Statistics

The following, partial list of statistics on invisible disabilities and, is derived from current research on Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and Learning Disabilities (LD).

The Foundation finds these statistics not only disturbing,
but we know they are reversible with political will.

It is our goal to provoke change through awareness and education.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP

"LD (ADHD) are the only major disability area where the existence of the condition is treated with skepticism and
where the person who has the condition is
blamed for his or her situation."
(Inter-ministerial Working Group on LD 1992)

• 43% of the LD population live at or below the poverty line as opposed to the general population where those who live below the poverty line only represent 18%.

• According to [neurologist Dr. Fred] Baughman, 500,000 children [in the USA] were diagnosed ADHD in 1985 and between 5 and 7 million were today.

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health two to three percent of children have ADHD. This means that in a typical classroom at least one child is ADHD. The NIMH estimates that about 2 million children in the United States have ADHD.

• A neurologist by the name Dr. Fred Baughman estimated that 500,000 children were diagnosed with ADHD in 1985 and he estimates that there are now 5 to 7 million children with this diagnosis. This is contrary to what the NIMH states and on Dr. Baughman’s website he does not state his source for this statistic. Dr. Baughman’s main point seems to be that ADHD is misdiagnosed and overly medicated.
  

• Russell Barkley, PhD has done extensive research on ADHD and ADD. Below please find a summary of some of his findings:

• Boys are most likely to be diagnosed ADHD.

• 75% of boys with ADD are also hyperactive while 60% of girls with ADD are also hyperactive.

• 40 % of children with ADHD have a parent with ADHD.

• 50% of children with ADHD also have trouble sleeping.

• Children with ADHD develop 30% slower than non ADHD children.

• 65 % of children with ADHD have discipline problems.

• 25% of children with ADHD have a serious learning disability.

• One half of ADHD children have poor listening comprehension.

• Parents of a child with ADHD are three times as likely to divorce.

• Teens with ADHD have four times as many car accidents and have seven times as many second accidents.

• Substantial growth has also been reported in Australia, a country of just 19 million people, where it's estimated that at least 50,000 children are now on drugs prescribed for ADHD.”

• ”University of Queensland figures show that legal use of dexamphetamine in Australia has risen from 8.3 million tablets prescribed in 1984 to 38.4 million tablets in 2001. Over the same period Ritalin prescriptions rose from 1.5 million tablets to 19.3 million.”
  

• For those with LD and/or AD/HD who are working the income average is $14,000/year, whereas, in the general population the average income is $23,000/year
  

• 35% of LD and 70% of AD/HD students with a LD drop out of high school. More than twice that of the non - LD / AD/HD student.

• 62% of students with LD were unemployed one year after graduation.
  

• 50% of females with LD were single mothers within three to five years after leaving school.

• There is a high collation between untreated AD/HD and drug and/or alcohol problems.

• 60% of adolescents in treatment for substance abuse have identified LD / AD/HD.

• 18-25% of AD/HD individuals develop personality disorders.

• 10% -12% of LD youth and 40% of boys and 7% of girls with untreated AD/HD become involved with the justice system compared to 2.5% of the general population.

• Adults with a LD / AD/HD typically hold a job for three months with 70-80% under-performing at work.

• 80% of AD/HD in are or will be cigarette smokers.

• The Conference Board of Canada determined that dropouts from the high school class of 1987 will cost society more than $1.7 billion in lost taxes. The cost of AD/HD alone is 8.5 Billion per year.

• Up to 70% of all children diagnosed with childhood AD/HD will retain AD/HD traits into adulthood.

• 60% to 80% of AD/HD individuals also have a learning disability.

• 20% of Problematic Gamblers are AD/HD leading to high financial and family costs.

• 50-70% of AD/HD individuals have few or no friends.

• Almost 50% of adolescent suicides had previously been diagnosed as having learning disabilities and/or AD/HD.
  
  References: International Consensus Statement on AD/HD 2002 and Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and their chapters.