The number of U.S. kids diagnosed with ADHD is increasing, researchers report About 1 in 9 kids have ever been diagnosed with ADHD Only slightly fewer currently have ADHD THURSDAY, May 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- About 1 in 9 American children have ever received an ADHD diagnosis, slightly more than the number of kids currently being treated for the disorder, a new study shows.
About 7.1 million kids (11.4%) have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, according to findings published May 23 in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology .
Incidence appears to be rising: Approximately 1 million more children ages 3 to 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than in 2016, researchers found. About 6.5 million children (10.
5%) currently live with ADHD, or about 93% of those who’ve ever been diagnosed, researchers found. Among kids currently dealing with ADHD, about 58% have moderate or severe ADHD and 78% have at least one other disorder, results show. Nearly 54% of current ADHD patients have been prescribed medication for the disorder, and 44% have received behavioral treatment in the past year, researchers found.
However, nearly one in three kids (30%) haven’t received any ADHD-specific treatment, results show. ADHD is more common in the United States than in other countries, the researchers found. For the study, researchers analyzed more than 45,000 interviews conducted as part of the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health.
“Public awareness of ADHD has changed .
