Right now, at the end of 2025, ADHD is being diagnosed more often than ever: up to 13% in children, and up to 14% of adults remain undiagnosed (especially women). This isn't an "epidemic" — we're finally starting to see what was always there. Neuroscience, genetics, and massive longitudinal studies in recent years have settled the debate: ADHD isn't a whim, laziness, or bad parenting. It's a brain difference that you can and should live with fully.
Here are 9 of the most persistent myths that need to be buried once and for all.
1. "If a child can hyperfocus on Roblox for hours or read manga — they definitely don't have ADHD"
Actually, this is classic ADHD. The problem isn't that there's no attention — it's that the ADHD brain decides for itself what to spend it on. For "interesting" things — hyperfocus for hours. For math or cleaning their room — the battery dies in 3 minutes.
2. "ADHD is when a child runs around and screams. Quiet, dreamy kids are just lazy"
Quiet and dreamy is the inattentive type of ADHD, and it's found in 60–70% of girls and women. They don't run out of class — they "zone out" of lessons, lose things, forget to turn in homework, and experience real chaos inside.
3. "ADHD is a boys' disorder"
Boys are indeed diagnosed 2–3 times more often because they're more likely to climb walls. Girls get missed until they grow up and start burning out on three jobs at once. We now know: adult women have ADHD almost as often as men, it just shows up differently — with internal restlessness, emotional swings, and an "all or nothing" perfectionism.
4. "Teenagers will grow out of it"
Only about a third will fully outgrow it. Another third will have milder symptoms, and the remaining third will have it for life — just instead of "runs out of class" it'll be "can't make themselves open email." But there's good news: the earlier you start helping, the higher the chance that by adulthood the person will successfully manage their ADHD, not the other way around.
5. "It's all from gadgets, sugar, and weak parenting"
No.
It's from genetics (74–88% heritability) and brain structure differences. Gadgets and sugar can make symptoms worse, but they don't create them from scratch. Parents aren't to blame. They just need different parenting tools — and they work.
6. "This didn't exist before, so it's just trendy now"
It existed before, we just called it different things: "fidgety," "can't learn," "not of this world," "lazy with potential." Now we've just learned to see it and help.
7. "ADHD meds are chemicals that cause addiction"
When prescribed correctly, stimulants don't cause addiction and aren't a "gateway" to drugs. On the contrary: children and teens who get treatment are half as likely to experiment with substances later. Untreated ADHD itself is one of the main risk factors for addictions.
8. "Medication will turn the child into a zombie or make them lose their bright personality"
If someone becomes a "zombie" — the dose or medication is wrong. When everything is dialed in correctly, most people say the same thing: "For the first time in my life, I feel like my head is quiet and I'm running my life, not the other way around."
9. "Just try harder and everything will work out"
That's like telling someone with nearsightedness: "Just squint more, and you won't need glasses." Willpower has almost nothing to do with it — you need external structure, the right habits, and, in most cases, medical support.
What to Do Right Now (2025)
- If you suspect ADHD in your child — see a specialist who works with modern protocols (look for those who mention APSARD, EBPU, or 2024–2025 clinical guidelines).
- What works best is a combination: medication (if needed) + behavioral therapy/coaching + environmental adaptations (timers, lists, external reminders).
- For adults, CBT groups for ADHD and specialized assistant apps work great.
ADHD isn't a sentence or a superpower. It's just a different brain mode. And in 2025, we know exactly how to make that mode work for the person, not against them.
If you recognized your child — that's already half the journey. The second half is getting the right help in time.