11 Percent of Children 4 to 17 are Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Recent data shows that 11 percent of children 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, otherwise known as ADHD.

"Those are astronomical numbers. I'm floored," Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist in New Haven and a professor at Yale School of Medicine, said, according to The New York Times.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that almost one in five high school boys have been diagnosed with the disorder.

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder normally diagnosed in childhood, but it can persist through adulthood. Children with ADHD often have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors and/or are overly active. Symptoms also include daydreaming a lot, not seeming to be listening or being easily distracted from schoolwork or play, forgetting things, talking too much, acting and speaking without thinking, not being able to play quietly, having trouble taking turns, interrupting others and squirming or fidgeting, according to CBS News. 

There are three types of ADHD. The predominantly inattentive type has a hard time organizing or finishing a task, paying attention to details and gets distracted easily. They may forget details of daily task and have a hard time following instructions or routines. The predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type fidgets and talks a lot, has a hard time sitting still and feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. They may have more accidents and injuries than others. The third type is a combination of the other two categories. Boys are more likely to have the disorder than girls, according to the CDC.

As there are no specific risks or causes for ADHD, researchers suspect there may be a genetic link that could involve brain injuries, environmental exposures, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, which could cause premature delivery and low birth way.

The American Psychiatric Association stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) that they believe 3 to 7 percent of school-aged children have the disorder. However, the CDC estimates that 6.4 million people have received a diagnosis during that age range. The data was compiled from interviews with 76,000 parents nationwide, conducted on cell phones and landlines, from February 2011 to June 2012.

The number is a 16 percent increase from 2007, when only 9.5 percent of parents reported that their child had been diagnosed with ADHD. It's gone up 53 percent in the last 10 years.

Two-thirds of the children diagnosed with ADHD are reportedly taking prescription stimulants that can help control the symptoms like Ritalin or Adderall. The American Academy of Neurology warned of the dangers of prescribing these medications to healthy children, which can be used to aid them in their schoolwork, in March 2013.

"We need to ensure balance," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the director for the CDC, said, according to The New York Times. "The right medications for ADHD, given to the right people, can make a huge difference. Unfortunately, misuse appears to be growing at an alarming rate."