Another study compared rates of ADHD diagnoses for minority children in kindergarten through eighth grade with those of white children. The chances of a diagnosis were: 69% lower for Black children than white children. 50% lower for Hispanic children.
The CDC study, reported in March of this year, found overall, 14% of children 3-17 have ever been diagnosed with either ADHD or learning disability, including 17% of Black children, 15% of white children and 12% of Hispanic children. (See chart.)
In the U.S., studies indicate that about 4.4% of adults have ADHD. About 5.4% of men in the U.S. have diagnosed ADHD, while 3.2% of women in the U.S. have the same. In the U.S., ADHD diagnoses are more prevalent in white people than in other ethnic groups.
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
The research confirmed previous studies showing ADHD was found more often in whites than Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders. The analysis found yearly increases of ADHD prevalence among all ethnic groups studied, including a three-fold increase in Asians, from 0.11% to 0.35% of the study population.
Around 1 in every 20 Australians has ADHD. While ADHD is more common in boys — it's under diagnosed in girls and adults. More than 3 in 4 children diagnosed with ADHD still have symptoms as an adult.
According to a meta- analysis in 2018, 5.6% of Chinese children are living with ADHD[6]. The overall prevalence of ADHD in China is 6.3%[7]. Furthermore, the economic costs of ADHD are considerable[8]. ADHD symptoms have a significantly negative impact on academic performance and lives[9].
You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents. In a recent Norwegian study, inherited risk was somewhat higher when a child's mother had ADHD compared to their father, but researchers weren't certain why that would be.
Causes of ADHD
Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD. In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury. Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age.
ADHD Prevalence in Adults
The worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated at 2.8 percent, according to a 2020 study. Prevalence estimates for adult ADHD in the U.S. vary. One 2019 study estimates an adult ADHD prevalence of 0.96 percent – doubling from 0.43 percent a decade prior.
How Common is ADHD? How Common is ADHD? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD occurs in an estimated 3 to 5 percent of preschool and school-age children.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as a "boys' disorder" because it's nearly twice as common in boys as girls. But it's important to note that ADHD can look different in girls.
In 2021, research showed that for every 100 white children diagnosed with ADHD, there are 83 Black and 77 Hispanic children, and just 48 Asian children, with the diagnosis.
Does Socioeconomic Status Affect ADHD Diagnosis? One study found that kids who live in families below the federal poverty level are more likely to get an ADHD diagnosis compared to kids who don't. Another suggested the same. More specifically, the risk of diagnosis doubles for children of low socioeconomic status.
The prevalence of ADHD among Arab populations is variable according to published studies, ranging from 6-16 percent. That is more or less equivalent to the occurrence in the United States, where the prevalence is reported from 5-10 percent.
ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
Genetic screening cannot determine if a person has ADHD. Genetic screening may be helpful to a prescriber in selecting medications to treat ADHD and related conditions. Genetic screening may reveal information about other conditions that will need to be considered.
“Children diagnosed with ADHD are not likely to grow out of it. And while some children may recover fully from their disorder by age 21 or 27, the full disorder or at least significant symptoms and impairment persist in 50-86 percent of cases diagnosed in childhood.
The answer to this question depends on several factors. The biggest cause of ADHD is genes,1 which means that ADHD does run in families. Even if no one in your extended family has officially been diagnosed with ADHD, you might notice family members with characteristics and traits that resemble ADHD.
Does ADHD affect IQ? A popular misconception is that all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are naturally smarter and have a higher IQ than children without ADHD. However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence.
'Twice-exceptional' children
Although atypical behaviors in gifted children do not necessarily indicate the presence of a disability, gifted children can have ADHD or another behavioral or mental health condition even when they are provided with appropriate levels of stimulation.
ADHD is estimated to affect around 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these estimates can vary depending on the criteria used for diagnosis and the population studied.