Experts warn we are using ADHD drugs to medicate immaturity

THE controversy over growing rates of ADHD has been fuelled by research which found children who were the youngest in their class were more likely to get a diagnosis.

EXPERTS fear immaturity is being medicated with kids — who are the youngest in their class -twice as likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than older classmates.

Australian researchers behind a new global study have expressed alarm that doctors and schools may be medicating immaturity and giving children harmful drugs they don’t need.

The effect is strongest among children aged six to 10.

The youngest children in class in this age cohort are twice as likely to be diagnosed, the risk drops to 40 per cent among 11-15 year olds who are youngest in class.

The study led by Curtin University’s Dr Martin Whitely looked at 17 studies involving 14 million children in 12 countries.

It found a clear relationship between a child’s age relative to their classmates and an ADHD diagnosis and use of ADHD medication.

Only two Danish studies showed a weak connection between being the youngest in class and ADHD and researchers said this was because the majority of-late born Danish boys are held back a year from school.

Experts fear immaturity is being medicated. Picture: iStock

“It appears that across the globe some teachers are mistaking the immaturity of the youngest children in their class for ADHD. Although teachers don’t diagnose it, they are often the first to suggest a child may have ADHD,” Dr Whitely said.

“Not only does this result in them getting potentially harmful drugs they don’t need, but their real problems don’t get identified and addressed,” co-author Professor Jon Jureidini, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from the University of Adelaide said.

The research has raised questions about whether delaying the enrolment of younger children in school might help with growing ADHD diagnosis and drug use.

“Further 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,” Dr Whitely said.

Professor Jureidini said children who are sleep deprived, bullied, have suffered abuse or have a host of other problems often get labelled with ADHD.

News Corp revealed last year that the number of children aged under 16 using ADHD medications leapt by 18,121 (29 per cent) in 2013 to 80,524 in 2015.

Human Services Department data shows 4974 children aged 2-6 were using the medications in the 2015 calendar year up from 3500 in 2013.

We revealed that some childcare centres were refusing to enrol children unless they were put on ADHD medication.

TODDLERS GIVEN ADHD MEDICATIONS AT CHILDCARE

CHILDREN OF OBESE MUMS AT HIGHER RISK OF ADHD

We revealed that some childcare centres were refusing to enrol children unless they were put on ADHD medication.

There are no biological markers for ADHD. Picture supplied.

There are no biological markers or physical tests for ADHD and in many cases a teachers report on a child’s behaviour is involved in making a diagnosis, Dr Whitely, a former schoolteacher, said.

The new study found that in Germany younger children in the class had a 22 per cent higher risk of using ADHD medications, in Sweden the risk was 39 per cent higher, in Canada younger boys were 41 per cent more likely to be medicated and younger girls 77 per cent.

In Finland, the risk of children under the age of 10 being diagnosed with ADHD was 64 per cent higher if they were the youngest in the class., in Taiwan the risk was 65 per cent higher for younger kids.

The study builds on a previous Australian study by Dr Whitely which found among Western Australian children who were youngest in class, 57 per cent more likely to use ADHD medication that older kids.

Originally published as Experts warn we are using ADHD drugs to medicate immaturity