Published on ADDitudeMag.com
Quiz: How Well Do You Know ADHD?
When it comes to attention deficit, there are myths and misinformation abound. Test your ADHD IQ here.
Q1 : ADHD is a not real medical disorder.
Your answer : (1) True - 
Wrong(2) False - 
Correct !
ADHD is primarily caused by the brain's inability to release enough of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. This leads to the condition's primary symptoms of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.
ADHD has been recognized as a legitimate diagnosis by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes ADHD as a medical disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 3% to 5% of kids have
ADHD, but some experts believe that figure could be as high as 10%.
Q2 : ADHD mainly affects children, especially boys.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
ADHD is a non-discriminatory disorder, equally common in boys and girls, affecting people
of every age, gender, IQ, race, and religious and socioeconomic
background.
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported that the percentage of children in
the United States who have ever been diagnosed with
ADHD is now 9.5%. Among adults, the Harvard/NIMH National Comorbidity
Survey Replication found 4.4% percent of adults, ages
18-44, in the United States experience ADHD symptoms.
Q3 : Children who are said to have ADHD are often just active, energetic children.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
All kids might seem jumpy or inattentive at times, but, when a child has ADHD, the frequency and intensity of these symptoms are severe enough to impair normal functioning. In order to be diagnosed with ADHD, these symptoms must be present from a young age, be present for more than six months, and occur in more than one setting. ADHD is a neurological issue in which the brain's executive functions are impaired; it is not a term used to justify energetic behavior.
Q4 : Hyperactivity is a hallmark symptom of ADHD.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
There are three types of ADHD—hyperactive/impulsive, inattentive, and combined. People who are diagnosed with the inattentive subtype may have trouble paying attention or staying organized, but are not hyperactive. (Girls are more likely than boys to have the inattentive subtype, which is one reason their symptoms are often overlooked.) Many adolescents and adults with the hyperactive/impulsive or combined types of ADHD learn to control their impulsivity and hyperactivity, although they may still have problems with attention.
Q5 : Children with ADHD will eventually outgrow it.
- (1) True
- (2) False
- (3) Sometimes
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Wrong(3) Sometimes - Correct !
More than 70 percent of the individuals who have ADHD in childhood continue to have it in adolescence. Up to half will continue to have ADHD symptoms as adults. ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity and/or impulsivity are most likely to lessen in adolescence, while inattention symptoms persist into or worsen in adulthood.
Q6 : ADHD is a straightforward problem of difficulty in paying attention.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
Other mental health conditions frequently occur with ADHD. Up to 30% of children and 25 to 40% of adults with ADHD have a co-existing anxiety disorder. As many as 50% of people with ADHD have a co-existing learning disability, often language-based. 70% of those with ADHD will be treated for depression at some point in their lives.
Sleep disorders affect people with ADHD two to three
times as often as those without it.
Q7 : ADHD is not a very serious disorder.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
ADHD is not benign, especially when it is undiagnosed and untreated. Inability to focus affects children’s social and academic achievement and leads to poor performance in school and difficulty sustaining friendships. Adults with ADHD have problems at work, have decreased productivity, experience difficulty in marriages, and are at increased risk for substance abuse.
Q8 : ADHD is a fairly new disorder.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
The symptoms that describe ADHD were first published in the respected medical journal Lancet in 1902. The name for the disorder has changed over the years, as researchers have learned more about it, but the primary symptoms remain the same as first described by George Frederic Still.
Q9 : ADHD is caused by bad parenting.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
ADHD is not caused by bad parenting. When a child with ADHD blurts things out or gets out of his seat in class, it's because he cannot control his impulses, not because of lack of discipline. Studies
reveal that ADHD is a biological condition marked by less activity in areas of the brain that control attention, as well
as imbalances in brain neurotransmitters. No single cause of ADHD has been
identified; researchers are exploring both genetic and environmental causes.
Many children with ADHD have a close relative who also has the disorder.
Q10 : ADHD is caused by sugar, food additives, and food allergies.
- (1) True
- (2) False
- (3) We don't know yet
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Wrong(3) We don't know yet - Correct !
There is no evidence that sugar is a cause of ADHD. Although the role of preservatives and food additives is not yet clear, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it is reasonable to avoid these substances. Some ADHD medical practitioners also recommend an elimination diet to test for sensitivity to gluten and/or dairy, as well as testing for adequate iron and zinc levels.
Q11 : People who can focus really well can't possibly have ADHD.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
People with ADHD often lose interest in tasks they find boring or predictable, but can actually pay intense attention to activities they find interesting or exciting.When ADHDers are so engaged in a novel or challenging task that they completely lose track of time, that state is called hyperfocus.
Says Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., a child and adult psychiatrist and author of numerous books on ADHD, “Hyperfocus, caused by the right combination of interest and challenge, makes paying attention effortless for the ADHDer. What’s hard is paying attention to something boring.”
Q12 : People who are really smart don't generally have ADHD.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
There is no systematic relationship between ADHD and IQ. Studies have shown that even extremely high-IQ children and adults can suffer impairments of ADHD. But because high-IQ individuals may be able to mask or compensate for ADHD symptoms, they may face lengthy delays before receiving a diagnosis and treatment.
Q13 : ADHD symptoms can be improved through better diet and nutrition.
- (1) True
- (2) False
- (3) Possibly
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Wrong(3) Possibly - Correct !
The jury is still out on whether diet may improve ADHD symptoms. While studies on ADHD diets have produced mixed results, some health experts believe foods that are good for the brain could reduce symptoms of ADHD. High-protein foods, including eggs, meat, beans, and nuts, may improve concentration. It might also be helpful to replace simple carbs, like candy and white bread, with complex carbs, like pears and whole-grain bread.
Q14 : Being given special accommodations because of ADHD gives an unfair advantage.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that public schools address the special needs of all children with disabilities, including children with ADHD. Special accommodations, such as extra time on tests, simply level the playing field so that kids with ADHD can learn as successfully as their non-ADHD classmates.
Q15 : People with ADHD never amount to much.
Your answer : (1) True - Wrong(2) False - Correct !
In fact, people with ADD are often energetic, intelligent, and creative and lead rich, productive, even extraordinary, lives. With diagnosis and treatment, many put their fresh ideas, endless energy, and multitasking ability toward success. Scott Nipper, a teacher with ADD from Houston, says, "We are more likely to accomplish big things through our passionate, hyperfocused pursuit of projects." Faced with a naysayer? Say, "If Richard Branson can found Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines, despite having ADHD, I'm not worried about my son.”
Your Score
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Awesome - you know what you are talking about.
You really know your stuff, but keep reading about ADHD so you can achieve a perfect score.
Your knowledge of this subject is passable.
Read some more, then come back to take the quiz again to see how you have improved.
Below average.
There's a lot more you can read about ADHD.
Oh, dear. That was not so great.
Won't you try again?
I'm sure you can get at least one answer correct.