CDC Reports That Half of U.S. Children Diagnosed with ADHD Received Diagnosis By Age 6

This article is a treasure trove. I wonder how many of these children have had qustions asked about their sleep? - JR

CDC Reports That Half of U.S. Children Diagnosed with ADHD Received Diagnosis By Age 6

A new study published in JAACAP found that an estimated two million more children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 2003-04 and 2011-12. One million more U.S. children were taking medication for ADHD between 2003-04 and 2011-12.

ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It often persists into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention and/or controlling impulsive behaviors. Effective treatments for ADHD include medication, mental health treatment, or a combination of the two. When children diagnosed with ADHD receive proper treatment, they have the best chance of thriving at home, doing well at school, and making and keeping friends.

•  The parent-reported prevalence of a history of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis by a health care provider among U.S. school-aged children increased from 7.8% in 2003 to 11% in 2011, an increase of 42% in less than a decade.
•  In 2011, the median age of ADHD diagnosis was approximately 6 years of age, but children reported by their parents as having more severe ADHD were diagnosed earlier.
•  The percentage of US school-aged children with a parent-report of current medication treatment for ADHD increased from 4.8% in 2007 to 6.1% in 2011, an increase of 27% in approximately 4 years.
•  More U.S. school-aged children were receiving ADHD treatment in 2011 than in 2007, but nearly 1 in 5 with current ADHD were not receiving either medication.

pdf of article here