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    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

    Also known as ADHD, ADD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperkinetic disorder

    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that begins in childhood, with inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive and combined presentations.[1][2] About 7 million US children (11.7%) and 15.5 million US adults (6.0%) have a current diagnosis, and treatment combines behavioural support with medicines, including stimulants.[3][4][5]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated WikiMental health, Health and medicine
    Key facts

    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition defined by persistent inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that begins in childhood and causes difficulties in more than one setting.[2] For a beginner’s overview, start with the ADHD explainer.

    This page is a reference summary and is not medical advice. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose ADHD.

    Definition and diagnosis

    The American Psychiatric Association describes three presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.[1] A diagnosis requires six frequent symptoms from the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive list, or five for people aged 17 or older.[6] Symptoms must have been noticeable for at least six months and, for adolescents and adults, must have been present before age 12 and caused difficulties in more than one setting.[2] Clinicians consider other explanations, including autism, Tourette’s and anxiety, and common co-occurring conditions such as depression, addiction and dyslexia.[7] For adults, the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test.[8][9]

    Epidemiology

    CDC estimates about 7 million US children aged 3 to 17 (11.7%) have a current diagnosis, with boys (13%) diagnosed more often than girls (7%).[3][10] About 1 million more children had ever been diagnosed in 2022 than in 2016.[11] In 2023, 15.5 million US adults (6.0%) reported a current diagnosis, about half of them diagnosed in adulthood.[4][12] Worldwide, persistent adult ADHD was estimated at 2.58% of adults in 2020.[13]

    Causes

    The cause is not always known. The NHS says ADHD may be caused by genetic differences and often runs in families, and it is linked to premature birth, epilepsy, brain injury and autism.[14]

    Treatment

    Guidelines vary by age. NICE recommends group parent training first for children under 5, methylphenidate as first-line medicine from age 5, and lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate for adults.[15][16][17] The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends FDA-approved medicine plus behavioural support for children aged 6 to 11.[5] FDA-approved medicines include stimulants such as Concerta, Adderall XR and Vyvanse and the non-stimulants Strattera and Intuniv.[18][19][20][21][22] Stimulant labels carry a boxed warning about abuse, misuse and addiction.[23] FDA has also authorised a nerve-stimulation device and a prescription video game for some children.[24][25] Details are in the medication guide and the guide to apps and digital therapeutics.

    Current issues

    US shortages of the main stimulants, first listed by FDA in 2022 and 2023, were still current in October 2026.[26][27] Rules letting clinicians prescribe stimulants by video without an in-person visit run until 31 December 2026.[28] The shortage and telehealth tracker follows these, and the analysis of rising adult diagnoses sets out competing explanations for the growth in diagnoses.

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    What are the types of ADHD?

    ADHD is divided into three presentations - predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. The NHS says most people have symptoms of both types.[1]

    How is ADHD diagnosed?

    Clinicians look for six frequent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity (five from age 17) lasting at least six months, present before age 12 and causing difficulties in more than one setting.[6][2]

    Does ADHD run in families?

    The NHS says ADHD may be caused by genetic differences and often runs in families, though the cause is not always known.[14]

    What medicines are approved for ADHD?

    In the US, stimulants such as methylphenidate (Concerta), mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall XR) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and non-stimulants such as atomoxetine (Strattera) and extended-release guanfacine (Intuniv).[18][19][20][21][22]

    How many children with ADHD get treatment?

    In 2022, 53.6% of US children with current ADHD received medication and 44.4% received behavioural treatment; CDC reports about 30% received neither.[29][30]

    Sources

    · 30 claims from 17 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      ADHD is divided into three presentations - predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • What is ADHD? · American Psychiatric Association (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • ADHD in adults · NHS (nhs.uk) · 2025-03-19 (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    2. [2]

      The APA says ADHD symptoms must have been noticeable over at least the past six months and, when diagnosing adolescents or adults, must have been present before age 12 and caused difficulties in more than one setting. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • What is ADHD? · American Psychiatric Association · Diagnosis section, which also states symptoms are "noticeable over at least the past six months" (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    3. [3]

      CDC estimates that about 7 million US children aged 3 to 17 (11.7%) have a current ADHD diagnosis. confirmedas of 2026-07-08

      • Data and Statistics on ADHD · US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2026-07-08 · At a glance (page last reviewed 8 July 2026) (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    4. [4]

      CDC estimated that 15.5 million US adults (6.0%) had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023, based on self-report. confirmedas of 2024-10-10

    5. [5]

      For children aged 6 to 11 with ADHD, the AAP recommends FDA-approved medication together with parent training and/or behavioural classroom interventions. confirmedas of 2019-10-01

    6. [6]

      Under the DSM criteria as described by the American Psychiatric Association, a diagnosis of the inattentive or hyperactive type requires six frequent symptoms from the relevant list, or five for people aged 17 or older. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • What is ADHD? · American Psychiatric Association · Inattentive type; the hyperactive type uses the same six-or-five rule (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    7. [7]

      The NHS says GPs may consider other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as autism, Tourette's or anxiety, and that people with ADHD often have other conditions such as depression, anxiety, addictions or dyslexia. confirmedas of 2025-03-19

      • ADHD in adults · NHS (nhs.uk) · 2025-03-19 · Getting help with ADHD (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    8. [8]

      The WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) has 18 questions about the frequency of DSM-IV ADHD symptoms in adults, and a six-question screener version drawn from them. confirmedas of 2005-02-01

    9. [9]

      In a 2005 validation study of 154 US survey respondents, the six-question ASRS screener had 68.7% sensitivity and 99.5% specificity against blind clinical diagnoses. confirmedas of 2005-02-01

    10. [10]

      In CDC's 2022-2023 estimates, boys (13%) were more likely than girls (7%) to be diagnosed with ADHD. confirmedas of 2026-07-08

      • Data and Statistics on ADHD · US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2026-07-08 · ADHD estimates by sex, race, and ethnicity (2022-2023) (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    11. [11]

      About 1 million more US children had ever received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than in 2016. confirmedas of 2024-05-22

    12. [12]

      About half of US adults with a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023 were diagnosed in adulthood. confirmedas of 2024-10-10

    13. [13]

      A 2021 global meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of persistent adult ADHD (with childhood onset) at 2.58% and of symptomatic adult ADHD at 6.76% in 2020. confirmedas of 2021-02-11

    14. [14]

      The NHS says the cause of ADHD is not always known; it may be caused by genetic differences and often runs in families, and it is linked to premature birth, epilepsy, brain injury and autism. confirmedas of 2025-03-19

      • ADHD in adults · NHS (nhs.uk) · 2025-03-19 · What causes ADHD; continues: "being born premature (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), having epilepsy, a brain injury and being autistic" (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    15. [15]

      For children under 5 with ADHD, NICE recommends an ADHD-focused group parent-training programme as first-line treatment. confirmedas of 2019-09-13

    16. [16]

      NICE recommends methylphenidate as the first-line medicine for children aged 5 and over and young people with ADHD. confirmedas of 2019-09-13

    17. [17]

      NICE recommends lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate as first-line medicines for adults with ADHD. confirmedas of 2019-09-13

    18. [18]

      Concerta (extended-release methylphenidate) is indicated for ADHD in patients aged 6 to 65. confirmedas of 2026-04-20

    19. [19]

      Adderall XR is an amphetamine stimulant indicated for ADHD in adults and children aged 6 and older. confirmedas of 2026-04-30

    20. [20]

      Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is FDA-approved for ADHD in adults and children aged 6 and older, and for moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. confirmedas of 2026-04-30

    21. [21]

      Strattera (atomoxetine) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, not a stimulant, indicated for ADHD in adults and children aged 6 and older; its label carries a boxed warning to monitor children and teenagers closely for suicidal thoughts and behaviour. confirmedas of 2026-06-30

      • Strattera (atomoxetine) prescribing information · US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA drug label; Eli Lilly) · 2026-06-30 · 1 Indications and Usage; boxed warning: "All STRATTERA-treated pediatric patients 6 years of age or older should be monitored and observed closely for suicidal thoughts and behavior, clinical worsening, or unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial months of therapy or at times of dosage changes." (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    22. [22]

      Intuniv (extended-release guanfacine) is a non-stimulant alpha-2A agonist indicated for ADHD on its own or added to stimulant medication. confirmedas of 2025-06-23

    23. [23]

      FDA labels for stimulants such as Vyvanse, Adderall XR and Concerta carry a boxed warning that they have a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to substance use disorder including addiction. confirmedas of 2026-04-30

    24. [24]

      On 19 April 2019 FDA permitted marketing of the Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) System, a prescription-only device for children aged 7 to 12 not taking ADHD medication and the first non-drug ADHD treatment FDA authorised. confirmedas of 2019-04-19

    25. [25]

      FDA granted Akili Interactive's EndeavorRx a De Novo classification as a digital therapeutic for ADHD on 15 June 2020, and cleared an updated EndeavorRx through a 510(k) (K231337) on 13 December 2023. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    26. [26]

      FDA's drug shortage list has carried immediate-release amphetamine mixed salts tablets (Adderall and generics) since 12 October 2022, and the shortage was still listed as current in data updated on 9 October 2026. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    27. [27]

      FDA has listed a shortage of lisdexamfetamine capsules and chewable tablets since 14 July 2023; as of 9 October 2026 it remained current, with 33 of 108 product records showing limited availability and 1 unavailable. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    28. [28]

      On 31 December 2025 DEA and HHS published a fourth extension of the telemedicine flexibilities, effective 1 January 2026 through 31 December 2026. confirmedas of 2025-12-31

    29. [29]

      Among US children with current ADHD in 2022, 53.6% received ADHD medication and 44.4% had received behavioural treatment in the past year. confirmedas of 2024-05-22

    30. [30]

      CDC reports that about 30% of children with ADHD received neither medication nor behaviour treatment, and about 32% received both. confirmedas of 2026-07-08

      • Data and Statistics on ADHD · US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2026-07-08 · Treatment section; same section states "About 32% children with ADHD received both medication treatment and behavior treatment." (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/adhd

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