A new study found that children with higher IQs tend to get diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) at a later age compared to children with lower IQs.
The study analyzed data from 568 young people aged 4-22 diagnosed with ADHD. Other factors like sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity were also examined.
In addition to higher IQ, the study found that higher socioeconomic status and non-white maternal ethnicity were associated with later ADHD diagnosis.
The way ADHD symptoms are expressed also plays a role – children who internalize their symptoms tend to be diagnosed later on average.
The researchers suggest that children who are perceived as academically gifted or able to hide their ADHD symptoms may be more likely to have their diagnosis overlooked or delayed.
The findings indicate that clinicians should be mindful of these individual and demographic factors when assessing and diagnosing ADHD, as they may be inhibiting some children from receiving the diagnosis and support they need.
Source: ScienceAlert
