Correcting common myths about ADHD Myth: Children naturally outgrow ADHD. Fact: In some children with ADHD, the hyperactive behaviour decreases during their teenage years. But inattention often becomes more of a challenge during the early secondary school years when students must organise homework assignments and complete complex projects. Some children do not experience any symptoms of ADHD in adulthood, while some experience fewer symptoms. Others have no change in their symptoms from childhood to adulthood. Myth: ADHD is caused by too much white sugar, preservatives and other artificial food additives. Removing these things from a child's diet can cure the disorder. Fact: Studies have shown that few children with ADHD are helped by special diets. Most of the children who do respond to diets are very young or have food allergies. Sugar and food additives have been ruled out as causes for ADHD. Myth: Poor parenting is responsible for ADHD behaviours in children. Fact: ADHD is a physical disorder caused by differences in how the child's brain works. Anxiety-producing factors, such as family conflicts or disruptions, can aggravate the disorder, but they do not cause it. Correcting myths about stimulant medications for ADHD Myth: Children treated with stimulant medications will become addicted or will be more likely to abuse other drugs. Fact: Stimulant medications are not addictive when used as directed. Studies have shown that ADHD medication may actually protect teenagers and adults with ADHD against the risk of substance abuse. Myth: Children must be taken off stimulant medications by the time they become teenagers. Fact: About 80% of children who need ADHD medication will continue to need it as teenagers. Myth: Children build up a tolerance to stimulant medication. They end up needing more and more of it. Fact: While your child's ADHD medication may need to be adjusted occasionally, there's no evidence that children become tolerant to the medication or require more of it to be effective.