Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopment disorders among children. About 1 in 9 children in the U.S., between the ages of 3 and 17, have been diagnosed with ADHD. That’s according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder an “expanding public health concern.”
Researchers found that in 2022, 7.1 million kids and adolescents in the U.S. had received an ADHD diagnosis – a million more children than in 2016. That jump in diagnoses was not surprising, given that the data was collected during the pandemic, says Melissa Danielson, a statistician with the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the study’s lead author.
She notes that other studies have found that many children experienced heightened stress, depression and anxiety during the pandemic. “A lot of those diagnoses… might have been the result of a child being assessed for a different diagnosis, something like anxiety or depression, and their clinician identifying that the child also had ADHD,” Danielson says.
The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they’re usually noticeable before the age of six. They occur in more than one situation, such as at home and at school.
Children who are diagnosed with ADHD may have symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity and impulsiveness, or they may have symptoms of just one of these types of behaviors.
The main signs of inattentiveness are:
- having a short attention span and being easily distracted
- making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
- appearing forgetful or losing things
- being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
- appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- constantly changing activity or task
- having difficulty organizing tasks
The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:
- being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
- constantly fidgeting
- being unable to concentrate on tasks
- excessive physical movement
- excessive talking
- being unable to wait their turn
- acting without thinking
- interrupting conversations
- little or no sense of danger
These symptoms can cause significant problems in a child’s life, such as underachievement at school, poor social interaction with other children and adults, and problems with discipline.
For parents who are concerned about their child who is showing some of the signs of ADHD, it is important to note that it takes significant time for a diagnosis. If you have that concern you may want to speak with a medical professional or a specialist to have your child assessed. Once assessed and diagnosed there is usually a blend of medication and therapy to help with the symptoms. It is important to become a knowledgeable parent on the latest research, attend parent groups, join on-line groups and walk through the process carefully with both the professional team and school staff who may also offer help for your child. Being attuned to and aware of how your child adapts to their ADHD symptoms is essential. With a caring team you hopefully will find a healthy process for them to find the help they need to minimize the impact of ADHD and be able to adapt to their life circumstances successfully.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
