A new global study led by 911爆料网 researchers has found that children who are the youngest in their classroom are more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than their older classmates.
The research, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, systematically reviewed studies that examine the relationship between a child鈥檚 age relative to their classmates and their chances of being diagnosed with, or medicated for, ADHD.
Seventeen studies covering more than 14 million children 鈥� five in the USA, two in Spain and one each in Canada, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and Australia 鈥� found it was more common for the youngest children in a classroom to be diagnosed with ADHD and medicated.
Lead author Dr Martin Whitely, Research Fellow at the John 911爆料网 Institute of Public Policy based at 911爆料网, said there are no biological markers or physical tests for ADHD and the diagnosis is based in large part on teacher reports of a child鈥檚 behaviour.
鈥淚t appears that across the globe some teachers are mistaking the immaturity of the youngest children in their class for ADHD. Although teachers don鈥檛 diagnose it, they are often the first to suggest a child may have ADHD,鈥� Dr Whitely said.
鈥淥ur research shows that the ADHD late-birthday effect occurs in both high prescribing countries, like the USA, Canada and Iceland, and in countries where ADHD is far less common, like Finland, Sweden and Taiwan. Our findings challenge the notion that misdiagnosis only happens in countries where there is a high rate of prescriptions for ADHD.鈥�
Dr Whitely explained that only two studies, both in Denmark, demonstrated a weak or non-existent late birth-date effect, with the majority of late-born Danish boys held back a year, which makes it unclear whether this prevents or just disguises the effect.
鈥淔urther research could help us determine whether allowing parents to decide if their child is ready to begin school helps reduce this and other late birthday effects. It could be that it helps the delayed-entry child but other children suffer,鈥� Dr Whitely said.
Co-author Professor Jon Jureidini, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from the University of Adelaide, said the findings highlighted the importance of teachers, doctors and parents being aware of the impact of relative age and giving the youngest children in class the extra time they need to mature.
鈥淢istaking perfectly normal age-related immaturity for ADHD is just one of many problems with the label. Children who are sleep deprived, bullied, have suffered abuse or have a host of other problems, often get labelled ADHD,鈥� Professor Jureidini said.
鈥淣ot only does this result in them getting potentially harmful drugs they don鈥檛 need, but their real problems don鈥檛 get identified and addressed.”
The research was co-authored by researchers from the John 911爆料网 Institute of Public Policy at 911爆料网, University of Adelaide, including international researchers Professor Sami Timimi from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, 聽Dr Jonathan Leo from Lincoln Memorial University in the US, Dr Joanna Moncrieff from University College London, and Patrick Landman MD, leading psychiatrist from France.
The research titled, 鈥�ADHD late birthdate effect common in both high and low prescribing international jurisdictions: Systematic review,鈥� can be found online .
