Common Questions & Misconceptions

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. 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.

What are the consequences of Untreated ADHD?

Family life may suffer. Untreated ADHD can increase strain between parents and children.

Teenagers with ADHD are at increased risk for driving accidents.

In a college student, this may cause an inability to focus and pay attention, an inability to start tasks, a hard time meeting deadlines and difficulty keeping up with workload.

Adults with untreated ADHD have higher rates of divorce and job loss, compared with the general population.

Smoking and ADHD: what’s the connection?

Research suggests that youth with ADHD are at increased risk for very early cigarette use. Cigarette smoking is more common in adolescents with ADHD, and adults with ADHD have elevated rates of smoking and report particular difficulty in quitting. Youth with ADHD are twice as likely to become addicted to nicotine as individuals without ADHD.