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Worldwide, around 5% of children, with a greater prevalence among boys, are affected by attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD). This does not mean that girls are less affected, but rather that the diagnosis of ADHD is often undervalued in them, often due to more discreet symptoms. Faced with this problem, a team of researchers looked at the influence of IQ, gender and demographic factors on the diagnosis of ADHD.
A study by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) recently revealed that ADHD is not linked to exposure to screens, thus calling into question certain preconceived ideas. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by learning difficulties, attention disorders with or without hyperactivity and impulsivity, or even by relational difficulties. Symptoms usually appear before age 12 and can persist throughout life.
Boys with ADHD often show difficulty controlling their impulses, manifesting as loud and hyperactive behaviors. On the other hand, in girls, the symptoms often result in inner agitation and inattention, making the diagnosis more complex and contributing to the preconceived idea that ADHD is a typically male disorder.
A team of researchers from Western University London in Canada, Queen’s Kingston and UCL, undertook an in-depth study to determine whether factors other than gender could influence the age of ADHD diagnosis.
A link between IQ and age of diagnosis
The researchers used data from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND), including data on 1,380 children with ADHD. The study focused on a sample of 568 children diagnosed by health professionals.
They conducted two analyses: the first aimed to determine whether cognitive abilities and gender were indicators of age of ADHD diagnosis. “ We performed a moderation analysis with gender as predictor, cognitive ability as moderator, and age of diagnosis as outcome. », They explain. The second analysis focused on the influence of ADHD symptoms and demographic factors on diagnosis.
To assess children’s intelligence quotient, standardized tests were used. ADHD symptoms were measured using a specialized scale. The results, published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychologyrevealed a correlation between IQ and age of diagnosis. The researchers noted: “ Higher IQ was associated with later diagnosis “. These findings support a previous study claiming that children with higher IQs are sometimes able to mask ADHD symptoms.
The role of socioeconomic factors
Researchers also found that higher levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity and externalizing symptoms were linked to earlier diagnosis. This is explained by the fact that these behaviors attract the attention of parents and those around them, favoring an anticipated diagnosis. The study also showed that higher socioeconomic status and having a non-white maternal ethnicity were associated with later diagnosis.
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To arrive at these conclusions, the team looked at the parents’ education level, family income and the child’s ethnic origin. These results challenge some preconceptions, suggesting that only children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds receive a later diagnosis.
Although the study led by Carolynn Hare and colleagues provided valuable insight into factors influencing ADHD diagnosis, it remains limited. On the one hand, the sample size did not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn about the correlation between internalizing symptoms and late diagnosis in girls. On the other hand, the sample was limited to clinically diagnosed children, and some demographic data were incomplete.
