While many parents may scoff at the idea that 9% of children have ADHD, the effects are felt by many along with the stigma that goes along with giving these children the proper medication — which can sometimes ultimately make or break a child truly suffering with ADHD. It is now being said that the condition is actually being underdiagnosed, contrary to popular belief.

In an age where every diagnosis is the safety net for every behavior under the sun, it’s no wonder that the kids that were once simply considered “weird”, “hyper”, “naughty” or “eccentric” are now conveniently compartmentalized. Don’t get me wrong, as an adult with ADHD, I am all too aware of the ramifications of blowing off such silly attributions and quirks and suffering because of it.

Perhaps the parents of their blessed “normal” children, will refrain from judgment and ridicule when another parent says their child had ADHD. Unless you’ve been to medical school, trust me, parents don’t really don’t care about your opinion and your acting like it doesn’t exist. Parents without an ADHD kid can’t and don’t understand.

“There is a perception that ADHD is overdiagnosed and overtreated,” said lead researcher Dr. Tanya E. Froehlich, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. “But our study shows that for those who meet the criteria for ADHD, the opposite problem — underdiagnosis and undertreatment — seems to be occurring.”

The researchers found that some 2.4 million children between the ages of 8 and 15 meet the medical definition of ADHD, but an estimated 1.2 million children haven’t been diagnosed or treated, Froehlich said, adding that “girls were more likely to be undiagnosed.”

What’s more, children from poor families, who have the highest rates of ADHD, were the least likely to have consistent treatment with medication, Froehlich noted. “In addition, children without health insurance were less likely to be diagnosed and treated,” she said.

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