1-minute summary: There can be serious socio-economic impacts if ADHD goes untreated or undiagnosed. Children and adults with ADHD can face problems with school and work performance, mental and physical health, substance use, and relationships if they don’t receive the care they need. We believe in standardizing the quality of ADHD assessment and treatment, and invite you to sign the ADHD Consensus Statement to support a vision of better ADHD care.
ADHD is a complex condition that affects around 11% of US children between the ages of 4 and 17 and around 5% of US adults. Untreated childhood ADHD is associated with an increased risk of death before the age of 46 as well as an increased risk of suicide in adulthood. Additionally, approximately six out of 10 ADHD patients have coexisting conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. If we continue to do nothing, the financial implications of the lifetime direct and indirect costs of ADHD are substantial. It is estimated that adult ADHD contributes approximately $122.8 billion in total economic burden because of unemployment and increased health care costs.
Despite the high number of people living with ADHD, there are many barriers to successful treatment. ADHD can often go undiagnosed for long periods, particularly in women and girls whose symptoms may present differently. Furthermore, approximately 60% of Americans live in mental health provider shortage areas, limiting access to treatment. While untreated ADHD can have lasting effects on an individual’s life, it is also described as the most treatable behavioral health condition, when accurately diagnosed.
The impact of ADHD going untreated can be huge, affecting school and work performance, mental and physical health, substance abuse, and relationships.
Watch ADHD experts discuss what happens if we do nothing about ADHD…
Taking action on ADHD: The ADHD Expert Consortium
In 2022, a group of experts in ADHD, including psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, developmental pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and patient advocates gathered together to form the ADHD Expert Consortium. Together, this group has developed a vision for the path forward utilizing data such as our objective ADHD tests and addressing contemporary challenges in healthcare. Key challenges discussed included access to quality ADHD care in a standardized way, absence of equity, education, lack of suitable payment, and parity. This group shares a vision for standardizing and improving ADHD care and improving information dissemination between professionals working in the field of ADHD.
The key challenges addressed included low reimbursement for mental health conditions, strict prior authorization and medical necessity requirements, and lack of appropriate funding for interventions.
An update from 2023
In October 2023, the ADHD Expert Consortium traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend a briefing on Youth Mental Health. The briefing highlighted the impacts of the mental health crisis on children, their families, and support systems. Participants spoke out about treating and prioritizing “brain health” as equally important as physical health and advocated for better community support systems for families and children. Watch a summary below.
The Consensus Statement on ADHD
Following the formation of the Consortium, the group published a Consensus Statement. The statement defines a vision for better ADHD care, utilizing objective data to aid diagnoses, and addressing contemporary challenges in healthcare.
We believe that ADHD must be viewed as a public health problem that produces significant impact on the health, quality of life, and economic state of the US population. If you agree, sign the consensus statement today
This powerful video and key calls to action from clinical and community experts who care deeply about improving outcomes in ADHD highlight the dangers of doing nothing about ADHD. Without proper diagnosis, treatment, and action, young people and adults with ADHD are at increased risk of multiple socio-economic issues. The mission, as outlined in the Consensus Statement, is to improve the lives of people being evaluated and or treated for ADHD. If you share this vision, please read and sign the statement to add your support.