The first national prevalence study of adult ADHD in more than a decade was released today. The study revises the previous percentage of adults with ADHD, now estimating that six percent of adults—about 15.5 million adults in the United States—have ADHD or received a diagnosis of ADHD in the past. More than half of adults with ADHD receive their diagnosis after reaching adulthood.

CHADD President Jeremy Didier, LSCSW, LMAC, is one of the 15.5 million adults who has ADHD. She received her diagnosis at the age of thirty-six.

“The diagnosis came as a relief and validation—a way to understand years of impulsivity, inattention, and struggles with daily life,” Didier said. Her diagnosis and the treatment she has received have helped her to bring her once-chaotic life under control. “Now, the control I have gained is under threat—first from drug shortages, and now from Congress.”

One in three adults include stimulant medication in their treatment plans. Almost half of adults with ADHD also rely on telehealth services to meet with their prescribing professionals. Current regulations on prescribing stimulant medications, first implemented as part of the response to COVID-19 and then later temporarily extended, are set to expire on December 31, 2024.

Didier is also among the 71.5 percent of adults who struggled to get their prescriptions filled during the last two years as medication shortages included stimulant medications for ADHD. The difficulties included finding a pharmacy with medication on hand to fill her teenaged son’s prescription.

“Telehealth has transformed the way we manage ADHD, but the fight for access isn’t over,” Didier said. “If the current telehealth regulations are allowed to expire without a long-term federal government solution, millions of people could face severe disruptions in their care.”

Ensuring that telehealth services remain accessible is essential to meeting the needs of adults and children who rely on these services for health care.

“For families like mine, it’s the difference between chaos and calm, between managing symptoms and letting them spiral,” Didier said. “As we continue to gather data on adult ADHD, one thing is clear: we need to keep advocating for better access to care—whether through telehealth, addressing medication shortages, or developing long-term solutions for treatment.”

Learn more:

Report: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults

Adult ADHD
Professionals Who Diagnose and Treat ADHD
About Insurance and Public Health Benefits
Telehealth in ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Podcast Transcript
Telemental Health: Benefits and Potential Pitfalls