The number of children being diagnosed with ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—is on the rise, a study from Northwestern University has found.
In 10 years, the number of childhood ADHD diagnoses has risen 66 percent, growing from 6.2 million in 2000 to 10.4 million in 2010, researchers found. They said the increase in diagnoses was likely due to growing awareness of ADHD and its symptoms.
Over the time of the study, the researchers note, more specialists, instead of primary-care physicians, have begun treating more of these young patients.
The study is published in the March-April issue of Academic Pediatrics.
