1 In 10 Kids Diagnosed With ADHD: Study

About one in 10 kids is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new government report, which is an increase from more than 10 years ago.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean there are more kids who have ADHD -- rather, it could just mean better detection or an increase in diagnoses of the disorder, researchers said.

"We don't have the data to say for certain what explains these patterns, but I would caution against concluding that what we have here is a real increase in the occurrence of this condition," Akinbami told HealthDay.

The mental health disorder includes symptoms if inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity, which usually begin in childhood.

The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that children's diagnoses of ADHD rose from 7 percent between 1998 and 2000 to 9 percent between 2007 and 2009, though diagnosis of the disorder in Mexican children was lower than other ethnic groups.

More boys than girls have ADHD, but the increase in ADHD diagnoses rose about equally for both sexes, according to the report. ADHD diagnoses for boys ages 5 to 17 rose from 9.9 percent to 12.3 percent from 1998-2000 to 2007-2009, while for girls, diagnoses rose from 3.6 percent to 5.5 percent.

There was also a rise in diagnoses for poor children -- over the last 10 years, ADHD diagnoses increased to 10 percent for kids whose families have an income that is less than 100 percent of the poverty level, and 11 percent for kids whose families have an income that is 100 to 199 percent less than the poverty level.

About half of kids with ADHD also continue on to have it in adulthood. Here, Health.com explains 15 signs for knowing if you have adult ADHD:

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You're restless.

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Children with ADHD can be overly energetic, but adults may just feel edgy or restless. "Adults don't show the more obvious signs such as running and jumping," says Colette de Marneffe, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Silver Spring, Md. "Hyperactivity presents more subtly in the form of restlessness." However, you may recall a rambunctious childhood. Dr. Wetzel had a patient who recalled spending a lot of time in the school hallways because "he couldn't sit still." It's a "classic story," he says. More from Health.com: 10 Things You Should Do If You Have Adult ADHD 10 Tricks for Paying Better Attention 7 Celebrities With ADHD

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Children with ADHD can be overly energetic, but adults may just feel edgy or restless.

"Adults don't show the more obvious signs such as running and jumping," says Colette de Marneffe, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Silver Spring, Md. "Hyperactivity presents more subtly in the form of restlessness."

However, you may recall a rambunctious childhood. Dr. Wetzel had a patient who recalled spending a lot of time in the school hallways because "he couldn't sit still." It's a "classic story," he says.

More from Health.com:
10 Things You Should Do If You Have Adult ADHD
10 Tricks for Paying Better Attention
7 Celebrities With ADHD

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Comments

[beauley]

07:40 AM on 09/09/2011

Why We Must Eat at Least Five Vegetables and Fruit a Day
For many years in the U.S. it was highly suggested by the heads of nutrition that to meet our nutritional levels on a daily basis we should eat at least five fruits and vegetables.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8140477/why_we_must_eat_at_least_five_vegetables.html

[bgangwer1981]

10:17 AM on 08/26/2011

I don’t think ADHD is a real condition. I have 2 nephews that have been diagnosed with it. They both take meds for it. When they come see me, I don’t usually forget to give it to them. I have no problem with them they way they are with out it.
Both of them will play video games all day so they don’t have a short attention span its just other stuff dose not interest them.
They are kids and naturally hyper. We play outside all day and at the end of the day they are tired and calm just like parents want them to be. Also Chores work too.
They are restless at night but they also complain about their legs aching. Sounds like growing pains to me.
Not all people were meant for School.
The rest of the symptoms show laziness. Except for the not being able to relax. Which I think is a symptom of something else.

This is just my opinion formed from watching and living with my nephews.

I also thing ADHD is something the Medical field created so parents would feel better about their selves for drugging their kids, so they could have a little peace.

[Levi Morgan]

11:18 AM on 08/24/2011

I've been a lab rat for ADHD since the early 80's. I was used as an example for books written by numerous leading ADHD physicians. I have come to the conclusion that ADHD, like many others, is a bi-product of our capitalist culture that chooses wealth as their first priority as opposed to health and well-being. Chemicals affect human DNA; adaptation is occurring because of this. Autism, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder, and many others are not being cured but treated. The pharmaceutical companies are not causing this... they are simply taking advantage and "capitalizing" on it. ADHD, Terrets, and OCD share the same gene; cases are increasing every year exponentially.

Trudy Trejo & Alicia MalkemusWise said: "In all seriousnes­s though we're not supposed to be docile creatures sitting in front of computer screens and sitting in school rooms for hours on end. We evolved in the jungles and forests engaged in hunting and combat with other tribes. We're supposed to be high adrenaline charged dynamic creatures bursting with energy. To take an energetic kid and dumb that kid down with drugs should be a crime." Trudy Trejo

"Our environmen­t, food additives, preservati­ves, pesticides­, antibiotic­s & corn syrup that were added to our food chain in the early 1970's are damaging the DNA codes in our bodies..." Alicia MalkemusWise

We need to put human health and education first. We need to stop treating disorders and start curing them. Thank you all for your thoughts.

Levi R. Morgan

[Levi Morgan]

12:21 PM on 08/24/2011

I meant Tourettes:)

[shirjaw]

10:21 AM on 08/24/2011

I am sure there are some people with ADD. Personally, I just think all these symptoms reflect being a human being. Similar to the idea everyone is depressed and needs to be on medication using common sense should tell you if almost everyone is "suffering" from something, maybe just maybe, they should stop suffering and understand it must be normal human behaviour. I grew up in a family of nine children. According to these symptoms we would all have had ADD, and since apparently it isn't "curable" we all still have it.

[Gregg-O]

07:55 AM on 08/24/2011

If you notice, all the numbers keep getting bigger no matter the illness. Most started climbing about 10 or so years after the microwave oven came out, which has been followed by geneticlly altered food's that grow bigger, faster,blah, blah, blah, but lack most of the 'good' stuff that the old food's had. Now you cook those food's, in a microwave that actually changes the genetic make-up of these food's into something that our bodies don't even know what to do with, and presto..."Houston, We have a problem", never mind the fast food crap that has turned into a normal meal instead of the treat they used to be when it first started. We are the MOST DRUGGED Nation on the planet, and you better believe that big pharma want's to keep it that way, why do you think NOTHING get's cure....think about all the $$$$ spent on cancer research, all they have come up with is a little better treatment, and more precise way's to cut it out of you.

[Roberta Gold]

12:35 PM on 08/23/2011

I appreciate this video because I do feel guilty about treating my daughter with medication, but it's good to hear how safe it is. It really improves her hyperness and impulsivity, so I'm glad to hear "it's OK to treat your kid."

[2plus3]

04:32 PM on 08/22/2011

IMHO…ADHD seems like it's turning into a catch-all diagnosis with a cure-all pill.

I do know that there are a lot of children who indeed are ADHD but I also feel there are a lot of prescriptions and diagnosis being given out by doctors when there are a lot of other factors to be considered first before opting for medication. Diet and physical activity are a great place to begin. My husband teaches martial arts to some of these "ADHD" kids who will come in at 9 am on a Saturday morning announcing "I just had 10 pieces of candy!" What/who do you think is the real culprit as to why they have an attention problem and can't sit still?

I am not speaking about every child with ADHD so set down your pitch forks….

[ifyouseekay]

10:22 AM on 08/22/2011

"About one in 10 kids is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)" or a better headline would be,

ABOUT ONE IN TEN KIDS FAKE OUT DOCTORS FOR PILLS SO THAT THEY CAN SELL THEM TO OTHER KIDS FOR CASH

[NEllison]

08:39 AM on 08/20/2011

Anyone witha child with ADD or ADHD should educate themselves about nutrition (well, everyone should). Children with these problems show low magnesium levels. Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 biochemical processes in the body, all of which are compromised with it's deficiency. Mg is one of the most common deficiencies because of poor diet, lack of minerals in the water supply, commercial farming techniques, stresses of modern living, common medications.

http://www.mgwater.com/listb.shtml#add

[rtgmath]

11:20 PM on 08/19/2011

What we call a disorder may simply be a natural trait responsible for the spread and the success of the human species. We call it Attention Deficit Hyperactive "Disorder" -- but the people with these characteristics are the ones who went exploring, conquered the wilderness, were fiercely inquisitive and inventive. They made up their own rules as they went along.

People such as Thomas Edison were ADHD before the diagnosis existed. His teacher said he was addled and could not be taught. So his mother taught him as best she could, then let him alone to explore and experiment for himself. As a result, he created the basis for our modern electrical society.

ADHD is only a disorder within an overly-structured framework. In public schools, ADHD is a "disorder" because children are supposed to be able to learn passively by rote. ADHD children are just as intelligent, and often moreso -- particularly where their imaginations have been given free reign to explore and learn on their own. But they often don't learn the things the Administrators want them to, cannot tolerate the passive classroom, and do not test well. So we drug them into submission.

If we had more frontiers to explore, the ADHD people would be the first out there and the best people to do it. We need more frontiers. Society needs to accommodate, so that ADHD have more place and freedom to be themselves. We do not need to force them to be what they are not.

[Saijanai]

12:15 AM on 08/20/2011

TM practice reduces the behavioral symptoms of ADHD as well as creates a different EEG signature than ADHD. ADHD tends to get worse when you are tired or stressed. Declaring that ADHD is a good thing simply because there are situations when it isn't as detrimental to have it as other situations only is meaningful if it is the healthiest way to be even in those situations. The EEG signature of long-term TMers is more likely to found in world champion athletes than their less successful, but still professional, brothers. I don't think that you can claim that for the ADHD EEG signature. There's no situation that I am aware of where ADHD is the BEST way to respond to situations -just situations where it isn't quite as detrimental as others.

[ifyouseekay]

10:23 AM on 08/22/2011

One with "true" add adhd would never engage in the activities you describe in a manner or fashion that would lead them to complete said tasks of exploring etc

[Toonguy]

08:50 AM on 08/19/2011

Good gravy, would you folks be trotting out this cynicism, this disdain, this conspiracy-fueled belief that it was all created by big pharma if the subject was dyslexia? Why is one learning disability accepted and one is pooh-poohed as so much hype and snake oil? I really want to know.

[stape45]

07:34 AM on 08/19/2011

1. Conjure-up a condition
2. Name the condition
3. Sell treatment for condition. (So, what’s new?)

[ifyouseekay]

10:25 AM on 08/22/2011

you forgot:

4. fake having the condition
5. secure prescriptions
6. abuse meds
7. sell meds for profit

[jennielake]

02:52 AM on 08/19/2011

Just another made up diagnosis to promote meds that dont work.

[Hpotterfan77]

09:11 PM on 08/19/2011

Coming from someone who obviously doesn't have a child that suffers from it.

[jennielake]

09:35 PM on 08/19/2011

No, its coming from someone who was diagnosed, medicated for years, and has a 27 yo daughter, and a 10yo granddaughter who were both diagnosed and told it was genetic.

YEARS, later ... now no meds, and started an agency helping over 12,000 other adults, and children heal from this Pharmacy over prescribed path as well. Please however consult with your Doctor - hugs.

If you would like more info I can direct you to a place for help.

[ifyouseekay]

10:26 AM on 08/22/2011

most cases are really about out of control parents. yes and i have work with hundreds of add/adhd kids!!!

[Ajax Johnson]

11:54 PM on 08/18/2011

Studies probably paid for the makers of ritalin.

[jennielake]

02:54 AM on 08/19/2011

- f&f

[Alicia MalkemusWise]

07:19 PM on 08/18/2011

Yes, sadly now, 1 in 8 children are born with this disorder. Children born with this disorder have a shortage of inhibitory neurotransmitters in their brains. Their brains to not produce enough amino acids (Proteins) to send to their brains and most suffer from hypoglycemia. The disorder is genetically linked.

Organic diets help but sometimes the ADHD medications like Ritalin are necessary. Our special Ed classes are full of children with ADHD and ADD. Yes, at times the children can behave badly but it really isn't their fault their energy just needs to be directed in a positive way.

Our environment, food additives, preservatives, pesticides, antibiotics & corn syrup that were added to our food chain in the early 1970's are damaging the DNA codes in our bodies...

When my youngest son was born 30 years ago he was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome. It is NO joking matter. Then only 1 in 100K children where born with the disease. Now 1 in 8K children are born with it. Now 1 in 3.5% children are born with Autism. Yes, there are special schools and classes to help our children "but they and their parents are not to blame" for these genetic changes...

Never judge what you see and little of what you hear...

[Fran Jaime]

02:22 AM on 08/19/2011

Just curious. It mentions that Mexicans are diagnosed with ADHD less than other ethnic groups. Any theories as to why that might be?

[Alicia MalkemusWise]

11:37 AM on 08/19/2011

The American Medical Journal states that because of the language barrier in the U.S. Latino's are less likely to understand the symptoms of the disease. They are doing a study through John Hopkins to find out the real percentage of other ethnicity in this country. If ADHD is left untreated, in early adulthood there are many other diseases that can happen; Bi-polar, schizophrenia and a long list of dangerous behavior issues.

One study was done a couple of years ago in South America and the rates were much lower than the U.S. In their case, they attributed to their diet. No preservatives, additives,antibiotics, etc. in their food chain.

I hope this helps...

[Alicia MalkemusWise]

11:39 AM on 08/19/2011

Nothing. Our children need the care that they deserve in the country.