What other conditions that might be mistaken for ADHD?
Conditions That Mimic ADHD
- Bipolar disorder.
- Autism.
- Low blood sugar levels.
- Sensory processing disorder.
- Sleep disorders.
- Hearing problems.
- Kids being kids.
How common is misdiagnosis of ADHD?
Overall, the study found that about 20 percent – or 900,000 – of the 4.5 million children currently identified as having ADHD likely have been misdiagnosed.
Can a child be wrongly diagnosed with ADHD?
Doctors can misdiagnose ADHD in children due to their age. In fact, children who start school at a younger age more frequently receive a diagnosis of ADHD. If a child starts school having just turned 5 years old while some of their peers are closer to 6 years old, there is an approximate 20% difference in age.
What happens when a child is misdiagnosed with ADHD?
Because many of the symptoms of ADHD overlap with those of many other conditions, misdiagnosis can occur. If ADHD is not the cause of the symptoms, they can become worse with the stimulants the doctor prescribes for treatment.
Are doctors over diagnosing ADHD?
Findings In this systematic scoping review of 334 published studies in children and adolescents, convincing evidence was found that ADHD is overdiagnosed in children and adolescents. For individuals with milder symptoms in particular, the harms associated with an ADHD diagnosis may often outweigh the benefits.
Can ADHD symptoms be something else?
There are several other diagnoses that might also cause ADHD like symptoms. These include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, dissociative disorders, or a personality disorder. The symptoms of these disorders usually appear later in life than do the ADHD symptoms.
What happens if ADHD is misdiagnosed?
How do I know if my ADHD is misdiagnosed?
This is due to a wide range of diagnostic issues. Here, we look at some of the factors and conditions that can lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD….Anxiety disorders
- difficulty concentrating.
- feeling irritable.
- restlessness.
- struggling with social skills due to social anxiety.
What happens if you are misdiagnosed with ADHD?
Can anxiety be misdiagnosed as ADHD?
On the surface, ADHD and anxiety can look similar. It’s not uncommon for people with anxiety to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, or vice versa. Take trouble with paying attention, for example. Both anxiety and ADHD can cause people to tune out and get caught up in their emotions — just for different reasons.
How can you prevent ADHD misdiagnosis?
The best way to find out whether or not your child has ADHD is to have your child evaluated by a pediatrician and a psychiatrist, psychologist, neurologist or social worker familiar with ADHD. Once a diagnosis is made, regular follow-ups with your child’s healthcare team are required.
Can you develop ADHD or are you born with it?
ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it’s thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Is selfishness a symptom of ADHD?
The takeaway. Some characteristics of ADHD mimic the traits of selfishness. The symptoms can make you seem as if you are concerned only with yourself, even when this isn’t true. Selfishness normally carries with it the intention that you care only for yourself – symptoms of ADHD do not.
Are black kids over-diagnosed with ADHD?
While Black families often believe their children are over-diagnosed with ADHD, in fact, the opposite is true: Data show that Black kids are more often undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or under-diagnosed than White kids and therefore, are less likely to receive interventions, the lack of which can alter the trajectory of their lives negatively.
What are the implications of misdiagnosis of ADHD in children?
Further implications of misdiagnosis involve the cost for families that have a child assessed and treated for ADHD as well as costs within the health care system (1). While families with health benefits and medication coverage may be less affected, those without benefits and from lower-income families may be significantly impacted by these costs.
Is ADHD a problem in the African American community?
Tackling the myths and misinformation surrounding ADHD in the African American community can be one of the most difficult issues in mental illness circles. There is a lot of conflicting information about how African Americans are diagnosed, examined, and treated.
Is there a racial bias in ADHD research?
Bias in ADHD research and clinical care. Most research on ADHD has studied male children of European-Caucasian ancestry in North America, Europe, and Oceana. Relatively few studies specifically examine aspects of race or cultural variation, although we’ve seen a slight increase as studies of ADHD have grown.