A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that around 1 in 9 US children have been diagnosed with ADHD at a certain point.
The study specifically found in 2022 that seven million children between three and 17 years of age have received an ADHD diagnosis previously. This figure shows a one-million increase from 2016.
ADHD Prevalence
The study also found that 6.5 million children, equivalent to 10.5%, had current ADHD in 2022. Such findings were noted in the "ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment" study.
For the children who had current ADHD, it was found that 58.1% of them had severe or moderate ADHD. Moreover, 77.9% were also observed to have at least one co-occurring condition.
The co-occurring disorders included behavioral issues, such as depression and anxiety, and developmental issues, such as speech delay or learning disability.
Roughly half of the children are taking medications for their condition. Almost 45% were also observed to receive behavioral treatment the year before. Only over 30% did not receive any ADHD treatment.
Such study estimates could aid in helping clinicians observe ADHD symptoms and children who do not receive treatment.
Why ADHD Could Be on the Rise
Child psychologist Dr. Tasha M. Brown, who is also the founder of TMB Psych Services, said that the findings did not come as a surprise to her.
Brown shared that given the growing conversations regarding mental health and ADHD symptoms, caregivers and parents could be more aware of what they must observe. They also appear to be reaching out for help sooner rather than later.
Statistician Melissa Danielson from the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities of the CDC also says that the rising prevalence could be attributed to the higher mental toll brought about by the pandemic. She shared that several diagnoses could have resulted from assessment for other diagnoses.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD, which stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that covers hyperactivity, attention difficulty, and impulsiveness. It usually starts in childhood and may go on into adulthood.
A child who has ADHD may typically daydream, lose or forget things, excessively talk, fidget or squirm, find it hard to get along with others, make careless mistakes, or find it hard to take turns.
At times, teachers and parents observe ADHD signs when a child is still young. However, it is also normal for very young children to be impulsive, impatient, restless, and distracted. All of these do not automatically mean that the child has ADHD.
As children grow, their self-control, activity, and attention develop gradually. However, there are some children who do not improve in listening, settling down, waiting, or paying attention. If such things persist and lead to school, home, or social problems, it is possible for the child to be dealing with ADHD.
The authors of the recent study also noted that children who have ADHD have a higher likelihood of experiencing poor health outcomes when they enter adulthood. These include accidental injury, chronic illness, and obesity.
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