ADHD costs U.S. homes $77 billion yearly

NEW YORK, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in American adults costs $77 billion a year in lost income, a study released Thursday indicated.

"Our study shows the problems faced by people with ADHD, associated with every aspect of life, ranging from school difficulties to emotional difficulties to problems in the workplace have enormous economic impact," study co-author and Harvard researcher Joseph Biederman told an American Medical Association media briefing.

An estimated 8 million adult sufferers of ADHD in the United States are battling inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity and are losing income because of it, he said.

"On average, those with ADHD have household incomes that are about $10,791 lower for high school graduates and $4,334 lower for college graduates, compared to those who do not have ADHD," Biederman said.

Those with adult ADHD are less likely to finish high school or pursue higher education, he said.

In the study, 500 adults with ADHD and 501 in the general population were asked about problems on the job, school performance, substance abuse, marital problems and other life questions.