Prevalence Rates of ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD / ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), estimates that between 3% and 5% of preschool and school-age children have ADHD or approximately two million children in the United States. This means in a class of 25 to 30 students, it is likely that at least one student will have this common condition.
The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Revised Text) estimates a slightly higher percentage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide additional numbers:
As of 2003:
- Approximately 4.4 million children ages 4 to 17 were reported to have a history of ADHD diagnosis.
- Of these, 2.5 million (56%) were reported to be taking medication for the disorder.
- Per parental report, 7.8% of school age children have ADHD.
ADHD begins in childhood, but it often lasts into adulthood. Studies estimate that 30 percent to 70 percent of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms into adolescence and adulthood.
The NIMH publishes a report called “The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America”. The 2006 report gives the following statistics:
ADHD, one of the most common mental health disorders in childhood and adolescents, also affects an estimated 4.1 percent of adults, ages 18 to 44, in a given year. ADHD usually becomes evident in preschool or early elementary years. The median age of onset of ADHD is seven years, although the disorder can persist into adolescence and adulthood.
Males are approximately 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as compared to females. Some believe this is because females tend to have more of the inattentive symptoms as opposed to the hyperactive and impulsive symptoms that are more disruptive and noticeable, thereby receive more attention.
Sources:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) DSM-IV. Washington, D.C. 2000.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Prevalence of Diagnosis and Medication Treatment for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: United States, 2003.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Mental Health in the United States. 54(34);842-847. 02 Sept. 2005.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?” National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. 20 Sept. 2005.
National Institute of Mental Health. "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. 2006.
National Institute of Mental Health. "The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America." Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. 2006.
