What is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that can affect how a child thinks, feels, learns, and interacts with the world around them. ADHD can influence school performance, friendships and social interactions, family relationships, and day-to-day routines and well-being.
There are 3 types of ADHD:
- Inattentive
- Hyperactive/Impulsive
- Combined
Healthcare providers diagnose ADHD based on the presence and absence of certain symptoms. There is no lab test (like a blood test) that can diagnose ADHD. Instead, healthcare providers do what’s called an ADHD assessment, using the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). The type a child is diagnosed with depends on which symptoms show up most often. If a child experiences a blend of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive traits, they are diagnosed with Combined Type ADHD.
Common ADHD Traits in Children Include:
- Inattention: Difficulty sustaining focus, staying organized, following directions, or completing tasks
- Hyperactivity: Frequent movement or fidgeting, high energy, restlessness, or difficulty staying seated
- Impulsivity: Acting before thinking, interrupting, calling out, or taking risks without considering consequences
- Emotional Dysregulation: Strong emotional reactions, sensitivity to criticism or rejection, feeling overwhelmed easily, or experiencing quick changes in mood
These traits can show up differently in every child with ADHD. With awareness, support, and the right strategies, children with ADHD can thrive at school and at home.
How Common is ADHD in Children?
Understanding how common ADHD is can help to reduce stigma and remind families that they are not alone. In the United States, approximately 11.3% of children ages 5 to 17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD, meaning roughly 1 in 9 children have received a diagnosis at some point in their lives. The prevalence is higher among boys (about 14.5%) than girls (about 8.0%) in that same age range, but research and lived experiences have shown that girls are just as likely to have ADHD. Instead, it often reflects how symptoms show up differently. Boys are more likely to display hyperactivity and outward behaviors, and girls are more likely to show inattentive symptoms, which can be quieter and easier to overlook. Because of this, girls continue to be underdiagnosed. Many girls only seek an evaluation after ongoing struggles in school and with daily life, and because ADHD often co-occurs with conditions like anxiety or depression, they may first receive one of those diagnoses before their ADHD is recognized.
Executive Function in Children
ADHD symptoms are closely linked to executive functioning, which is the brain’s “self-management system.” Executive functions help children plan, stay organized, control impulses, focus, manage emotions, and shift from one task to another. These skills are mainly controlled by the frontal lobe of the
brain and are essential for school, home routines, friendships, and everyday life.
Some key executive functions include:
- Working memory: holding information for a short time and using it
- Impulse control: thinking before acting or speaking
- Emotional regulation: managing big feelings in flexible, healthy ways
- Motivation and time management: starting tasks, staying on track, and sensing how long things take
- Decision-making: problem-solving
ADHD symptoms arise from executive dysfunction. When executive functions develop more slowly, children may struggle with things like staying organized, being on time, remembering commitments, managing emotions, getting started on tasks, or following through. Over time, these challenges can affect self-esteem. Many children with ADHD experience more criticism or comparison than their peers, which can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or believing they are “not trying hard enough.” It is important to remember that these challenges are not about laziness or lack of effort. Children with ADHD are trying. Their brains simply work differently, and they need support that matches the way they learn best. I like the analogy of a world designed for right-handed people. Left-handed people can do everything just as well, but they often need to adjust or use tools that better suit the way they work. In the same way, our world is built around the neurotypical brain. Children with ADHD may just need a little extra support, understanding, and flexibility to thrive in a system that wasn’t designed with their strengths in mind.
Strengths of ADHD
While ADHD is often talked about in terms of challenges, children with ADHD also have strengths that deserve just as much attention. Many children with ADHD are creative, imaginative problem-solvers who think outside the box and come up with ideas others might never think of. They notice details others miss, make unexpected connections, and often see the world in a unique and exciting way. Children with ADHD may also experience hyperfocus, which is the ability to concentrate deeply on something they find interesting or meaningful. When this happens, they can learn new skills quickly and produce incredible work in areas that excite them. Children with ADHD are also known to bring energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm that can inspire others, and many are also kind, emotionally aware, and empathetic, which helps them form genuine and meaningful friendships.
Olympic athletes Simone Biles and Michael Phelps, filmmaker Greta Gerwig, and actor Mark Ruffalo are among the many highly successful people who have ADHD and have talked openly about it. Their stories show that ADHD can be a superpower when strengths are understood, nurtured, and utilized. When children learn to recognize and value these qualities, it shifts the focus from what is hard to what is possible, helping them build confidence and embrace the incredible way their brains work.
ADHD Treatment Recommendations
- ADHD-Focused Therapy and Treatment Programs
- Medication
- Neurofeedback
- ADHD Psychoeducation
Effective ADHD treatment combines early intervention with support that is tailored to each child’s needs. ADHD-focused therapy for children teaches practical skills for staying organized, managing emotions, improving focus, and building confidence. Therapists work with children and families to set goals and practice strategies such as breaking tasks into smaller steps, using visual tools (like checklists, calendars, and timers), and strengthening problem-solving and social skills. Therapy also helps children challenge negative self-talk, improve self-esteem, and navigate school, home, and friendships more successfully.
Many clinics and organizations offer multi-week programs specifically for children with ADHD. These programs often combine behavioral therapy, academics, sports, and social skills training, and run like a camp with trained counselors who teach and reinforce positive behaviors. Parents also learn strategies to support progress at home and reduce problem behaviors. Many of these programs are offered in the summer to help children build skills and confidence before the school year begins.
Medication can help boost focus, reduce impulsivity, increase attention span, and improve overall executing functioning. These medications work by adjusting the levels of certain neurotransmitters that support attention and self-control. Finding the right medication can involve some trial and error, but once the right fit is found, many notice a meaningful improvement in their symptoms.
Some families also choose to try neurofeedback, a non-invasive treatment that helps children practice improving focus and self-regulation by using real-time feedback on a screen showing their brain activity. It usually begins with a “brain map” (qEEG) to see which brain areas and pathways need support. Children then attend regular sessions where they watch a screen or play a game that rewards them when their brain shows more regulated activity. Over time, this helps strengthen patterns linked to attention and self-control. A full program including 30-40 short sessions a few times per week is generally needed to see lasting benefits.
Psychoeducation is a way of helping children and their families better understand ADHD while learning useful strategies to manage challenges. For kids, it helps them understand how their brains work, reduces shame or confusion, and builds confidence. For parents and caregivers, it provides tools to support children at home and school. Psychoeducation can happen through books, videos, groups, or parent trainings. Learning about ADHD helps families work together, strengthens support, and encourages more positive and understanding attitudes toward children with ADHD.
About the Author
A proud native New Yorker, Isabel Skarbinksi has always sought balance between the energy of the city and the peace of the outdoors. She loves spending time in nature, whether she’s walking in Central Park, hiking a favorite trail, exploring a new national park, or paddling. Working with children is one of her greatest passions, and she’s happiest when she’s helping young people learn, grow, and discover what truly brings them joy