There is a lot of misinformation out there on ADHD. The most common is that parents just see their kids as hyperactive and they throw medications at them to calm them down. In addition, there is an idea that the medications for ADHD are dangerous, changing the nature and personality of the individual who takes them. As a parent of a child who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, I thought I'd add my two cents.

There are three major strains of ADHD: Inattentive (previously referred to as just ADD), hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. All three have a different set of symptoms. Inattentive is the most under-diagnosed of the three since it does not fit with what most conceptualize with ADHD. Further complications occur when parents assume that there is a set pattern for all children with ADHD.

Symptoms are listed here: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-guide-symptoms-types. If I could wave a magic wand, I'd make all teachers and parents aware of the symptoms and guidelines since they are on the front lines for realizing that an issue exists. From my years of discussing with my son's teachers, they seem to have little understanding of the issues and how they are manifest, and it wasn't until my wife came accross the symptoms in her pharmacy classes that we were aware that ADHD was a possibility.

If you suspect a possibility, talk to your pediatrician. They'll refer you to a pediatric psychologist for diagnosis. If medication is deemed an appropriate route, accept it as a possibillity. Understand the medications and their side effects. Your child's quality of life and even their relationship with you, their parents, are likely to improve. Become partners with your pediatrician and counselors to improve their quality of life. As your pediatrician will likely atest, if you're child's personality changes, you can change medication easily.

The stigma of ADHD needs to stop, and we need to be ready to recognize and address it.