White children are more likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to Black and Hispanic children, according to a new government report.
The National Center for Health Statistics found that 13.4% of white non-Hispanic children ages 5-17 had ever been diagnosed with ADHD, compared to 10.8% of Black non-Hispanic children and 8.9% of Hispanic children.
The disparity was even greater among older children. For ages 12-17, 17% of white children had an ADHD diagnosis, versus 13% of Black children and 11.7% of Hispanic children. Overall, 11.3% of U.S. children ages 5-17 had been diagnosed with ADHD between 2020-2022. Boys (14.5%) were more likely than girls (8%) to receive a diagnosis.
The report also found ADHD diagnoses were more common among children from lower-income families and those with public health insurance. “Children in families with lower family income were more likely to have ADHD than those with higher family income,” the authors wrote. Among all racial groups, older children ages 12-17 had higher rates of ADHD diagnosis compared to younger children ages 5-11.
The findings are based on data from the National Health Interview Survey, which relies on parent-reported diagnoses.
While the report does not explain the racial disparities, previous research has suggested factors like access to healthcare and cultural differences in seeking mental health treatment may play a role in diagnosis rates among different groups.
See “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022” (March 1, 2024)
