Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common behavioral health problem affecting children, is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. But according to researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the rates of ADHD diagnosis may vary widely depending on a child's age, gender, geographic region, teacher, and school district.
To learn more about the kids who were diagnosed with ADHD, researchers examined data from a national study of 9,278 children followed from kindergarten through third grade. The data included insight from parents on whether their children ever had problems related to learning, attention, or hyperactivity and whether they'd been diagnosed with ADHD. The data also included parents’ answers about the family, where the family lived, the child's teacher, and the child's birth date.
Overall, more than 5% of children in this study had been diagnosed with ADHD. The diagnosis was less often made in girls, black, and Hispanic children. In addition, children living in the western and southern parts of the United States were less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children living in the Midwest. The demographics of the teachers also seemed to influence the likelihood of ADHD diagnosis: Those with an older teacher were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, and those with a white teacher were less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD diagnosis also tended to be more prevalent in schools with higher state performance standards. The study authors reasoned that this could be attributed to teachers who are motivated to improve their students' performance and who may be more likely to watch for potential learning problems. However, it may also indicate that pressures to perform to standards may spur some teachers to encourage parents to seek treatment for their children with ADHD.
Also, children born in the summer months of June, July, and August were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, compared with students born in the winter. The study authors suggest that since schools typically use fall birth dates as the cutoff for kindergarten, children born in the summer are the youngest in their grade and some behavior that is classified as ADHD might simply be due to younger age.
What This Means to You. According to the results of this study, geographic region, age, gender, ethnic differences, and teacher and school characteristics may affect ADHD diagnosis in children. If you or your child's teacher believes your child may have symptoms of ADHD, discuss the issue with your doctor. Symptoms of ADHD in children include inattentiveness, difficulty listening or staying organized, tendency to lose things, fidgeting or squirming, difficulty remaining seated, excessive talking, and problems with interrupting others.
Source: Helen Schneider, PhD; Daniel Eisenberg, PhD; Pediatrics, April 2006.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2006
