There is a misconception that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be caused by eating too many sweets or bad parenting. Our kids could do better in school if they just tried harder or were more disciplined. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I have been guilty of saying, “Why can’t you just…” to my ADHD son. Why can’t you just clean your room, start your homework, put your bike away. This was before I understood ADHD as a brain-based disorder. So, what’s going on in a brain that my ADHD son describes as an overstuffed garbage can the lid doesn’t stay on, and everything is falling out all over the floor?

ADHD occurs in approximately 4 to 7 percent of children in the United States, making it one of the most common neurobiological disorders. Neuroimaging studies suggest a possible difference between the structure and function of the brain in individuals with ADHD compared to those without ADHD, including differences in the size of some brain structures (Faraone et al., 2021; Santos da Silva, 2022).

The underlying neurobiology associated with ADHD is thought to result from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, likely lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine (for a review see Santos da Silva, 2022). Brain-imaging studies show dopamine-rich areas of the brain, like the frontal cortex, are affected in ADHD. Further evidence to support the role of dopamine in ADHD is the use of psychomotor........

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