How Common is ADHD?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD occurs in an estimated 3 to 5
percent of preschool and school-age children. Therefore, in a class of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at
least one student will have this condition. Click here to watch a video clip on risk factors.
No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. There appears to
be a combination of causes, from genetics to possible environmental influences. Physical differences in the brain
seem to be involved. Several different factors could increase a child’s likelihood of having the disorder.
Gender. Although girls can have ADHD, boys are at much higher risk. One
study found that about 2 to 3 times more boys than girls have ADHD.1
Family history. Having a biological parent or sibling with ADHD seems
to raise a child’s chances of developing it. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, at least
one-third of fathers who had ADHD in their youth may have a child with ADHD.
Prenatal risks. Some studies have shown a possible increase in risk
among children whose mothers used cigarettes or alcohol during pregnancy. (If you are pregnant, do not smoke or use
alcohol!)
Environmental toxins. Exposure to very high levels of lead before age 6
or so might also raise a child’s risk. Some young children are exposed to lead from the dust of worn paint in many
older buildings, or from drinking water that has traveled through lead pipes.
ADHD begins in childhood, but it often lasts into adulthood. Several studies done in
recent years estimate that 30 to 65 percent of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms into adolescence and
adulthood.
DCDays.com would like to give a special thanks
to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for this informational article. You can contact them at:
3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-3007 voice: 202-966-7300 fax: 202-966-2891.
How Common is
ADHD
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