A Call to Action to Improve the Quality of Life and Life Expectancy of People with ADHD
Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD)
October 7, 2019
The Adverse Health Outcomes, Economic Burden, and Public Health Implications of Unmanaged Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
A Call to Action to Improve the Quality of Life and Life Expectancy of People with ADHD
I. INTRODUCTION
ADHD: Prevalence, Presentation, and Comorbidities
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that
affects an estimated 8.4% of children in the U.S.1 Although ADHD is known as one the
most prevalent mental disorders experienced by children, its symptoms and impairments
often persist into adulthood, impacting approximately 4.4% of adults in the U.S. The
disorder may arise in individuals as a result of genetic and even environmental factors.2
Official diagnostic manuals currently recognize ADHD as a disorder that includes two
interrelated sets of symptoms: inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.