Adhd Statistics Don't Lie: Know The Facts So That You Can Make The Correct Decisions

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that is often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all in children. It usually shows up prior to the age of seven, though it can be discovered later on. While some children outgrow the disorder by the time they become adults, other children will wind up dealing with it over the length of their lifetimes. ADHD statistics will show a lot about how this disorder manifests and affects children.

Many parents fear that this disorder is a learning disability, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Because children with this disorder have a higher level of fidgeting, lack of focus and high spirits, it's easy to see a child who has ADHD. It is only when it occurs so often that it affects his ability to concentrate, listen to and understand instructions, and deal with other people that it is probably ADHD.

Genetics is a factor with this condition, as it appears more often in children who have other relatives with the disorder. There is a school of thought that feels ADHD is being reported more often by parents and doctors who are overmedicating and labeling the problem; they also feel that this is creating unnecessary problems by diagnosing and medicating children who don't really have the disorder.

As a result, there should be ADHD statistics we need to be aware of. Figures are dynamic and ever-changing making the numbers quoted approximate at best. In 2006 the figures for this condition has been on the increase showing a gain of about 5 ½ % per year. In that statistic, it has also been shown that girls are diagnosed less than boys at about two to four times less. Only 2-4% of adults in the United States have ADHD, while the number is more than 5% in children.

It is interesting to note that they are finding an increased percentage of ADHD in teenagers greater than that in children who are younger. This might be because teachers and doctors are more experienced at what to look for than they were ten years ago.

In every 30 student classroom, there will be anywhere from one to three students with ADHD. Statistics tell us that these kids will develop 30% slower emotionally than their peers. This statistic casts a sobering eye on the realities of a sixteen year old who's in the driver's education class; the child may be operating on the level of an 11 year old when decisions need to be made.

As much as 25% of students with this disorder will have difficulties grasping mathematics, reading and expressing themselves orally, and around 50% will have general comprehension problems. At least 65% of them will have problems with authority, have temper tantrums and suffer with defiance and hostility issues.

A third of ADHD students will have difficulty remembering things, be poor at organizing, and struggle with the fine motor skills. Insomnia also plagues around 50% of these children, and they will need medication in order to sleep. And the boys are more inclined to be hyperactive than the girls…75% vs. 60%.

ADHD teenage children have a higher incidence of traffic accidents, and also get more tickets than children without the condition. Twenty-one percent of them miss school on a regular basis with at least a 5% drop out rate overall. Forty-five percent have been suspended. Lastly, the last of the ADHD statistics needs to be addressed. The parents of these troubled children are three times as likely to get divorced.