ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects about 5% of school-age children, often extending into adulthood. Characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity, this disorder can have a significant impact on the individual's academic and social life, from childhood to adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty maintaining focus on tasks, motor agitation and impulsivity, often resulting in misunderstanding and frustration for the child.
However, it is crucial to distinguish between typical childhood behaviors and signs of ADHD, as they can often overlap and lead to misinterpretations and inaccurate diagnoses. For a correct diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms must be consistent and significantly affect the child's daily life in various situations. It is important to understand that ADHD is a neurological condition, rooted in dysregulated patterns of brain activity, such as a low threshold for impulse control and difficulty delaying gratification, which directly influence the child's emotional well-being.
Misinterpreting the challenges faced by the child should not be attributed to parents or healthcare professionals, but rather to the limitations of conventional assessment methods. Subjective reports from parents and teachers, along with infrequent evaluations, are often insufficient to understand the complexity of the child's mental and brain experiences. Fortunately, thanks to recent technological advances, we now have tools that allow us to directly explore the underlying causes of these challenges.
