PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Approximately one in nine U.S. children diagnosed with ADHD, as new national study highlights an “ever-expanding” public health concern

One million more children in the U.S. are diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 than in 2016

2024-05-23
(Press-News.org) An exploration into the national U.S. dataset on children ever diagnosed with ADHD has revealed an “ongoing and ever-expanding” public health issue. 

 

Findings published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology uncover that approximately one million more children, aged 3-17, had received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than in 2016. 

 

The paper reveals around one in nine children have ever received an ADHD diagnosis – 11.4%, or 7.1 million children. Some 6.5 million children (10.5%) currently live with ADHD. 

 

Among children currently living with ADHD, 58.1% have moderate or severe ADHD. 

77.9% have at least one co-occurring disorder, approximately half of children with current ADHD (53.6%) received ADHD medication, and 44.4% had received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the past year. 

Nearly one third (30.1%) did not receive any ADHD-specific treatment. 

 

The results follow an analysis of the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) dataset. They demonstrate that the estimated prevalence of ADHD (based on a parent report) is higher in the United States than comparable estimates from other countries. 

 

The expert team of authors come from institutions including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. 

 

In the paper, the team explains the increase of ADHD prevalence can partially be explained by “sociodemographic and child characteristics”, whilst they state societal context can also “contribute to the overall trends in the diagnosis of ADHD”.  
These include the context around children’s mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

“Public awareness of ADHD has changed over time. ADHD was historically described as an externalizing disorder with a focus on easily observable hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, and was thought to primarily affect boys,” the authors say.  

 

“With increased awareness of symptoms related to attention regulation, ADHD has been increasingly recognized in girls, adolescents, and adults. 

 

“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. 

 

“Circumstances related to the pandemic may also have increased the likelihood that a child’s ADHD symptoms could cause impairment. For example, in families where children needed to engage  

in virtual classroom learning while parents were also working from home, previously manageable ADHD symptoms may have become more impairing or symptoms that were previously unobserved by parents may have become recognizable.” 

 

The aim of this new paper was to provide updated U.S. prevalence estimates of diagnosed ADHD; ADHD severity; co-occurring disorders; and receipt of ADHD medication and behavioral treatment. 

 

The team assessed 45,483 completed interviews, monitoring, as well, differences in demographic and clinical subgroups. Questions asked parents for details such as the severity of the condition. 

 

Findings highlight how socioeconomic and geographic factors play a part in diagnosis/prevalence of ADHD.  

 

For example: 

Asian and Hispanic/Latino children had a lower prevalence of diagnosed ADHD than White children.  

Children living in households with high school as the highest level of education and lower-income households had a higher prevalence than children living in households with more education and with income ≥200% of the federal poverty level, respectively.  

Children with public insurance (with or without private insurance) had a higher prevalence than children with private insurance alone.  

Prevalence was also higher for children living in the Northeast, Midwest, or South compared to those living in the West and for children living in rural or suburban areas compared to children living in urban areas. 

 

The results also demonstrated how such factors impacted upon medicated treatment: 

 

Hispanic children and children living in non-English-speaking households had a lower prevalence of taking ADHD medication than non-Hispanic children and children living in primarily English-speaking homes, respectively.  

A higher prevalence of children with both public and private insurance were taking ADHD medication than children with private insurance only.  

A higher prevalence of children living in the Midwest and South were taking ADHD medication compared to children in the West.  

 

Other behavioral treatments, such as mental health counseling, also followed similar patterns.  

 
Explaining the findings further, the authors state: “Shifts in patterns of treatments may also be affected by changes in the demographic distribution of who receives ADHD diagnoses. 

 

“There is evidence that the sex difference for diagnosis of ADHD may be narrowing; in prior years, the ratio of boys to girls diagnosed with ADHD was more than 2:1.” 

 

Concluding, the team state that they hope their findings can be used by clinicians to understand diagnosis and treatment patterns to better inform clinical practice. As well, they hope it could be used by policymakers, government agencies, health care systems, public health practitioners, and other partners to plan for the needs of children with ADHD, such as by ensuring access to care and services for ADHD. 

 

Future research, the team states, could investigate patterns of service delivery during and after the pandemic; as well as modes of ADHD service delivery; uptake and discontinuation of ADHD medication; and receipt of evidence-based behavioral treatment and other recommended services such as school services. 

 

This study is subject to a number of limitations, including it being based on a survey of parent recall and reporting decisions and have not been validated against medical records or clinical judgment. 

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Survey: Parents of young athletes value health benefits of sports, but experts emphasize watching for signs of stress, burnout

Survey: Parents of young athletes value health benefits of sports, but experts emphasize watching for signs of stress, burnout
2024-05-23
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 23, 2024) — Positive sports experiences can be a game changer for kids, with physical, social, emotional and mental health benefits that last a lifetime, according to a new survey from The Kids Mental Health Foundation. However, youth mental health advocates with The Kids Mental Health Foundation stress the importance of ongoing conversations with young athletes about how their sports are impacting their confidence, self-esteem and happiness, whether it’s positive or negative.  The national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation finds parents overwhelmingly ...

Gene could unlock big wheat yields for a growing population

Gene could unlock big wheat yields for a growing population
2024-05-23
A study from the University of Adelaide has discovered molecular pathways regulated by a gene traditionally used to control wheat-flowering behaviour could be altered to achieve greater yields. The gene is called Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) and it is used regularly by breeders to ensure wheat crops flower and set grain earlier in the season, avoiding the harsh conditions of summer. However, there are known drawbacks. “While this variation benefits wheat productivity by aligning pollination and grain development with more favourable environmental conditions, it also penalises yield by reducing the number of ...

Quantum photonic technologies set to be more reliable with new interferometer.

Quantum photonic technologies set to be more reliable with new interferometer.
2024-05-23
An increasing number of emerging quantum applications operate using optical technologies. Essentially, photons carry information at the speed of light and over long distances, making them good candidates for fast and secure communications and quantum computing. Many of these applications require photons that are identical (indistinguishable). When the photons are not identical, it can lead to errors in the data and quantum technologies become less reliable. Currently, quantum photon sources are regularly taken offline to be tested and adjusted using ...

Future climate impacts put whale diet at risk

Future climate impacts put whale diet at risk
2024-05-23
A new study led by Griffith University predicts that future climate change impacts could disrupt the krill-heavy diet that humpback whales in the southern hemisphere consume.  Dr Jasmin Groß, who conducted the study as a PhD candidate at Griffith’s Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security analysed fatty acids and stable isotopes from blubber and skin samples of five different humpback whale populations around the southern hemisphere.   These levels were then compared to those of their primary prey item, Antarctic krill.  The team found that although there were distinct differences in the biochemical profiles, the diet of all tested ...

How a landscape intervention method can be used to address inequalities in electronic waste treatment process?

How a landscape intervention method can be used to address inequalities in electronic waste treatment process?
2024-05-23
The rapid development of electronic technology has resulted in the annual phase-out of a large amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment, known as “e-waste,” especially in developed countries. In the context of economic globalization, the lack of relevant environmental laws and policies in developing countries and less developed countries, as well as cheap labor, has attracted developed countries to export a large amount of domestic e-waste to these countries. The chemicals produced during the low-tech dismantling process enter the air, soil, and deep groundwater, contaminating ...

UChicago partners with UMass on NSF expedition to elevate computational decarbonization as a new field in computing

2024-05-23
A team of researchers from the University of Chicago has been named winners of the 2024 NSF CISE Expedition Program for their part in the proposal of computational decarbonization (CoDec). This prestigious award, granted by the National Science Foundation (NSF), underscores the groundbreaking potential of CoDec in revolutionizing societal decarbonization through computational innovation.   As the largest research award within the NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate, the Expeditions in Computing program recognizes pioneering endeavors poised to make profound impacts on both scientific understanding and societal advancement. The CoDec ...

Epidural linked to reduction in serious complications after childbirth

2024-05-23
Having an epidural during labour is associated with a marked reduction in serious complications in the first few weeks after giving birth, finds a study published by The BMJ today.  Doctors refer to these complications as severe maternal morbidity (SMM), which can include heart attack, heart failure, sepsis, and hysterectomy.  Epidural analgesia is recommended for women with known risk factors for SMM, such as obesity, certain underlying conditions, or having more than one baby. These women are said to have a ‘medical indication’ for epidural analgesia in labour. Women delivering prematurely ...

Safety fears for England’s screening services if national oversight is lost

2024-05-23
Plans to devolve responsibility for the quality of England’s 11 national screening services could result in significant safety risks, experts tell The BMJ in an exclusive report today. Assistant news editor Gareth Iacobucci explains that NHS England is currently discussing proposals to delegate some of the functions of the national Screening Quality Assurance Service (SQAS) from NHSE to regional Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). But concerned experts warn that devolving responsibility to local organisations will spread resources more thinly, lead to a loss of expertise and independence, and compromise ...

Preteens use dating apps, and 1 in 4 are sexual minorities

2024-05-22
Though most online dating apps have a minimum age requirement of 18 years, a new study finds a small number of 11 to 12 year-olds use them. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) preteens are 13 times more likely to report engaging in online dating compared to their heterosexual peers. “Lesbian, gay, or bisexual adolescents, including preteens, may have limited romantic partner options in their schools, where they may also face discrimination, bullying, and stigma because of their sexual orientation,” says lead author Jason Nagata, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at ...

Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology awarded to F. William Studier for development of widely used protein- and RNA-production platform

2024-05-22
F. William Studier of Brookhaven National Laboratory has won the second annual Richard N. Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology for his development of an efficient, scalable method of producing RNA and proteins in the laboratory. His T7 expression technology can be used to make large quantities of nearly any RNA or protein and has been for decades, and continues to be, a mainstay of biomedical research and pharmaceutical production. The approach has been used to produce numerous therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines — including the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines credited with extending millions of lives in recent years.  “F. William ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

How can we reduce adolescent pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries?

When sun protection begets malnutrition: vitamin D deficiency in Japanese women

Cannabis use can cause chromosomal damage, increasing cancer risk and harming offspring

Survey finds many Americans apply misguided and counterproductive advice to combat holiday weight gain

New study reveals half a century of change on Britain’s iconic limestone pavements

Green flight paths could unlock sustainable aviation, new research suggests

Community partners key to success of vaccine clinic focused on neurodevelopmental conditions

Low-carbon collaborative dual-layer optimization for energy station considering joint electricity and heat demand response

McMaster University researchers uncover potential treatment for rare genetic disorders

The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war

UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding

Research into UK’s use of plastic packaging finds households ‘wishcycle’ rather than recycle – risking vast contamination

Vaccine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer

Adverse events affect over 1 in 3 surgery patients, US study finds

Outsourcing adult social care has contributed to England’s care crisis, argue experts

The Lancet: Over 800 million adults living with diabetes, more than half not receiving treatment, global study suggests

New therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19: faster recovery and reduction in mortality

Plugged wells and reduced injection lower induced earthquake rates in Oklahoma

Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow

Long Covid could cost the economy billions every year

Bluetooth technology unlocks urban animal secrets

This nifty AI tool helps neurosurgeons find sneaky cancer cells

Treatment advances, predictive biomarkers stand to improve bladder cancer care

NYC's ride-hailing fee failed to ease Manhattan traffic, new NYU Tandon study reveals

Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago

Self-reported screening helped reduce distressing symptoms for pediatric patients with cancer

Which risk factors are linked to having a severe stroke?

Opening borders for workers: Abe’s profound influence on Japan’s immigration regime

How skills from hospitality and tourism can propel careers beyond the industry

Research shows managers of firms handling recalls should review media scrutiny before deciding whether to lobby

[Press-News.org] Approximately one in nine U.S. children diagnosed with ADHD, as new national study highlights an “ever-expanding” public health concern
One million more children in the U.S. are diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 than in 2016