A National and Regional Look at ADHD in Children and Adolescents

Prevalence of a history of ADHD, current ADHD, medicated ADHD, and moderate-to-severe ADHD have continued to increase significantly since 2007.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) analyzed results of the third National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) since 2003 to determine the current prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and use of medication for ADHD in children and adolescents (age range, 4–17 years) as reported by parents. These results represent 95,677 phone interviews completed between February 2011 and June 2012. Main findings in the report are the following:

Eleven percent of children and adolescents (6.4 million children) had ever received an ADHD diagnosis, and 83% were reported as currently having ADHD (national prevalence, 9%).
Sixty-nine percent of children with a current ADHD diagnosis were taking medication for ADHD (3.5 million children; …

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics