Black children may be more likely than white or Hispanic children to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a learning disability, according to a new report from the CDC.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2016–2018 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of the civilian U.S. population, for the report.
Five findings:
1. Between 2016 and 2018, nearly 14 percent of children, ages 3 to 17 years were reported as having been diagnosed with either ADHD or a learning disability.
2. Black children (16.9 percent) were more likely than white children (14.7 percent) or Hispanic children (11.9 percent) to be diagnosed with either condition.
3. ADHD or learning disabilities were more likely to be diagnosed between the ages of 11 and 17 years (18.1 percent) than between 3 and 10 years (10.1 percent).
4. Children with families living below the federal poverty level (18.7 percent) were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability than children with families living above the federal poverty level (12.7 percent).
5. Children with parents who have no more than a high school education (15.4 percent) were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability than children with parents who have more than a high school education (12.8 percent).