Although it is most often diagnosed in childhood, ADHD can affect people of any age. Since it can disrupt a person’s daily functioning, it is also considered to be a disability. But is ADHD a developmental disability, learning disability, intellectual disability, or all three?

If you suspect your child may have ADHD, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis first. The team at Family First Adolescent Services can assess your child and customize a treatment plan that will help them manage the challenges of ADHD. To learn more about our ADHD treatment for teens, reach out at 888.904.5947 or fill out our online form today.

Discussing Disabilities

The word “disability” carries a lot of weight. You might feel uncomfortable saying your child has a disability. That’s because words have a lot of power, especially when they’re spoken out loud or written for others to see. Having a disability does not mean that there is something wrong with your child. It doesn’t mean that they can’t care for themselves. It doesn’t mean that they can’t adapt and thrive.

A disability is any condition affecting the body or mind that makes it more difficult to do certain activities and interact with the world.¹ If your teen has ADHD, you’ve probably noticed the challenges they face at school, at home, or just out in the world. Shifting your perspective—along with those of your children and others you communicate with—about what a disability is can actually help provide support to people with disabilities of all types.

Is ADHD a Developmental Disability?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines developmental disabilities as conditions that begin during the developmental period and impact a person’s learning, behavioral, language, or physical capabilities.²

Unlike disabilities that typically develop in adulthood, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer’s, developmental disabilities usually manifest during infancy or childhood. Some common examples of developmental disabilities include cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Using this definition, you can see how ADHD symptoms align with this type of disability:

• ADHD can impact a person’s ability to learn since they struggle with inattention and following instructions.
• ADHD impulsivity can influence a person’s behavior, making them more likely to act before thinking and engage in risky behaviors.
• ADHD can impact a person physically through hyperactivity and an inability to sit still.
• A person is usually born with ADHD or develops it during childhood, although they may not be diagnosed with it until later in life.

ADHD fits the definition of a developmental disability and is recognized as such by the CDC and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, some entities, such as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, consider ADHD to be a neurobehavioral or neurodevelopmental disorder instead.

Children with ADHD May Also Have a Learning Disability

Developmental disabilities can impact a person’s ability to learn but are somewhat different from learning disabilities. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, learning disabilities affect one’s reading, mathematics, and oral and written language skills.³

Although ADHD is not considered a learning disability, many people with this condition have co-occurring learning disabilities. Dyslexia and auditory processing disorder are two of the most common types of learning disabilities that occur with ADHD.

ADHD Is Not an Intellectual Disability

As per the Center for Parent Information & Resources, an intellectual disability refers to limitations in one’s communication and social skills, mental functioning, and ability to care for oneself. Tourette syndrome and Down syndrome are two examples of intellectual disabilities.⁴

ADHD is not classified as an intellectual disability. Instead, ADHD and intellectual disabilities are different types of developmental disabilities and often occur alongside one another.

Celebrating Neurodiversity at Family First

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that’s also often referred to as a disability. But it’s also a unique part of your teen that influences everything they do. We help teens with ADHD learn to navigate a neurotypical world through specialized treatment at our Palm Beach Gardens, FL, center. Find support for your teen and family by calling 888.904.5947 or contacting us online.

Footnotes:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Disability and Health Overview
2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Developmental Disability Basics
3. Learning Disabilities of America – Core Principles: What are Learning Disabilities?
4. Center for Parent Information & Resources – Intellectual Disability