How Common is ADHD?

In a world of social media, it may seem that ADHD is extremely common. However, the reality of how many people actually have ADHD may surprise you. In this article, we will discuss the prevalence of ADHD and debunk some misconceptions.

The Facts

Children with ADHD

According to a study conducted by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)…

The estimated number of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD, according to a national survey of parents, is 6 million (9.8%) using data from 2016-2019.

This number includes:

-3–5 years: 265,000 (2%)

-6–11 years: 2.4 million (10%)

-12–17 years: 3.3 million (13%)

Adults with ADHD

According to a study conducted by the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)…

Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) (2001-2003), the estimated prevalence of adults aged 18 to 44 years with a current diagnosis of ADHD is as follows:

The overall prevalence of current adult ADHD is 4.4%. Prevalence is higher for males (5.4%) compared to females (3.2%). The non-Hispanic white group (5.4%) has a higher prevalence than all other race/ethnicity groups.

The prevalence of ADHD in children is around 9.8%, while the prevalence in adults is around 4.4%. Is this higher or lower than you thought?

Some Issues

Although the above statistics are helpful, there are several limitations. First, it is difficult to find recent and reliable research on the prevalence of ADHD. As seen in the referenced NIMH study, the data is from 2001-2003, which is quite dated. Additionally, the study did not include adults over the age of 44. These are significant limitations in the study.

Second, although both the NIMH and CDC are credible sources, there are not many other reliable sources one can turn to for information about ADHD.

Third, these studies only consider individuals who have received a formal diagnosis of ADHD. There are likely many more people with undiagnosed ADHD.

So What?

It is important to be well-informed about ADHD as there is a lot of misinformation circulating on social media. Learning about ADHD is the first step in treating it. Always make sure to read and research from credible sources. Moreover, if you suspect that you may be dealing with ADHD, it is crucial to seek a diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional.

At PRGRS Therapy, we specialize in the treatment of ADHD through ADHD testing and therapy. If you are interested in receiving treatment for ADHD or undergoing a formal assessment, contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation.