ADHD Rising

In less than a decade, the rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children climbed by 42%, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the data show the behavioral condition is increasingly being diagnosed in kids as young as 6 years old.

Those were the most worrisome findings from the National Survey of Children’s Health, an exhaustive study of youngsters ages 4 to 17. Comparing the periods 2003–04 and 2011–12, investigators found 2 million more ADHD diagnoses and 1 million more kids prescribed medication for the condition.

What’s driving the surge? Greater awareness of the disorder is likely part of it. Teachers, parents and doctors are better at recognizing symptoms–such as poor concentration and impulsivity–and physicians are more comfortable offering treatment, which may include behavioral therapy or stimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall. Even with the rise in prescriptions, however, 1 in 5 children with ADHD still does not receive counseling or medication.

Such early interventions are critical to helping children cope with the disorder, both when they’re young and in adulthood. Behavioral therapy in particular teaches them to establish rules and routines and to build social skills that can nurture healthy interactions with friends and family. Rates of ADHD may be on the rise, but so are effective programs for helping those who are struggling with it.