ADD and ADHD has seen an uptick in cases over recent years. It is estimated that 6 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Of those numbers, 2% of those affected are 3-5 years old, 10% of those affected are between the ages of 6-11, and 13% of those affected are 12-17 years old. It is also worth mentioning that adults can also suffer from ADD/ADHD, and roughly 5% of U.S. adults have also been diagnosed with these disorders.

In many cases, boys are often the first diagnosed and are more commonly diagnosed than girls. This is due in part that ADD/ADHD looks different in boys and tends to be more disruptive, causing parents to seek treatment and diagnosis sooner. Many girls have ADD/ADHD, but they are often underrepresented in studies, as it presents differently in girls.

ADD/ADHD is often accompanied by other types of behavioral or conduct disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and autism. In fact, according to the CDC, it was found that 6 in 10 children who have ADD/ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder. Of those who have ADD/ADHD, 3 out of 4 of them receive treatment for the condition.

Signs and Symptoms of ADD/ADHD in Children:

 

Boys:

For boys, symptoms of ADD/ADHD are more likely to be externalized, or more disruptive. This is a primary reason that boys are often more easily diagnosed than girls are, as they actively show symptoms such as hyperactivity, high energy, running around, and impulsivity. Boys are 4 times more likely to have ADD/ADHD than girls, but this could also be due to the fact that girls are less likely to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD because of their dissimilar symptoms to boys.

Where girls and boys are similar in ADD/ADHD, is the inability to sit still, or fidget, and a lack of focus. Boys often act out differently and may become more physically aggressive than girls who have ADD/ADHD.

Girls:

For girls, symptoms of ADD/ADHD are more likely to be internalized, and often less disruptive, which is one of the reasons why many girls are often underdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. In girls, inattention, being withdrawn, loss of focus, low self-esteem, anxiety, forgetfulness, eating disorders, and depression are often symptoms of ADD/ADHD for girls.

Because girls often present fewer behavioral problems, and less noticeable symptoms, their ADD/ADHD challenges are often overlooked which leads to a dramatically decreased chance of being diagnosed correctly when they are children and only finding out they have ADD/ADHD when they are adults and something doesn’t feel right.

Seeking Treatment:

ADD/ADHD affects a person’s quality of life which is why treatment is crucial for long-term success and performance in school, work, or other activities and interpersonal relationships. There are a variety of treatment options for ADD/ADHD.

Medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes have been shown to reduce symptoms and offer a person diagnosed with ADD/ADHD a better quality of life. If you have any questions or concerns about your child having ADD/ADHD, reach out and discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician or behavioral specialist for further guidance on how to cope with these disorders.

For more information on ADD/ADHD, head on over to the CDC for further reading and resources.