Written by: Christine Schwab, LCMHCA

An estimated 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3–17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, according to a national survey of parents using data from 2022 (CDC,2024). These numbers continue to grow as we develop more understanding and less stigma surrounding mental health diagnoses and seeing them as a whole, rather than the stereotypes we may hear. Also according to the CDC, 77.9 % of children diagnosed with ADHD also had a co-occurring condition (2024). This tells us that there is much more than what is seen upon the surface when it comes to ADHD. We might see the father at the store trying to console his screaming child who doesn’t want to leave the toy aisle, and some may assume the father doesn’t have it under control. Maybe the child has ADHD and struggles with transitions and executive functioning. Maybe there’s something we don’t see. When we can understand the complexities and differences in ways people can present with ADHD, we can help eliminate the stereotypes and judgment that may occur.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Data and statistics on ADHD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html