ADD is at least twice as common in boys as in girls; learning disabilities are equally common in both genders.Posted on 05/22/2002 6:19:33 AM PDT by Lance Romance
Survey: 7 percent of elementary school children diagnosed with ADHD
By M.A.J. McKENNA
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Nearly 7 percent of elementary-age children in the United States -- more than 1.6 million kids -- have been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder, according to the first nationwide survey of the problem.
The numbers are higher than expected, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics has estimated an overall rate of 3 to 5 percent of children," said Patricia Pastor, a health statistician and the study's lead author. Regional studies have shown from 4 percent to 12 percent of kids' having ADD. The CDC study also found that 7.7 percent of children -- 1.8 million -- have learning disabilities.
The two disorders overlap: 2.6 million children have either ADD or a learning disability or both. Overall, 3.3 percent of all children in that age group have ADD, 4.2 percent have learning disabilities, and 3.5 percent have both conditions, the agency said. The nationwide survey of 78,041 households was conducted for the CDC by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1997 and 1998. It asked parents if children aged 6-11 in their household had ever been diagnosed with ADD by a doctor or other health care professional, or been diagnosed with a learning disability by a health care professional or school official.
Among the findings:
ADD is at least twice as common in boys as in girls; learning disabilities are equally common in both genders.
White children are more likely than blacks or Hispanics to be diagnosed with ADD.
The results of the study suggest that access to health care may have a much greater influence on diagnosis than had been realized, Pastor said. Children whose families had private insurance or Medicaid and could consult a health professional were more likely to be diagnosed with ADD than those without insurance.
The study did not break down the results by state or city.
Georgia has had a reputation as a hotbed for ADD. In 1994, it was ranked No. 1 in the country for cumulative consumption of methylphenidate, an anti-ADD stimulant marketed as Ritalin. By last year, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the state was 17th in methylphenidate use.
I be oppressed.
Funny, they will put adults in jail for using drugs anf threaten to take away their kids if they don't give them grugs. Hmmmmmmm.
Please tell me you were half asleep when you typed this. ;-)
"Nearly 7 percent of elementary-age children in the United States -- more than 1.6 million kids -- have been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder"
That fact DOES NOT MEAN that 1.6 million kids ACTUALLY HAVE attention-deficit disorder, or that they're "stupid".
There is a LOT of mis-diagnosis of this (some pressured by parents, some pressured by teachers, some pressured by drug companies).
Don't blame the kids for what their parents do to them.
But I don't doubt that at least 7% of elementary school children are undisciplined and unruly, and that there are those who have an interest in drugging them, rather than investing the time and patience and love necessary to correct the behavior.
On what basis do you make the claim "its too high" ?
How many people in the population benefit from corrective lenses ? Like eyesight, ADD presents itself across a range. Everything from blind to needing reading glasses.
Applying the range theory to the 7%, those at one end of the range may cope just fine while those at the other end may not.
He got the "Hmmmmmmm." right.;)
Yes, dear. ;-)
My statement that the 7% figure was "too high" is opinion and conjecture. Mixed with disbelief that 7% of elementary school children need ritalin.
You are correct in pointing out that I have no documented evidence to support this opinion. Is it your opinion that 7% need ritalin?
My dad had a cure for this, he would remove the plug from the TV and hand us a list of chores to be accomplished. If we still had attention problems, some cursing and a belt was utilized to help us regain focus.
Believe me. I am quite calm. Your problem with the CDC and over medication of children may have a basis in fact. Your reference to kids, with real, honest to God learning disabilities, as stupid is feckless. I am trying to educate you so that your ignorance doesn't interfere with any points you might make that have merit.
First the word need I object to. Only a very small number of ADD folks actually NEED ritalin. That said it may be entirely possible that the entire ADD population would benefit from ritalin but the desicion tree is slightly more complex than simple yes or no. Before going too far, I believe that many ADD diagnoses are not correct and therefore whatever percent of diagnosed ADD'ers there are the actual number needs to be reduced for misdiagnosed but at the same time it needs to be increased for undiagnosed. For example, many children may have depression, alergies, simple behavior problems etc.
Whether drugs ae appropriare, some of factors include the fact that Ritalin and other drug therapies come with side-effects that must be weighed. In addition, ritalin and other drugs are not effective 24/7 and therefore the individual still needs to learn alternative coping mechanisms and use of ritalin can retard that.
At the other end of the spectrum are children who have very little likelihood of being able to stay focused long enough to teach any coping skills to.
In summary, of the total population of ADD'ers less than all could benefit from drugs. Some may need them all the time and some may need them at times.
But I have no predetermined idea how many are in the population. If I had to guess the population would mirror eyeglass wearers especially in that the needs for glasses change in response to age and tasks.
ADD is not a behavior problem. It is a performance problem.
How do you KNOW the majority of those diagonsed with ADD are not ADD ? Is there a study you can point to ?
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