ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people manage attention, effort, behaviour, emotions, and time. These challenges are rooted in executive functioning—the brain’s self-management system.
According to The Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in Canada, affecting 5-7% of children.
The DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by psychologists and physicians, describes three main types of ADHD:
In reality, ADHD is a more complex condition. Symptoms can shift with age and setting—at home, school, or with friends. Some individuals may not appear hyperactive but struggle with motivation, time management, or emotional regulation.
ADHD presents differently in everyone and can evolve over time. It might look like distractibility, restlessness, difficulty making and sustaining friendships, emotional outbursts, trouble managing schoolwork and responsibilities, or challenges with initiating and maintaining focus on tasks.
There are multiple ways to assess for ADHD. The right ADHD assessment type and method depends on your child’s symptoms, needs and any other areas of concern.
Recommended treatments and therapy for ADHD depend on your child’s unique profile and your treatment goals. Therapy can help your child develop skills in emotional regulation, organization, and managing daily routines, while also building resilience and confidence. Effective support often includes a combination of strategies and therapies tailored to your child’s needs.
ADHD medications, which are a common ADHD treatment, are designed to help manage symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation by supporting the brain’s natural chemistry.
People with ADHD often have lower levels of certain neurotransmitters, which play key roles in areas like attention, motivation, and organization and planning. When these levels are imbalanced, it can be harder for children to focus, control impulses, and manage emotions. There are a number of different medications that can help manage these imbalances.
ADHD is understood as a disorder of executive functioning. These brain-based skills help individuals plan, prioritize, manage emotions, and get things done. When these systems are underdeveloped, daily tasks can feel overwhelming.
Emotional dysregulation is a core feature of ADHD. Kids with ADHD often experience intense emotions and may struggle to manage feelings such as frustration, disappointment, and anxiety. These challenges are linked to deficits in executive functioning, particularly in areas responsible for emotional control and self-regulation.
Occupational therapists and child psychologists can help children and teens better understand and manage their emotions.
ADHD can make social interactions more challenging. People who struggle with social communication may have difficulty reading social cues, navigating unstructured play, or expressing themselves clearly in social settings. These difficulties often stem from challenges with impulse control, emotional regulation, flexible thinking, and language—skills closely tied to executive functioning.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) trained in social communication work with children to build the foundational skills that support meaningful social connection.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting a child with ADHD. Strategies are most helpful when they’re personalized to a child’s strengths, challenges, and environment. Often, it takes time, trial and error, and support from professionals to determine what works best.
Symptoms may be noticed as early as preschool, but diagnosis typically becomes clearer once school demands increase.
No, though they can co-occur. ADHD and Autism are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions with overlapping traits in some individuals.
Meltdowns in kids with ADHD often stem from difficulty with emotional regulation. They may escalate quickly and take longer to resolve than typical frustration responses.
