Ontario Child Health Study: Prevalence of Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

TLDR

The study reports prevalence estimates of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) from the Ontario Child Health Study. Prevalence of ADDH subtypes—including attention deficit with or without hyperactivity, situational versus pervasive forms, and comorbid presentations—was examined. ADDH prevalence was 9.0% in boys and 3.3% in girls, with no age or urban‑rural differences but a higher rate in boys; clinical implications are discussed.

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this paper is to present data from the Ontario Child Health Study on the prevalence of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH). The overall prevalence of ADDH was 9.0% in hoys and 3.3% in girls. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of ADDH by age or urban‐rural status, but the disorder was significantly more common in boys than in twirls. The prevalence of various subtypes ADDH was also explored: attention deficit with and without hyperactivity, situational vs pervasive ADDH, and ADDH with and without other disorders. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.