ABSTRACT
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood developmental disorders and one of the easiest to recognize. Categorical diagnostic tools are regularly used by pediatricians and psychologists, and yet growth in our understanding has led to the recognition that ADHD is an umbrella term that covers many different subtypes and manifestations. Executive functions assessment is critical to differentiating between “can’t” versus “doesn’t,” and evaluations must be multidimensional for this spectrum of disorders, tied to our growing understanding of the brain’s interacting networks of systems. Treatment, likewise, should not follow a one-size-fits-all strategy and requires broad thinking beyond medication alone.
