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Loading...Nearly 1 in 10 Children Now Diagnosed With ADHD
9 percent of children aged 5 to 17 years old are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease and Control using data from a 2009 survey. The increase is notable: In 1998, about 7 percent of children were diagnosed with ADHD. The increases were noted in both boys and girls, though boys are still more likely than girls to be diagnosed: 12 percent of boys have an ADHD diagnosis vs. 6 percent of girls.
The data for the CDC’s report was taken from the National Health Interview Survey, in which they interviewed about 40,000 American households representative of the demographics of the whole USA.
The study also found that ADHD prevalence also varies by region and is higher in the Midwest and South. In the Midwest, the ADHD rate rose from 7.1 percent to 10.2 percent; in the South, from 8.1 percent to 10.3 percent.
One new finding: While ADHD rates once varied based on a child’s race and ethnicity, such differences decreased from 1998 to 2009. An earlier study that was based on surveys conducted from 1998 to 2000 found that non-Hispanic white children had a higher ADHD prevalence than other racial groups. The CDC’s new study was based on surveys conducted from 2007 to 2009 and found ADHD prevalence to be similar among non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black children. The CDC notes that Mexican children continue to have a lower ADHD prevalence than children of other racial and ethnic groups.
In addition, while ADHD was previously diagnosed at similar levels children from different income levels, the new report has found that, from 1998 through 2009, ADHD prevalence increased to 10 percent for children with family income less than 100 percent of the poverty level. ADHD prevalence increased to 11 percent for those with family income between 100 percent and 199 percent of the poverty level.
In the Wall Street Journal (via Fox News), Lara Akinbami, the study’s lead researcher, says that “wider access to health- care services and increased recognition of the disorders” are likely reasons for a 30 percent increase in ADHD diagnoses over the past decade. ADHD is now one of the most common mental health disorders of childhood.
Read more: adhd, adhd adult, autism, cdc, hyper, kids health, learning disability, mental disorder, mental health, pediatrics, psychology
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74 comments
+ add your own"these “illnesses', ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, etc, are only alleged or imagined diseases" "Child psychiatry is not a legitimate medical science" Dr. John Breeding, Psychologist
"...(psychiatry's) wholly fraudulent claims that their diagnoses, such as ADHD, bipolar, OCD and depression are actual brain diseases when they are not." Dr. Fred Baughman, Pediatric Neurologist
“We are unaware that ADHD has been validated as a biological/organic syndrome or disease.” Gene R. Haislip, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
“The whole business of creating psychiatric categories of ‘disease,’ formalizing them with consensus, and subsequently ascribing diagnostic codes to them, which in turn leads to their use for insurance billing, is nothing but an extended racket furnishing psychiatry a pseudo-scientific aura. The perpetrators are, of course, feeding at the public trough.”
— Dr. Thomas Dorman, M.D.
I feel ADHD is overly diagnosed and more than likely with better qualified doctors we would learn the child does not even have the syndrome. And all kids can, to some extent, be over-active. We just have slow, unqualified teachers making teaching sounds and also not qualified in this country for the most part; and Arizona has probably the worst teachers in the country
Children with ADHD can grow to be normal, productive citizens, as proved by this article. Most people have something to overcome in life. With all the new information on ADHD most of today's ADHD sufferers will have a good, productive life.
I would think that all the lead in our food and things made in China during the last two decades is contributing to this....:(
Thanks.
Parents and teachers should use every possible avenue before they resort to drugs which do nothing but mask symptons and often have disasterous long and short term side effects.
Physical activity, a more natural and healthful diet, avoiding allergens, arts and crafts, drama and music, family counseling, spending more time together out in nature, gardening, yoga. The list is only limited by the creativity and dedication of the caregivers.
If people stop looking for the "magic bullet" they may find that the process of working together is what is truely helpful for all concerned.
As a 61 yr old, I am sever ADHD have been all my life, It is not easy, I just started taking medication a year ago. It is the mildest med. as I can't take the other speed type medications
Great story about Mr. Newcomb, Mark.
Unfortunately, I think most teachers today would be unable to go for such a simple (completely logical and effective) solution. If the kid was running and fell or something happened, the teacher would be responsible and then there would be a call from the parents, a meeting with the principal, people getting sued, insurance, etc. It seems that teachers can no longer make such decisions without weighing out all of these things and then eventually deciding that it is just not worth it. Shame, really.
Any psychiatric diagnosis is a dandy excuse to get the victim of such diagnosis addicted to some product of a BIG DRUG company. A pity most such victims are at least as likely to either end up allergic to the drug or really miserable with some side effect that isn't obviously an allergy as they are to be actually helped by the drug.
Why I surely do not deny that ADHD exists.....I think we're too drug happy these days.
Even on T.V,you're told to ask your doctor about this medicine and that one.....never mind the side effects are worse than the ailment it is supposed to treat.Money,Money,Money and drug companies openly compete,even pay doctors kickbacks for prescribing a medication.
Take a pill,it'll cure whatever you got,what it might be,and whatever,you think it is!....
I say get 2-3 opinions atleast before you commit yourself or child to a drug....it's a big decision....one that could have consequences for life.
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