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WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- A national campaign has been launched to increase awareness of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to dispel common myths that surround the disorder.
Through the initiative, the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) group plans to engage politicians, the media, educators, the medical community and the public through a national public service campaign, Congressional briefings and one-on-one meetings.
"The volume of real science about ADHD is immense. Unfortunately, junk science and misinformation have increasingly dominated public discussions about ADHD, causing confusion in the minds of many," E. Clarke Ross, chief executive officer of CHADD, says in a news release.
"By reverting the focus to legitimate science, the ADHD Education Initiative aims to clear up any confusion surrounding the disorder and works to get people the help they need," Ross says.
ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that affects 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children. It's characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattention and, in some cases, hyperactivity. Until recently, it was believed children with ADHD outgrew the disorder in adolescence.
But it's now recognized the disorder persists through adolescence and many symptoms continue into adulthood. It's estimated that 2 percent to 4 percent of adults have ADHD.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about ADHD.
