ADHD and Injuries

People with ADHD often have a higher chance of injuries. Research indicates that children with ADHD are significantly more likely to be injured while riding a bike, to receive head injuries, and be hospitalized for accidental poisoning -- leading to higher overall medical costs. Further research is needed to understand what role ADHD symptoms play in the risk of injuries, as well as other disorders that may occur with ADHD.

ADHD and Injuries: A Summary

Children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have more frequent and severe injuries than peers without ADHD.
 
Research indicates that children with ADHD are significantly more likely to:
 
  • Be injured as pedestrians or while riding a bicycle
  • Receive head injuries
  • Injure more than one part of the body
  • Be hospitalized for accidental poisoning.

 

Children with ADHD may be admitted to intensive care units or have an injury result in disability more frequently than other children.

 
Children with ADHD appear to have significantly higher medical costs than children without ADHD. Healthcare costs for each child with ADHD may be more than twice as high as medical costs for children without ADHD.
 
Further ADHD research is needed to understand what role ADHD symptoms play in the risk of injuries, as well as other disorders that may occur with ADHD. For example, a young child with ADHD may not look for oncoming traffic while riding a bicycle or crossing the street, or he or she may engage in high-risk physical activity without thinking of the possible consequences. Teenagers with ADHD who drive may have more traffic violations and accidents and be twice as likely to have their driver's licenses suspended than drivers without ADHD.
 
(ADHD and Injuries Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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