Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent mental diagnoses in childhood and adolescence. It starts in the early life of the affected person and tends to persist into adulthood. Worldwide, an average of 3%–5% of all children and adolescents are affected by it. Its prevalence in adults is estimated around 2.5%. The main features of ADHD are an excess of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, and symptoms can range from mild up to severe expression.

Despite the existence of standardised diagnosing procedures and national guideline recommendations on treatment, in the public’s eye ADHD is still a controversial topic. This climate of uncertainty about ADHD issues also effects the process of medical underwriting and claims assessment.

Below we debunk 10 of the most common public misconceptions about ADHD, and show the reasons for recognizing it as a neuronal development disorder. The most important takeaway is the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent life limitations in the psychosocial functional level.