If your child has recently seen a pediatric neurologist and been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may have concerns based on things you’ve heard about this condition.

Some people go as far as to claim that ADHD isn’t real, but instead a sign of bad parenting or bad character. Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. Here are five myths about ADHD you may have heard.

1. ADHD Isn’t a Real Disorder

Medical, psychological and educational organizations in the United States and around the world recognize ADHD as a medical diagnosis. It’s a biologically-based condition that affects a child’s neurological system.

2. Bad Parenting Causes ADHD

ADHD can affect both boys and girls. The disorder makes it difficult for a child to control his or her impulses. This behavior should be treated with professional help. Attempting to correct ADHD with strict parenting could make its symptoms worse.

3. ADHD Medication Leads to Addiction

Stimulant medications may be prescribed to a child to help manage their ADHD. These medications do not cause addiction in patients who take them. However, having untreated ADHD can increase the risk that a child will abuse drugs or alcohol later in life.

4. Children With ADHD Eventually Outgrow It

The medical community considered ADHD a childhood disorder until the early 1990s. ADHD is now recognized as a condition that can continue to affect people into adulthood and throughout their lives.

5. Children With ADHD Just Need to Try Harder

Having ADHD turns many normal activities into difficulties your child must master. Though a child with ADHD must work hard to overcome their condition, it must also be treated and monitored by a pediatric neurologist or other medical professionals.