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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

How common is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is very common.

It's the most common behavior problem diagnosed among school-age children in the United States.

Source:
Jensen PS.
Epidemiologic research on ADHD: What we know and what we need to learn.
Centers for Disease Control. Available at http://www.cdc.gov (accessed on 3 October 2008).

Source:
Taylor E, Sergeant J, Doepfner M, et al.
Clinical guidelines for hyperkinetic disorder.
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1998; 7: 184-200.

But it's hard to say exactly how many children have ADHD because the condition is difficult to spot.

Source:
National Institutes of Health.
Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
NIH Consensus Statement. 1998; 16(2) :1-37.

³ Also, one doctor may say a child has ADHD while another may not. So if we compare studies, the number of children said to have ADHD can be very different.

What we do know is that more children are being diagnosed with ADHD as more people get to know about it. Parents are now more likely to take their child to a doctor if he or she has behavior problems. Schools, too, are more aware of ADHD and better prepared to give you information about how your child behaves in class.

Here's what we know from the research.

It's estimated that 3 percent to 7 percent of school-age children in the United States have ADHD. That's around 2 million children.

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Epidemiologic research on ADHD: what we know and what we need to learn.
ADHD: A Public Health Perspective Conference, 2002.

⁴

Source:
National Institute of Mental Health.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
National Institute of Health. 2003. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#cause (accessed 6 October 2008).

⁵

Source:
Pastor PN, Reuben CA.
Attention deficit disorder and learning disability: United States, 1997-1998.
Vital and Health Statistics. 2002; 10: 206. 1-12.

⁶ This means that, in an average class of 30 children, there may be at least one or two children with ADHD.

Source:
National Institute of Mental Health.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
National Institute of Health. 2003. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#cause (accessed 6 October 2008).

⁵

Source:
Pastor PN, Reuben CA.
Attention deficit disorder and learning disability: United States, 1997-1998.
Vital and Health Statistics. 2002; 10: 206. 1-12.

⁶
Boys seem to be more likely to have ADHD than girls. In the United States, two to three boys are diagnosed with the condition for every girl who's diagnosed with it.

Source:
Pastor PN, Reuben CA.
Attention deficit disorder and learning disability: United States, 1997-1998.
Vital and Health Statistics. 2002; 10: 206. 1-12.

⁶ But this may be because boys and girls tend to have different symptoms.
Inattention is more common among girls, while hyperactivity is more common among boys. And a boy who is hyperactive (shouting, running about and getting into trouble) is more noticeable than a girl who is inattentive (daydreaming, forgetful and easily distracted). To learn more, see What are the symptoms of ADHD?
Children who are white are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children who are black or Hispanic.

Source:
Pastor PN, Reuben CA.
Attention deficit disorder and learning disability: United States, 1997-1998.
Vital and Health Statistics. 2002; 10: 206. 1-12.

⁶ But it is difficult to say whether white children are actually at greater risk of getting ADHD. It may be simply that they have better access to health services, so they are more likely to be diagnosed.

Sources for the information on this page:

Jensen PS.Epidemiologic research on ADHD: What we know and what we need to learn.Centers for Disease Control. Available at http://www.cdc.gov (accessed on 3 October 2008).

Taylor E, Sergeant J, Doepfner M, et al.Clinical guidelines for hyperkinetic disorder.European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1998; 7: 184-200.

National Institutes of Health.Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.NIH Consensus Statement. 1998; 16(2) :1-37.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiologic research on ADHD: what we know and what we need to learn.ADHD: A Public Health Perspective Conference, 2002.

National Institute of Mental Health.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.National Institute of Health. 2003. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#cause (accessed 6 October 2008).

Pastor PN, Reuben CA.Attention deficit disorder and learning disability: United States, 1997-1998.Vital and Health Statistics. 2002; 10: 206. 1-12.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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