In this week’s episode of Four Corners, the program unveils the first national map of adult ADHD in Australia, revealing sharp contrasts in diagnosis and treatment rates.
The investigation, led by Dr Norman Swan, draws on new data to identify unexpected hotspots, emerging trends in women, and regions where the condition is going largely undetected.
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Four Corners unveils Australia’s first comprehensive national map of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), revealing stark differences by location.
ADHD diagnoses in Australian adults have risen dramatically over the past eight years, especially in women.
Data for each state and territory reveal which suburbs are the hotspots. The findings are not what you’d expect.
Dr Norman Swan leads Four Corners’ deep dive into Australia’s ADHD divide (image – ABC)
Dr Norman Swan and the team drill down into the new figures and discover which is Australia’s ADHD capital. Treatment rates there far exceed what experts say is the actual prevalence of the condition.
At the same time, large parts of Australia are ADHD deserts, where up to 90% of adults who might have ADHD are being left undiagnosed and untreated with potential consequences for their future.
Attention Deficit asks how Australia ended up with such extremes, what harm is being done from both missed and misdiagnosis, why the system is failing and whether proposed remedies are likely to work.
This episode of Four Corners airs tonight, Monday 20 April ats 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
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