ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

An impairment of the executive functions.

Executive Functions

A set of processes that all have to do with managing oneself and one's resources in order to achieve a goal. It is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation.

For children with ADHD, school too often starts with failure. The consequences only magnify as time progresses into adulthood, if untreated. The following statistics are alarming, considering children with ADHD compose approximately 10% of the school-age population.

The Early Years

• 50%

  Repeat a grade by adolescence

• 10x

  More likely to have difficulties with friendships
  (20.6% vs. 2.0%)

• 80%

  Are two years behind academically by age 11

• 46%

  Of children with ADHD have been suspended

Higher Education

• >30%

  raduate from a 4 year institution

• 82%

  took on average 10 years to graduate

• ↓GPA

  While attending a university

• 35%

  eventually drop out

Social Costs

• 4-9x

  more likely to commit crimes and go to jail

• 143.8m

  Days of lost productivity acrooss 10 nations

• 21-45%

  of prisoners have ADHD according to 15 studies from peer reviewed journals

• $36-$52b

  estimated annual societal "cost of illness"