Summary
During ADHD awareness month, Melissa Skana looks at whether the incidence of ADHD is increasing and what the research has to say on the matter.
During ADHD awareness month, Melissa Skana looks at whether the incidence of ADHD is increasing.
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions affecting children (Lin et al., 2025) and was once thought to be solely a childhood condition. For decades, there was also a significant dismissal and underdiagnosis of ADHD in girls and women. Recently, it has become a prominent topic that is talked about on social media. The statistics support this, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of around 2.5%, and in England alone, approximately 2.5 million people have been diagnosed, including 740,000 children and young people (McKenchie et al., 2025). However, it is crucial to recognise what is driving this rise. Are we simply getting better at identifying what was always there, or are we seeing an epidemic of attention difficulties?
In previous years, McKenchie et al. (2023) reviewed data on the increased prevalence of ADHD diagnoses and found that of 7 million individuals aged three to 99; 36,000 of these individuals had an ADHD diagnosis. According to McKechnie et al (2023), the increase was highest in children, rising to 3.5% of children in 2018. However, the majority of the increase was among adults, with approximately a twenty times increase in ADHD diagnoses. The number of ADHD diagnoses was about two times higher in the most deprived areas, amongst both adults and children. The increase could be due to several factors, including increased awareness of ADHD, broader diagnostic criteria, and more people seeking support.
Social media appears to have been partly responsible for raising awareness of ADHD. Short, relatable videos describing symptoms are on platforms like TikTok. The present results (Schiros et al., 2025) suggest that exposure to ADHD misinformation decreased accurate ADHD knowledge and increased confidence in ADHD knowledge. Dzogbenuku and colleagues (2022) also found that entertaining content tends to be more popular and is the top motivator for sharing misinformation (Maxhar B., et al., 2024). However, this increased awareness has changed the lives of many. When adults eventually underwent assessment, many reported significant positive outcomes from receiving an ADHD diagnosis (Hansson Halleröd et al., 2015). The growing public conversation around ADHD has helped to reduce stigma and foster greater understanding and acceptance.
Another factor driving the rise in diagnoses is long-overdue recognition across different populations. For decades, ADHD research focused almost exclusively on hyperactive boys (Platania et al., 2025). As a result, girls and women whose symptoms often present as internalised restlessness or inattentiveness went unnoticed due to the stigma (Babinski, D. E., et al., 2025). Assessments are now more inclusive as a result of recognition of the differences in ADHD symptoms between genders. People who have struggled with focus, memory, or impulsivity for years are now receiving a diagnosis. Many people talk of feeling both relieved and saddened by the explanation, as well as dismayed by the years they were misinterpreted (Babinski, D. E. et al., 2025). This perspective represents progress, as it addresses a long-standing gap in recognition rather than reflecting overdiagnosis.
Is the prevalence of ADHD actually increasing? Statistically, yes. However, evidence suggests that this is due to the development of greater understanding rather than an epidemic of dysfunction. Neurodiversity is no longer mistaken for inappropriate behaviour and can be seen as empowering. We must take into account not only who has ADHD but also the type of environment that makes it so difficult to focus in the first place, as our society continues to change in social, technological, and psychological ways.
What do you think? If you or someone you know have a recent ADHD diagnosis, what difference has this made? Leave a comment below.
NB Valuing Minds is able to conduct ADHD assessments with children and young people with virtually no waiting lit. Email enquiries@valuingminds.com for more information.
References:
Babinski, D. E., & Libsack, E. J. (2025). Adult diagnosis of ADHD in women: A mixed methods investigation. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29(3), 207-219.
Dzogbenuku, R. K., Doe, J. K., & Amoako, G. K. (2022). Social media information and student performance: The mediating role of hedonic value (entertainment). Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 15(1), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-12-2021-0160
Hansson Halleröd, S. L., Anckarsäter, H., Råstam, M., & Hansson Scherman, M. (2015). Experienced consequences of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult – A qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry, 15(1), Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0410-4
Lin, T., Zhou, R., Tao, J., Chen, A., Lin, J., Zhang, J., … & Shi, H. (2025). Global, regional, and national trends in the burden of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents (0-14 years): A 30-year analysis and future projections (1990-2036). Psychiatry Research, 116746.
Mazhar, B., Niu, J., Zhong, Q., & Haq, I. U. (2024). Unraveling the dynamics of COVID-19 fake news spread: The influence of socialization, entertainment, and altruism in instant news sharing on social media. Telematics and Informatics Reports, 15, 100155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teler.2024.100155
McKechnie, D. G. J., O’Nions, E., Dunsmuir, S., & Petersen, I. (2023). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses and prescriptions in UK primary care, 2000–2018: Population-based cohort study. BJPsych Open, 9(4), e121. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.512
McKechnie, D. (2025, August 28). ADHD management information – August 2025. NHS Digital. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/august-2025
Platania, N. M., Starreveld, D. E., Wynchank, D., Beekman, A. T., & Kooij, S. (2025). Bias by gender: exploring gender-based differences in the endorsement of ADHD symptoms and impairment among adult patients. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6, 1549028.
Schiros, A., Bowman, N., & Antshel, K. (2025). Misinformation mayhem: the effects of TikTok content on ADHD knowledge, stigma, and treatment-seeking intentions. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1-13.
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