ADHD cases are up. 7 million U.S. kids have gotten a diagnosis, study finds : Shots

Approximately 1 in 9 children between the ages of 3 and 17 in the United States is diagnosed with ADHD. new report A Call from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder “A growing public health concern.”

Researchers found that 7.1 million children and adolescents in the United States will have a diagnosis of ADHD in 2022. This is 1 million more people than in 2016. The spike in diagnoses was not surprising, given that the data was collected during the pandemic, says Melissa Danielson. is a statistician at the CDC National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the study’s lead author.

She points out that other studies have found that many children have experienced increased stress, depression and anxiety during the pandemic. “Many of these diagnoses may be the result of the child being evaluated for another diagnosis, such as anxiety or depression, and the clinician determining that the child also has ADHD,” Danielson says.

The increase in diagnoses comes amid growing awareness of ADHD and the different ways it manifests in children, which Danielson says may help explain why girls are being diagnosed with ADHD more than boys than in the past. Boys have long been diagnosed with ADHD at about 2.5 times the rate of girls, she said, but the new report finds that the gap is narrowing.

Decades ago, Danielson said, ADHD was thought of as a juvenile hyperactivity disorder. “Boys often had hyperactive or impulsive ADHD, running into the road, jumping off things, and other behaviors that made them more susceptible to injury,” she said.

“Girls tend to exhibit ADHD in a more inattentive way. They may daydream, have trouble concentrating, or be hyper-focused on certain tasks that don’t require them to focus,” Danielson says.

The research published in Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, was based on data from National Children’s Health SurveyDetailed information will be collected from parents.

The number of children diagnosed with ADHD has increased since 2016, but only about half of them are taking medication to treat it, according to the report. In 2016, two-thirds of children were taking medication. Although the data does not examine why, Danielson notes that reports of ADHD drug shortages began around the time the data were collected.

Dr. Max Wisnitzer A professor of pediatric neurology at Case Western Reserve University said some parents may be reluctant to put their children on ADHD medications out of misplaced concerns. “There’s a myth that it’s addictive, but it’s actually not,” he says. Studies have shown that people who are treated for ADHD don’t have an increased risk of substance abuse, he says.

Wisnitzer said medication is important because it can help children concentrate by controlling symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention. However, treating ADHD also requires therapy that can teach children and their parents behavioral and educational strategies to manage the condition. “It’s always his two-pronged approach,” he says. He takes issue with the report’s finding that fewer than half of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD receive some form of behavioral treatment.

The report also found that about 78 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD also had at least one other diagnosed disorder, the most common being behavioral or conduct problems, anxiety and developmental delays. Autism and depression were also frequently observed, Danielson said.

Children with ADHD are Increased riskIt can lead to other symptoms such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, and if left untreated, ADHD can Risk of serious health concernsWisnitzer said increasing awareness and diagnosis is important because it increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease in adulthood and shortens life expectancy.

Danielson said parents can also find information about treatments and services. CHADD — Children and Adults with ADHDa nonprofit resource organization for which Wisnitzer serves on the advisory board.

Parents seeking treatment for their children should start by talking to their pediatrician, he says.

This article was edited by Jane Greenhalgh.