10 Things Your Doctor May Not Have Told You About ADHD Medications

Not all people who are hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive have ADHD. These behaviors can also be caused by anxiety or depression, as well as by learning disabilities. To confirm an accurate ADHD diagnosis, the characteristic behaviors must be shown to be chronic (to have existed before age 12 and for at least 6 months) and pervasive (to have been observed in at least two life settings—at school, at home, with peers, and so on).