Janel Dillard spent decades wondering what was wrong before finally being diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As she dove into research, she noticed a glaring absence: “I don’t often see people who look like me.” Dillard, who is African American, reflects a troubling reality—ADHD in the U.S. is often seen as a “white” condition, both in diagnosis and treatment.
Studies show African American and Latino children are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, despite showing symptoms at similar rates. Paul Morgan, Ph.D., warns, “We don’t want a situation where ADHD is a condition for wealthy white families.” His research found African American children were 69% less likely to be diagnosed by eighth grade.
Even after diagnosis, disparities persist. Only 36% of Black children and 30% of Latino children with ADHD take medication, compared to 65% of white children. Tumaini Coker, M.D., emphasizes, “The disparities we see were more likely from the underdiagnosis and undertreatment… rather than the overdiagnosis of white children.”
Implicit bias plays a major role. Natalie Cort, Ph.D., explains how clinicians may misinterpret symptoms due to subconscious associations. “Mental health professionals’ misdiagnosis of minorities… contributes to racial and ethnic minorities being disproportionately represented in the criminal and juvenile justice system.”
Community stigma and mistrust of the medical system further complicate care. Janel’s brother feared she’d be “pumped full of drugs.” Cort adds, “The cultural mistrust is based on really, really egregious historical wrongs.”
See: “Race and ADHD: How People of Color Get Left Behind” (May 9, 2025)
