In the United States, more than six million people have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), according to the Centers for Disease Control. Although the disorder is so common, many people still don’t understand it. ADHD does not only occur in children, and it is not all hyperactivity.
If you believe that you (or someone you know) has ADHD, you may want to learn more about it. How do people diagnose it? How do men and women react differently to the condition? Here’s everything you need to know–symptoms, facts, diagnosis, and remedies–about ADHD.
How Common Is ADHD?
ADHD, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, causes abnormal hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. At least 4.4% of Americans have ADHD, and 5.3% of people have it worldwide. Both adults and children can get it; 85% of children with ADHD carry it into adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
At least 6.4 million children in America have ADHD. And although many adults have the disorder, only 10.9% seek treatment. The diagnoses for ADHD have only increased over the past two decades, says psychiatrist Dr. John T. Walkup.
