Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, was originally thought of as a disorder of childhood.

And for many people, the image that comes to mind when they think of ADHD is an eight-year-old boy who can't sit still in class.

But in recent decades, scientists have gained a more sophisticated understanding of the causes of ADHD and have begun to realize that it can be a lifelong

disorder with lifelong consequences. Estimates of the prevalence of ADHD vary, but data from

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2019, 8.8% of all children, ages

3 to 17, had ever received a diagnosis of ADHD. That prevalence has risen fairly steadily

since the 1990s. How has our understanding of ADHD changed over those years? What do we know

about how it looks in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood? Is it possible to develop ADHD as an

adult? What are the most effective treatments?

And how has the pandemic affected children and adults with a disorder?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

Our guest today is Dr. Maggie Sibley, a clinical psychologist at Seattle Children's Hospital,

and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Dr. Sibley's work focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adolescents and young adults.

She's developed a treatment therapy called Stand,

supporting teens autonomy daily to help teens with ADHD and their parents.

She's also co-authored more than 75 scientific papers on ADHD,

including a recent study that found for most people diagnosed as children,

ADHD symptoms continue into adulthood. Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Sibley.

I'm happy to be here.

Let's start with the basics.

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