October is ADHD Awareness Month. An opportunity to have a greater understanding and awareness of ADHD. How much do you really know about ADHD? some of the fact below may surprise you.
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ADHD is a condition characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity
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It is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood
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It is usually diagnosed in childhood and last into adulthood
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People diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty paying attention and or controlling impulsive behavior
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People with ADHD may day-dream often
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70% of people with ADHD in childhood will continue to have it in adolescence
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50% will continue into adulthood
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ADHD is not caused by watching too much, parenting or having too much sugar
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ADHD may be caused by genetics, brain injury or low birth weights
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Is a highly genetic, brain-based syndrome that has to do with the brain regulation in executive functioning skills
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Affects people of every age, gender, IQ, religious and socio-economic background
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In 2011, CDC reported 9.5% of children are diagnosed with ADHD
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Boys are diagnosed 2-3 times as often as girls
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Up to 30% of children and 25-40% of adults with ADHD have co-existing anxiety disorders.
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Can be difficult to diagnosed
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Children with untreated ADHD are often mislabeled as problem children
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The average age of diagnosis is 7
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Symptoms typically first appear between the age of 3 and 6
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About 4% of American adults over the age of 18 deal with ADHD on a daily basis
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12.9 percent of men will be diagnosed
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4.9 percent of women will be diagnosed
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Children living below twice the poverty level have increased risk
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The lowest states with ADHD rates are Nevada, New Jersey, Colorado, Utah and California
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The highest states with ADHD rates are Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Delaware and South Carolina
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An estimated 6.4. million American children have been diagnosed
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ADHD is often overlooked in girls
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The average cost of treating ADHD per person is $14,576
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The yearly cost to Americans is 42.5 billion
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U.K. children are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than U.S. children
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Boys and girls display very different symptoms
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It was first mentioned in 1902. British Pediatrician Sir George Still described “an abnormal defect of moral control in children.”
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He found that some affected children could not control their behavior the way typical children would.
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Was originally called hyperkinetic impulse disorder
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In 1798, Sir Alexander Crichton used to term, “mental restlessness.” to describe ADHD
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During the 1940’s, the disorder was blamed on brain damage
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In 1955, the FDA approved the drug Ritalin
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In 1980, the American Psychological Association changed the name to ADD
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In 1989, the name was changed again to ADHD
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Sleep disorders affect people with ADHD
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ADHD contributes to more driving citations and accidents