What is ADHD?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by having the symptoms of having a hard time concentrating, being hyperactive or restless, and being impulsive and finding it hard to wait for someone’s turn.
ADHD Statistics
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control in 2022 revealed that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses have risen to a million more children in 2016. This is further corroborated by a study published on the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology in May 2024 which highlights data from the National Survey on Children’s Health (NSCH) that 1 in 9 children have received an ADHD diagnosis which translates to 7.1 million children (Danielson, 2024). What this means is that ADHD is more common than one thinks it is.
A study published on the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology further revealed that 6.5 million children have current ADHD diagnosis. Of the 6.5 million children, 58.1% had moderate or severe ADHD, 77.9% had at least one co-occurring disorder, 53.6% received ADHD medication, 44.4% had received ADHD treatment in the past year, and 30.1% did not receive an ADHD-specific treatment. What this data suggests is that more than half of children diagnosed with ADHD have moderate or severe lived condition of ADHD.
ADHD Statistics by Gender
According to Statista, 14.5% of children who have ADHD are male, while 8% are female. The Center for Disease Control released a statistic which underscores the increase to 15.6% in 2024 of male children, aged 3-7 years who have ADHD. Girls who have ADHD are at 8.2% more in 2024. Additionally, the total number of children diagnosed as of 2024 is 12%.
ADHD Statistic by Age
The Center for Disease control breaks down data from their National Interview Health Survey which highlight the prevalence of ADHD among children ages 5-17 years old at 11.3%, with boys having a high prevalence than girls at this age group. Children 5-11 years old were less likely to have ADHD than children aged 12-17 years old.
ADHD Statistics by Race and Ethnicity
The same data revealed that among children ages 5-17 years old, 13.4% of white non-Hispanic were more likely to have ADHD. Furthermore, Black non-Hispanic account for 10.8% of children with ADHD, and 8.9% are Hispanic children. What this data suggest is that there’s a high prevalence of ADHD amongst white non-Hispanic children.
ADHD Statistics by Poverty Level and Ethnicity
In the same CDC statistic, it was revealed that children residing in households with incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level which is pegged at 18.7% showed a higher likelihood of having been diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability compared to those living in households at or above 100% of the federal poverty threshold which is at 12.7%. This pattern is consistent across all racial and ethnic groups.
Among children in families below the federal poverty level, non-Hispanic White (24.6%) and non-Hispanic Black (20.2%) children demonstrated higher rates of diagnosis relative to Hispanic children (14.1%). A similar trend was observed among children in families at or above the federal poverty level, where non-Hispanic White (13.7%) and non-Hispanic Black (15.2%) children were more likely to have been diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability than their Hispanic counterparts (10.9%).
What To Do When You or Someone You Know is Diagnosed with ADHD
With the right treatment, ADHD can be managed. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are several treatment types to manage ADHD. Some of these include behavior therapy where parents are included in the therapy so they get to manage the condition at home, and the use of medications via stimulants or non-stimulants.
For children aged 6 and older, treatment usually works best with a combination of medication and behavior therapy. There are other factors that also influence and affect management of a person’s lived reality of having an ADHD. Schools, for one, play an important role in encouraging acceptance amongst peers, and guiding the child so they could learn best. Furthermore, a strong support system like a community that has mental health awareness and encourages children, and even adults, to be themselves, would greatly help families who have one or two family members with an ADHD. It takes a village to raise a child, or a person, so they say.
References
13News Now. (2024, February 23). Despite troubling new data, there’s hope for millions living with ADHD. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiPRCEYOgS4
CDC. (2024, November 19). Data and statistics on ADHD. Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
CDC. (2024, May 16). Treatment of ADHD. Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/index.html
Godoy, M. (2024, May 23). ADHD diagnoses are rising. 1 in 9 U.S. kids have gotten one, new study finds. NPR; NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/05/23/1252941968/adhd-diagnoses-are-rising-1-in-9-u-s-kids-have-gotten-one-new-study-finds
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). www.nimh.nih.gov; National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
