1,000,000 U.S. Children Misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

by Alex A. Kecskes

As many as 1 million U.S. children are potentially misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because they happen to be younger and more immature than their kindergarten classmates.

Child health specialists note that there are no neurological markers for ADHD (such as a blood test). All too often, ADHD diagnoses depend on a child's age relative to his or her classmates and the teacher's perceptions of whether the child has symptoms.

As a result, these children are more likely than their older classmates to be prescribed behavior-modifying stimulants like Ritalin. Child health advocates worry that the long-term stimulant use of these drugs can affect a child's health. Many experts agree that there's a big difference between a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old. Before whipping out their prescription pads, medical practitioners need to take this into account when evaluating whether children have ADHD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder for children in the U.S., with at least 4.5 million children under 18 being diagnosed with the condition.

A recent study revealed that younger kindergartners were 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than older children in the same grade. Likewise, in the fifth and eighth grades, the youngest were more than twice as likely to be prescribed stimulants like Ritalin. Equally troubling was the fact that nearly 20 percent--or 900,000--of the 4.5 million children currently listed as having ADHD were likely misdiagnosed.

For an added perspective, check out this video: