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Chase Bush

Professor Rebecca Morean

English 1201

21 October 2021

How does ADHD put an individual at a greater disadvantage than a normal person?

ADHD is one of the most prevalent disorders amongst children. Some of the symptoms of

this neurological disorder include having difficulty paying attention, short term memory loss, and

constant daydreaming. While there is a variety of medication that intends to battle this disorder, it

can be difficult finding the one that works the best for the individual. Scientists have researched

this issue for a while and have found out that this disorder can be inherited from genetics or could

be developed later on in life. Although medication can help deal with ADHD, how does this

neurological disorder affect an individual’s everyday life compared to a person without ADHD?

ADHD, a neurological disorder that is common in society, is complicated to battle.

Children diagnosed with this disorder experience symptoms such as daydreaming, talking too

much, and taking careless risks. While the cause of ADHD is not certain, researchers tend to think

heredity plays a factor in the development of this disorder: “The causes and risks factors for

ADHD are unknown, but current research shows that genetics plays an important role” (para 6,

CDC). While ADHD usually lasts into adulthood, treatment is provided to individuals with this

disorder. Behavior therapy and medication are common treatments for this disorder, but developing

healthy habits is also effective in coping with ADHD. However, there are adults that could not

have been diagnosed and have difficulty performing daily tasks. The symptoms may be more

intense and prevent them from finishing the task at hand: “The symptoms can cause difficulty at
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work, at home, or with relationships” (para 14, CDC). The CDC in this article shows how ADHD

can limit a person from being successful in life and accomplishing their everyday tasks.

Researchers have found that children with this neurological disorder have a poor quality of

life. Studies have been conducted showing how ADHD has a powerful impact on certain aspects

of life. Evidence has also acknowledged the relationship between ADHD and the quality of life:

“In an Icelandic study of 369 university students, aged 18-53 years, a negative relationship was

found between global life satisfaction, ADHD symptoms, and associated problems, such as

emotional and social functioning” (para 3, ADHD Institute). The article also outlines the impacts

that ADHD has on education and relationships. In the educational aspect, studies have found that

students with this disorder become frustrated easily, make careless mistakes on assignments, and

have difficulty following orders. An individual with ADHD might have trouble with their home

life: “An Australian study reported poorer family functioning in children, aged 6-9 years, with

ADHD, compared with children without ADHD” (para 7, ADHD Institute). This article is a good

source for my research question since it shows statistics of studies conducted and outlines the

disadvantages experienced by individuals with this disorder.

Many people overlook this disorder and do not understand how it impacts overall

functioning and development. Difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are three constant

patterns that are centered around ADHD. People with this disorder have more intense symptoms

than people without ADHD. Short term memory is one of the main symptoms of inattention: “Be

forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, returning calls, and keeping appointments”

(Para 15, NIMH). While inattention is one of the main pillars of this neurological disorder,

hyperactivity also plays a big role in ADHD. Hyperactivity symptoms include fidgeting, constantly
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interrupting others during conversations, and having difficulty staying seated during class.

Researchers have found that individuals with ADHD have other disorders as well: “People with

ADHD often have other conditions, such as learning disabilities, anxiety disorder, conduct

disorder, depression, and substance abuse” (para 30, NIMH). In this article, the National Institute

of Mental Health is a very credible source that describes the three main factors involved with this

ongoing disorder and explains how other disorders may be linked to ADHD.

In a span of twenty years, suicide rates amongst children have been thought to be linked

with ADHD. Researchers have found that the leading death of adolescents is suicide. It has also

been found that children with this disorder have a greater chance of committing suicide: “In

addition, ADHD has recently been found to be the most common mental disorder for children

under the age of 12 who die by suicide” (Bauer 180). While there is no direct link between suicide

and ADHD, there have been certain effects from this disorder that contribute to suicidal behavior.

There are negative effects that ADHD has on a person. For instance, some people could be

annoyed or exhibit emotions of anger: “At the group level, children with ADHD are more likely to

be irritable and have difficulty regulating negative emotions than their typically-developing peers”

(Bauer 180). This source has many statistics and includes a study trying to show the negative

impact that ADHD has on children.

Many different studies have been conducted on ADHD, but a recent study indicated that

the rates of ADHD diagnosis are increasing in children. This discovery has provided further

knowledge on the impact that ADHD has on children and adults. Statistics have shown that

ADHD has a very big impact on mental health: “In 2017, about 2.4 million commercially insured

American children were diagnosed with this condition, climbing more than 30% over the past eight
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years. This makes ADHD- commonly characterized by difficulty paying attention, poor impulse

control and excessive activity- the second most impactful health condition on children’s health in

the U.S.” (para 3, Kopf). ADHD rates amongst children have gotten worse and continue to affect

their behavior. Although there is not a proven relationship between behavioral disorders and

ADHD, individuals with ADHD are often diagnosed with a behavioral disorder: “About 4 in 10

children with ADHD are also diagnosed with at least one behavioral health disorder, and in middle

and high school depression and anxiety diagnoses rise sharply” (para 8, Kopf). This newspaper

gives certain statistics about ADHD and is reliable, which qualifies as a good source for my

research paper.

This disorder affects memory which negatively impacts a person’s performance in school

and their ability to function. From the study in the article, it was concluded that individuals can

experience a deficit in cognitive abilities, which are necessary for planning: “The cognitive

difficulties experienced by individuals with ADHD stem from a deficit in executive functions,

which are the mental capacities necessary to formulate, plan and perform the required actions to

reach an objective” (para 2, Bigorra). The experiment was proving that ADHD impacted certain

cognitive skills that are necessary for development in life. Although there have been training

programs to enhance a person’s cognitive abilities, these programs are not fully effective. The

article “Long-term far-transfer effects of working memory training in children with ADHD: a

randomized controlled trial” provides great insight into how this neurological disorder affects

cognitive functions of the brain and can lead me to the possible answer of my research question.

While this neurological disorder has a negative impact, it also can have a positive impact on

children. There has been evidence showing that people with ADHD can experience positive
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effects and still be able to live a good life. People have claimed that ADHD can counteract the

negative emotions that it produces and even strengthen a person’s character. Although this disorder

has been known to produce negative emotions and irrational behavior, there has been studies that

show how this disorder can counteract these problems: “High levels of PA [positive affect] in

youth with ADHD might act as they do in other populations, serving to protect against

development of emotional and behavioral problems” (Okado 2955). This article is accurate and

credible since there has been a study explained in the article that was conducted to prove ADHD

can have a positive effect on an individual.

ADHD has been a problem for a long time, especially for children. The disorder can cause

a person to perform poorly in school, at their job, and at daily tasks in life. While some people

might have difficulty paying attention, a person with ADHD experiences those symptoms more

intensely. ADHD can also lead to developing behavioral disorders and trouble functioning in

society. It has been shown that ADHD impacts a person’s cognitive abilities in a negative way.

Although I am not sure what my final answer is to my research question, these articles have given

me a better understanding of the effects that ADHD has on a person. One possible answer is that a

person with ADHD has trouble paying attention and a deficit of their cognitive abilities which is

necessary in life. Therefore, this lack of cognitive abilities and development of different disorders

along with ADHD puts a person at a greater disadvantage than a person with a healthy mental

state.
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Works Cited

Bauer, Brian W, et al. “Working Memory Mediates Increased Negative Affect and Suicidal

Ideation in Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Journal of

Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June

2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.n

Bigorra, Aitana, et al. “Long-Term Far-Transfer Effects of Working Memory Training in Children

with ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,

vol. 25, no. 8, 2015, pp. 853–867., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0804-3.

“Impact of ADHD.” ADHD Institute, 15 Mar. 2021,

https://adhd-institute.com/burden-of-adhd/impact-of-adhd/.

Kopf, Abbie. “Story from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: A New Report Shows That

Diagnosis Rates for ADHD Have Risen 30% in 8 Years.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 1 Apr. 2019,

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/blue-cross-blue-shield-association/2019/03/2

9/new-report-shows-diagnosis-rates-adhd-have-risen-30-8-years/3309871002/.

NIMH " Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services,

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd.

Okado, Izumi, and C. Mueller. “The Relationship between Child-Reported Positive Affect and

Parent-Reported Emotional and Behavioral Problems in ADHD Youth: Semantic Scholar.”

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Undefined, 1 Jan. 1970,

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Relationship-Between-Child-Reported-Positive

-in-Okado-Mueller/9a9079c7f33d268b5e707cd7fea6dff6e32bff83.

“Other Concerns and Conditions with ADHD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Sept. 2021,

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/conditions.html.