Researchers are now suggesting that attention deficit hyperactive disorder may be more common in children than previously thought, as a recent study has found that 1 in 9 have been diagnosed with ADHD.
The study was published on Wednesday in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology and noted that more than 7 million kids have been diagnosed with ADHD.
The researchers found that there is a growing trend of ADHD diagnoses, as in 2022, there were about 1 million more kids ages 3 to 17 found to have ADHD than in 2016.
Currently, 6.5 million children live with ADHD, and among those, 58% have a moderate to severe diagnosis. The results also show that another 78% have at least one other disorder.
When looking at why more kids have been diagnosed with ADHD now than ever before, the researchers shared that a lot of it has to do with “public awareness” changing over time.
“With increased awareness of symptoms related to attention regulation, ADHD has been increasingly recognized in girls, adolescents, and adults,” researchers said in a press release. “Moreover, ADHD has previously been diagnosed at lower rates among children in some racial and ethnic minority groups. With increased awareness, such gaps in diagnoses have been narrowing or closing.”
But the study’s lead author, Melissa Danielson, added that the number of cases could be because more treatments are available and doctors have more reason to test kids.
“There’s more providers that are comfortable with making those diagnoses and treating ADHD, which can allow for children to be helped by different medications or behavior therapy or school services. So since there are more opportunities for these kids to be helped, I think there’s more incentive to get that kind of diagnosis,” Danielson, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistician, shared with NBC News.
As for how those with ADHD are treating the disorder, 54% reported being prescribed medication, while 44% said they have received behavioral treatment in the past year.
However, 30% of kids haven’t received any specific type of treatment to address their ADHD.
Danielson also said that the COVID-19 pandemic could have played a significant role, as developing children were forced out of normal patterns when schools, daycares, and other places for social interaction were shut down.
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The study included more than 45,000 interviews as part of the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health.
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