Skip to main content

ADHD Misdiagnosis Rates Higher Than Ever

Today, so many children who visit doctors for acting out behaviors are receiving an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) diagnosis. This has always been a problem. Two recent studies, to be published in the Journal of Health Economics, suggest there may be something very wrong with the way doctors are diagnosing children in the United States so quickly with ADHD.

One study shared that approximately one million children are misdiagnosed when they receive an ADHD diagnosis. One study reported that these specific children that are misdiagnosed are ones that are the youngest in their Kindergarten classes because they had missed the cut off date, and the other confirmed that just missing or being just before the cut off date for Kindergarten gave children symptoms that doctors called ADHD. The youngest diagnosed children in these classes were twice as likely to be on some sort of ADHD stimulant medication.

The youngest Kindergarten children are at higher risk of receiving an ADHD misdiagnosis.

Dr Todd Elder, assistant professor of economics at Michigan State University researched a sample of approximately 12,000 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Cohort. This is a program which is funded by the National Center for Education Statistics. Dr. Elder analyzed the difference in ADHD diagnosis and the children who were on medication. The children were all either the youngest or the oldest in their Kindergarten classes.

The results showed a much higher rate of the youngest children versus the oldest Kindergarten students being not only receiving the ADHD diagnosis, but also being put onto medication to help with their behavioral symptoms. Older Kindergarten students were less likely to receive the misdiagnosis.

Dr. Elder shared that many times, children are diagnosed based on teacher's perceptions and subjective observations of the children in their classes. Elder stated, "If a child is behaving poorly, if he's inattentive, if he can't sit still, it may simply be because he's 5 and the other kids are 6. There's a big difference between a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old, and teachers and medical practitioners need to take that into account when evaluating whether children have ADHD."

According to Medical New Today, ADHD misdiagnosis in children is higher than ever. Elder estimated that "overall in the US, the misdiagnosis rate is about 1 in 5, that is around 900,000 of the 4.5 million children currently diagnosed with ADHD have been misdiagnosed." Unfortunately, there is much inappropriate prescription writing going on and many children who do not need medication for their behavioral issues are being given it despite. Parents will listen to "experts" even if they are misdiagnosing. Parents trust the quick decisions that doctors make these days.

ADHD patch provides tolerable and effective symptom control

Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.

Comments

#1 ADHD

ADHD is NOT the whole story. ADHD has risen at the same level as diabetes and there is a llink! Blood sugar is the root cause link for ADHD and Alzhemiers. The drug makers control the health care and much of Washington

A filmmaker has been reversing diabetes WITHOUT medication in much of the world and the USA drug makers are still silent on the story to the people

Just google SPIRIT HAPPY DIET