Report prepared for the Australian ADHD
Professionals Association
Key findings
- ADHD affects approximately 281,200 children and adolescents (aged 0-19) and
533,300 adults (aged 20+) in Australia. - The total cost of ADHD in Australia in 2019 is $20.42 billion, which includes financial
costs of $12.83 billion and wellbeing losses of $7.59 billion. Productivity losses due to
ADHD are substantial ($10.19 billion).
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects over
800,000 people in Australia today. ADHD is characterised by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity,
and in some cases excessive levels of hyperactivity. Diagnosis is provided once symptoms are
deemed by a specialist clinician to meet the diagnostic criteria. There is no one single known cause
of ADHD; it is a syndrome that arises from an interaction of genetic, social and environmental
factors. Despite the uncertainty of the cause of ADHD and the variation in the reported prevalence,
it is clear that in Australia today, the social and economic cost of ADHD is large.
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NDCO Southern Melbourne
