How many kids in Australia have ADHD?

Although it is accepted among the medical profession that ADHD does exist, there is still disagreement about the number of people affected. In Australia, the Child and Adolescent Component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being reported ADHD to be present in 11% of children and adolescents. (Sawyer et al, 2000)

Statistics

This section offers the minimum number affected by these disabilities. The statistics are all drawn from independent sources.

1% of population diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum, including Aspergers) Bob Buckley
Computational Genomics Laboratory, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Australia

5%-10% of population diagnosed with ADHD (Australian Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) June 2009)
Childhood community prevalence of 6.8% is found in Australia (7- Graetz B, Sawyer M, Hazell P, Arney F, Baghurst P. Validity of DSM-IV ADHD subtypes in a nationally representative sample of Australian children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2001; 40:1410-1417.)

10% of population diagnosed with a Language Learning Disability (Andrew Dean Fildes Foundation)

The population of Australia is 22,407, 468. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

Total 0-19 yrs with one of the above disabilities
With ASD           59,492
With LD            594,920
With ADHD      404,649
Total                 951,871 children and young people

If we were to consider key players in these children’s lives, such as, parents, teachers, grandparents, health and community workers; the number of adults directly affected by decisions regarding children with these disabilities could reach into the millions.

These statistics do not take into account children and young people from dysfunctional families or with mental illnesses.