Youngest pupils with ADHD are as likely to retain the diagnosis as their older peers

When specialists diagnose younger pupils with ADHD, scientists usually question the validity of the diagnosis, arguing that these pupils only manifest the symptoms because they are less mature than their classmates.

But a new study suggests that might not be the case.

Researchers have discovered that children diagnosed with ADHD who are the youngest in their class are just as likely to retain the symptoms into adulthood as their older peers. This suggests that their early ADHD diagnoses are just as accurate, despite their being less mature.

One of the reasons experts have always believed the diagnoses to be flawed was because of the stats. Kids who are the youngest in their class are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. So scientists thought their age had a role to play.

Of course, it's easy to think so since younger pupils tend to lag behind their older classmates in terms of academic ability. They're more likely to be less attentive and forget what they were taught, and are unable to carry out instructions properly like their more mature classmates.

As you can see, these things are natural but can also pass as symptoms of ADHD. So the scientists questioned whether their ADHD diagnoses were not a mistake with the symptoms being merely natural.

But the study, which followed over 6,500 patients worldwide from age four to 33, found that the ADHD diagnosis in these younger pupils wasn't particularly inappropriate.

The key takeaway here is that we should never disregard any psychiatric diagnosis.

Although not every child diagnosed with ADHD will go on to retain the symptoms into adulthood, that's not enough reason to take it lightly. You want the best for your child.

If your young child has been diagnosed with ADHD or you feel they have it, please contact us today. Let's get you the help you need.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.