Annual Increases in Diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Cases from 1997-2006
September 3, 2008
Annual Increases in Diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Cases from 1997-2006

A new report based on data from the National Health Information Survey (NHIS) details the prevalence of ADHD and Learning Disability (LD) in US children ages 6-17 based on various demographic and socioeconomic factors. In 2006, approximately 4.7% of all US children 6-17 years of age had ADHD without LD, 4.9% had LD without ADHD and 3.7% had both conditions. There has been a 3% average annual increase in ADHD cases (ADHD alone and with LD) each year from 1997 to 2006. Boys are more than twice as likely as girls (6.7% boys vs. 2.5% girls) to have ADHD without LD and about twice as likely to have both conditions (5.1% boys vs. 2.3% girls). Diagnoses of the conditions are more common in children 12-17. The study also reports that low-birthweight infants, those weighing less than 2,500 grams, are more likely to develop LD (with and without ADHD) later in life; a finding consistent with another earlier study. In addition to age, gender, and birthweight, the study also examines the occurrence of the conditions by race & ethnicity, health status, health insurance type, mother’s education level, and family structure.

To review the entire report from the National Vital and Health Statistics Report, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_237.pdf.