‘Children with ADHD are being failed’: parents share their experiences of an overwhelmed system

Since the pandemic there has been a steep rise in cases of ADHD among children. Here, experts discuss why, parents describe their struggles and campaigners say what needs to change

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is shrouded in misunderstanding, uncertainty and controversy. There is, for example, no definitive agreement on how many people have the condition. In the UK, one survey has put the incident rate in childhood (five to 15 years old) at just over 2% (3.62% of boys and 0.85% of girls). ADHD support groups cite figures of 5%. One UK study found 11% with symptoms but 6.7% with disorder and impairment.

Even the name can be misleading. We don't have a deficit of attention," says Henry Shelford, co-founder of ADHD UK, a charity aimed at raising awareness of the disorder. It's a lack of control of attention. And people with predominant hyperactivity make up our smallest cohort."