Is Adhd A Mental Illness Or Disability? A Review By Doctors
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder image
Expert opinion from Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Strictly speaking attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is neither a mental illness nor disability. Attention problems include daydreaming, difficulty focusing and being easily distracted. Hyperactivity refers to fidgeting or restlessness. A person with the disorder may be disruptive or impulsive, may have trouble in relationships and may be accident-prone. Hyperactivity and impulsiveness often improve as a person matures, but attention problems tend to last into adulthood. Children with ADHD are more likely to have learning issues.
Expert opinion from Marcelle Freire
Doctor of Medicine · 3 years of experience · Brazil
ADHD is a psychomotor developmental disorder that courses with symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity, with impacts in different areas of the child’s relationship life. It is not considered a mental illness, but a disorder, a developmental disorder, being treated as a disability in the US.
→ Learn more about adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.
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Expert opinion from Shaheen Bin Hameed
Doctor of Medicine (MBBS) · 9 years of experience · India
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is the most common mental disorder in children. It is characterized by excessive impulsivity and hyperactivity.
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