He just can'tseem to sit still. His parents and sister are chatting while he constantlymoves around on his chair, fiddles with the sugar sachets on the table andregularly - and loudly - interrupts their conversation.
Two women at anadjacent table in the coffee shop occasionally glance at the family and it'sclear what's going through their minds: "His parents aren't strict enough,that's why he's like that."
Bad behaviouror bad parenting are just two of the many myths about attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that need to be dismissed.
"There's a lotof misinformation about the causes, treatment and diagnosis of ADHD," sayspsychologist Magdel Pretorius. "And this misinformation can lead to manychildren, and also adults, missing out on interventions that could help themreach their full potential."
We askedexperts to explain some of the most common myths.
Read more | What moms need to know about ADHD
Myth 1: ADHDisn't a real medical condition
"Becausethere's no blood test to test for ADHD objectively, some people think it's nota real medical condition," Pretorius says.
But the samecan be said of a number of other conditions, such as depression and alcoholism,she adds. These are all legitimate medical conditions that create difficultiesfor the individuals who have them - even though these are invisible to others.
Brain-imagingstudies have found that specific neurotransmitters and nerve pathways in thebrain are dysfunctional in those with ADHD, says Durban psychiatrist Dr ShaquirSalduker.
Thesedifferences in the ADHD brain play out in various ways - concentrationproblems, difficulty with impulse control, difficulty regulating emotions andweak planning and organisational skills.
It's alsoimportant to remember that some cases are more severe than others.
"ADHD is aspectrum condition - meaning it varies in intensity and presentation," DrSalduker explains. "In some people it doesn't impair functioning and quality oflife enough to warrant treatment."
Where it'swarranted, he adds, the appropriate treatment can improve symptoms - and somewill need lifelong treatment.
Myth 2: Kidswith ADHD must just try harder
"This mythexists because parents or teachers know the child has the ability to dosomething but he or she just can't seem to follow through - so it looks likelaziness or lack of motivation," Pretorius says.
But the realreason is that children with ADHD find it difficult to prioritise, struggle toorganise tasks and battle to stay focused on the task at hand, she adds. "So nomatter how hard they try, they sometimes struggle to complete even basictasks."
Telling a childwith ADHD to "just try harder" or "just focus" is like telling someone who isnear-sighted to "just see farther".
Those with ADHDaren't struggling because they're not trying hard.
"You never outgrow ADHD, but you can learn how to cope and adapt in order to become more functional in daily life."
— Professor Andr Venter
Myth 3: ADHDis a learning disability
This commonmisconception exists because while ADHD is not a learning disability, it doesmake learning difficult.
"ADHD is acombination of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness - all of which maylead to difficulty with learning," Dr Salduker says.
Children withADHD might struggle with reading, spelling and maths because they're notfocused, Pretorius explains. But ADHD itself is not a learning disability,which is defined as a deficit in reading, writing and mathematical skills.
Myth 4: ADHDcan be cured, or a child can outgrow it
"You neveroutgrow ADHD, but you can learn how to cope and adapt in order to become morefunctional in daily life," says Professor Andr Venter, a paediatrician andformer head of paediatrics and child health at the University of the FreeState.
It's also acommon misconception that ADHD is only present during school years, Dr Saldukeradds
"Sometimesdoctors only treat patients until they matriculate, but treatment shouldcontinue into adulthood, along with appropriate counselling or therapy so theindividual can develop coping strategies."
ADHD is achronic condition that can't be cured.
"But if peoplewith ADHD are put in an environment they find interesting, they can thrive,"Professor Venter says, adding that some might reach a point later in life wherethey no longer need medication tofunction.
Read more | Teachers must learn what ADHD symptoms are, ask experts
Myth 5: Mychild focuses on computer games for hours - surely he can't have ADHD?
While it's truethat people with ADHD have trouble focusing, when they're very interested in somethingthey are able to focus on it intensely.
This is calledhyperfocus, says Dr Thomas E Brown, who founded the Clinic for Attention andRelated Disorders in the US. People with ADHD can focus very well on one or twothings that interest them, but they are easily distracted the rest of the time.
This can bedifficult for others to understand, but Dr Brown is adamant it is not a problemof willpower but rather a problem with how the brain is wired.
"Kids with ADHDcan focus well on things or subjects they find interesting, novel or fun,"Pretorius says. "Computer games are designed to be stimulating in terms ofvisual effects and sounds, so they're easy to focus on. By contrast, schoolworkcan be perceived as boring and repetitive."
Myth 6: Sugarconsumption influences ADHD symptoms
"People tend tothink that a high sugar intake may ‘turn on' or worsen the hyperactive orrestless behaviour of ADHD children," says Bloemfontein dietitian Donna van Zyl."But several studies have demonstrated that this isn't the case. Sugar has nodirect impact on ADHD and isn't the cause of ADHD symptoms."
Excessive sugarconsumption can be damaging as it offers plenty of "empty energy" with littlenutrition. It's more likely that kids who eat lots of sweets are missing out onessential nutrients that might help keep them calm and focused, Van Zyl says.
