wired differently, down to the synapses.”

- Edward Hallowell, MD

Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral Challenges Impact Life

Typical areas of challenge such as struggling with attention, focus and impulsivity are more severe, happen more frequently and are chronic compared with those that do not have ADHD. These behaviors result from a lack of regulation or self-management.

Executive functioning skills allow a person to plan, prioritize, focus and sustain attention, remember instructions, get started on tasks, transition, estimate time, etc. People with ADHD run into problems with time management, organizing, completing short and long-term tasks, pacing oneself and emotional modulation. Good executive function allows a person to succeed in cognitive, emotional and behavioral areas. When your brain’s command center struggles to coordinate executive skills, the full life impact can be significant.

“While everyone feels inattentive, distracted or impulsive sometimes, the experience is not the same. The attention and executive functioning challenges many individuals with ADHD encounter can impact every aspect of their well-being.”

- Jacyln Halpern, PsyD.

“Not only do adults with ADHD brains legitimately struggle with daily tasks like planning meals and remembering to pay our phone bill, but insult really adds to injury when family, friends and co-workers tell us to ‘stop making excuses, everyone has a little ADHD’.”

- Future ADHD

“Declaring that everyone has a little bit of ADHD is inaccurate. It is also hurtful and dismissive of the real struggles people with ADHD go through every day. The reason is neurological in origin, and not a choice.” 

– Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Important to Remember

• There is a huge difference between ADHD symptoms and an ADHD diagnosis. An official diagnosis requires a certain number of symptoms present and in various domains of life. It also notes the extent and regularity in which they occur in order to meet the criteria for the official diagnosis. Therefore, ADHD is a clinical diagnosis that requires professional treatment.

• ADHD is a brain-based, often chronic, lifelong syndrome.

• Incorrect information perpetuates stigma, and can prevent a person from stepping forward to get a diagnosis for themselves or their child.

• Careless comments show a lack of understanding about the seriousness of ADHD.  ADHD rarely rides alone and there are additional co-existing conditions that frequently accompany ADHD, such as anxiety or depression. In addition to the above, there can be potential learning challenges, sensory challenges or emotional modulation issues faced by countless children and adults on a daily basis.

• ADHD is a 24/7 disorder that touches every area of life.

“When neurotypical people complain that they are “so ADHD,” they perpetuate a stereotype- not only about what ADHD is, but also about how minimally it manifests.”

- Elizabeth Broadbent

“I’m having an ADHD moment”, a neurotypical person may say. Really? Try having an ADHD life!”

- Elizabeth Broadbent

Know the facts about ADHD and become empowered! With correct information we can create awareness and reduce stigma. Everyone does not have “a little ADHD!”

Ready to explore where your ADHD shows up and what you can do about it? Schedule a free consultation with an ADHD coach today!

Resources

• “Does everyone have ADHD? No. And Why It Hurts When Neurotypicals Claim an ‘ADHD Moment”- Elizabeth Broadbent, https://additudemag.com  

• “Why We’re Not ‘All a Little ADHD’ and Why Labels Matter” https://futureadhd.com

• “Myth: Everyone has a little ADHD!” – Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) https://adhdawarenessmonth.org

• “4 Things Not to Say to Someone With ADHD (Plus, What to Say Instead)”-Michelle Pugel, https://everydayhealth.com