Studies have shown that African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic children all have the same prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and respond similarly to treatment. However, the number of African American and Hispanic children actually diagnosed with ADHD is significantly lower than that of the Caucasian population. Consequently, the numbers of African American and Hispanic children receiving ADHD treatment is also low. This article investigates the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in African American and Hispanic populations, which include financial limitations, differing parental views, and cultural norms. It then discusses potential solutions to help address those barriers with the hope of providing culturally sensitive care among African American and Hispanic communities.
Keywords: ADHD; culture; ethnicity; minority.