ADHD Diagnoses on the Rise in the US: A Closer Look
Approximately one in nine children in the United States have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at some point, according to recent data from various sources.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Survey of Children's Health estimate that 7.1 million children in the US aged 3-17 had an ADHD diagnosis in 2022. This represents a significant increase compared to the previous survey conducted in 2016, which reported approximately 6.1 million children with ADHD.
The rise in diagnoses can be attributed to several factors, including increased awareness and understanding of the condition, as well as more available treatments for managing its symptoms.
One study published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology found that children living in households with lower education levels and income had a higher prevalence of diagnosed ADHD than those with more education and income. Prevalence was also higher for children living in the Northeast, Midwest, or South compared to those living in the West and for children living in rural or suburban areas compared to children living in urban areas.
Another study published by MedicalXpress highlighted that Hispanic children and children from non-English speaking households had a lower prevalence of taking ADHD medication than non-Hispanic children and those from primarily English-speaking homes, respectively. A higher prevalence of children with both public and private insurance were taking ADHD medication than children with private insurance only.
Children living in the Midwest and South were more likely to be taking ADHD medication compared to those in the West.
Doctors, parents, teachers, and kids are becoming more aware of ADHD symptoms, making cases easier to identify. Additionally, there are now more treatments available for managing the condition's symptoms. According to Melissa Danielson at the CDC and her colleagues,
