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ADHD diagnoses on the rise – Metro US

ADHD diagnoses on the rise

About 11 percent of children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Credit: Colourbox About 11 percent of children have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Credit: Colourbox

According to a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, more kids are being diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than ever before. The study says that in 2011, the most recent year a study like this has been done, 6.4 million children between ages 4 and 17 were diagnosed. That’s up from 2 million in 2003.

One of the reasons the study sites more diagnoses are being made is because more people are educated about ADHD than before. Parents know what the signs are, prompting them to talk to their child’s doctor more and doctors are more familiar with them as well, making diagnosing easier.

Since early detection is key to a child with ADHD performing well at school and being happier over all, the increase in diagnoses is actually good. Nearly one in five children with ADHD didn’t receive the proper medical care in 2011, the study found.

ADHD is the most common neurobehavioral disorder found in kids and signs of the disorder are having trouble paying attention and trouble controlling impulse behavior.