For teens with ADHD, life can be quite difficult. The inability to focus, coupled with restlessness and even impulsiveness can cause severe social and academic problems.
According to a recent post by additude.com, America’s teens are severely impacted by this health condition. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of American children and teens with ADHD has gone up by 31%.
But is there a reason behind these worrying statistics?
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized mainly by lack of focus, restlessness, difficulty in completing tasks, and low frustration tolerance.
A recent study published by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association revealed that ADHD accounts for 16% of the impact all health conditions have on Generation Z.
As you can probably imagine, the growing number of teens with ADHD translate to astronomic social and economic costs.
But the worst part is that other behavioral and emotional problems such as depression or anxiety can sometimes accompany this condition. And this will only add more to the problems that adolescents and teens with adhd struggle with.
Why is the number of teens with ADHD on the rise?
No one knows for sure why this number is on the rise.
Some experts believe the growing number of teens with adhd is a consequence of the changes that our society has undergone over the last decades. In other words, we live in a fast-paced ever-changing world where the demands of modern life put a lot of pressure on today’s teens.
Others believe the reason why this number has gone up is due to the changes in diagnostic criteria. In other words, the diagnostic criteria that today’s mental health experts follow are somewhat ‘looser’ than in the past. And that means a child who’s just a bit more distracted or ‘fidgety’ than his peers might end up being diagnosed with ADHD.
But regardless of the reasons why ADHD seems to be a growing issue among America’s teens, it is our job as parents to help our children cope with the challenges of modern life.
