Has it actually increased or is it just being given a diagnosis more often now? Kids that in the past would have been considered normal seem like they’re getting tagged as ADHD a lot more often now. I wonder if something similar is going on with autistic spectrum diagnoses.
Maybe you are correct about the diagnosis. There were kids in what was called “special ed/resource room” when I was a kid. We just gave them all one label.
ADHD now is what a normal, active child was then. They may not have a way to channel energy any more.