Despite being one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children, ADHD often goes misunderstood; leaving children and adolescents with the condition wrongly labelled as intentionally defiant, overly stubborn, or not serious enough.

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Children with ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviours, or being overly active. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.

In Rwanda, it appears that relatively few children or adults have been diagnosed with ADHD. This, according to Abi Benie Umwari, a 19-year-old Kigali resident who believes she has the condition, might be owing to persistent bias surrounding mental health issues in the country or the high cost of treatment.

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Umwari’s life has been a whirlwind of distractions, with her parents, teachers, and friends all complaining about her fleeting focus and forgetfulness. Her boundless energy has also led to occasional accidents, resulting in injuries and/or broken or lost objects.

"My mom always complains about how my attention is all over the place and how easily my mood changes. The worst part is the hyper attention on something unimportant, like when I get engrossed in a book until I finish it, even if it means not preparing for a test I may have the next day,” she explained.

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Now, Umwari is convinced she has the condition, even though she has not received a medical diagnosis.

"I was curious to know why I am the way I am, so I scoured the internet, tirelessly sifting through the information until I stumbled upon ADHD,” she continued.

When asked why she had not gone to the hospital to get an official confirmation, she said, "It’s expensive and my parents wouldn’t get it.”

According to clinical psychologist, Cindi Cassady, Umwari’s fears could be founded.

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Cassady explains ADHD as a neurodiverse or neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulty paying attention or focusing, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and following through on completing tasks.

Although the specific cause of ADHD is unknown, scientists have found a strong genetic component. "A child with ADHD is four times more likely to have a relative with ADHD and at least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth have children who have ADHD,” Dr Cassady noted.

It is also worth noting that ADHD occurs more often in males than in females, and behaviours can be different in boys and girls. For example, boys may be more hyperactive and girls may tend to be quietly inattentive.

The difficulty in knowing if a child has ADHD, Dr Cassady said, is that even healthy children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at one time or another.

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For instance, it’s typical for pre-schoolers to have short attention spans and be unable to stick with one activity for long. Even in older children and teenagers, attention span often depends on the level of interest.

The same is true of hyperactivity. Young children are naturally energetic, and some children may just naturally have a higher activity level than others do.

Hence, she advises that children should never be classified as having ADHD just because they’re different from their friends or siblings.

"Children who have problems in school but get along well at home or with friends are likely struggling with something other than ADHD. The same is true of children who are hyperactive or inattentive at home, but whose schoolwork and friendships remain unaffected,” she noted.

Dr Cassady said there is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms.

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If one is concerned about whether their child might have ADHD, the first step is to talk to a mental health professional to find out if the symptoms fit the diagnosis, which can be made by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Tips for parents with children with ADHD include specifically planning their day, setting clear boundaries, giving compliments, creating incentive schemes, intervening early, keeping social situations short, getting enough exercise, watching their diet, maintaining a bedtime routine, and seeking help from the school.

Additionally, it is advisable for adults living with ADHD to make to-do lists, exercise, find ways to relax, speak to employers or educators about support, and consider medication.