ADHD Statistics
How Much Do You Really Know About ADHD?
The Centers For Disease Control (2006) cites the following ADHD statistics:
* Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects boys at three to six times the rate of girls, but it may be under diagnosed in girls.
* Parents of children with a history of ADHD report almost 3 times as many peer problems as those without a history of ADHD (21.1% vs. 7.3%).
* Parents report that children with a history of ADHD are almost 10 times as likely to have difficulties that interfere with friendships (20.6% vs. 2.0%). Strained peer relationships are a common challenge for children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
* Children with ADHD, compared to children without ADHD, were more likely to have major injuries (59% vs. 49%), more hospital inpatient visits (26% vs. 18%), more hospital outpatient visits (41% vs. 33%), and more emergency department admissions (81% vs. 74%).
* Data from international samples suggest that young people with high levels of attentional difficulties are at greater risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash, drinking and driving, and traffic violations.
* ADHD statistics about the economic cost of ADHD claim that the annual societal ‘‘cost of illness’’ for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is estimated to be between $36 and $52 billion, in 2005 dollars.
* Attention Defici Hyperactivity Disorder creates a significant financial burden regarding the cost of medical care and work loss for patients and family members. The annual average direct cost for each per ADHD patient was $1,574, compared to $541 among matched controls.
* Across 10 countries, it was projected that ADHD was associated with 143.8 million lost days of productivity each year. Most of this loss can be attributed to ADHD and not co-occurring conditions.
* Workers with ADHD were more likely to have at least one sick day in the past month compared to workers without ADHD.
More ADHD Statistics
In a large analysis conducted from 2004-2006 that included 23,051 children aged 6-17, the US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found:
* About 5% of children had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) without a Learning Disorder.
* 5% of the childre surveyed had LD without ADHD.
* 4% of children surveyed had both conditions.
* Boys were more likely than girls to have a diagnosis of ADHD, ADHD without LD, LD, or LD without ADHD, or both conditions.
* Children age 12-17 were more likely than children 6-11 years of age to have each of the diagnoses.
* Racial disparities: Hispanic children were less likely than non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black children to have ADHD (with and without LD).
* Children with Medicaid coverage were more likely than uninsured children and privately insured children to be diagnosed with LD or ADHD.
* Compared to children without LD or ADHD, children with a diagnosis of ADHD or LD were more likely to suffer from other health conditions.
* Children with ADHD were more likely than children without ADHD to have contact with a mental health professionals, prescription medication, and have more frequent health care visits.
* Children diagnosed with a Learning Disorder (LD) were more likely than children without LD to use special education services.