Patient's question:
My child is 10 years old this year. I am someone who enjoys playing Mahjong. His father drinks every time he gets off work, so on weekends, we lock the child at home. Recently, the teacher has been calling us frequently, saying that the child has ADHD. What is ADHD? Is it intellectual disability?Doctor's answer:
Children with ADHD may exhibit symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, stubbornness, impulsivity, and learning difficulties. However, they are not mentally retarded or low-functioning individuals. On the contrary, some of them possess high talents, but due to their lack of concentration, they cannot focus on learning, resulting in lower academic performance compared to their peers. This can create a false impression of "stupidity," leading them to be mistakenly perceived as intellectually impaired, and in some cases, children are even sent to special schools for low-functioning students. Therefore, children with ADHD are not intellectually impaired, and it is crucial not to misunderstand them.