Can A Month Matter in ADHD?
The research show that kids who are born in August have higher rates of ADHD than those born in September.
The strong implication is that starting school when you’re younger makes you susceptible to a diagnosis of ADHD. This makes sense, because you will be more immature than your classmates. Does your immature behavior cause you to get diagnosed with ADHD, or, do the social and intellectual difficulties you’re having cause you to behave in such a way that you get the diagnosis? In either case, wouldn’t this likely be a misdiagnosis.
It is too easy to jump to conclusions. Maybe kids born in August have had higher exposure to certain viruses, or perhaps mothers pregnant in December had more or different infections? Or maybe there’s some other correlation?
But the implication of the effect of immaturity is probably valid. So I wonder how many of these kids were misdiagnosed because of their immaturity and did not actually have ADHD? The study ended when the kids were between six and eight years old, so they might have outgrown their ADHD diagnosis.
I suspect that a good diagnostic evaluation would have differentiated those with true ADHD from those who were just immature and not behaving or performing appropriately.
I was always the youngest, or second youngest in my class. Before the fourth grade, I was average and nondescript. I clearly had symptoms of ADHD starting in the fourth grade., but not obviously before. That seems a little strange. After that I did well scholastically, and poorly behaviorally, no longer average nor nondescript. Til college, when I hit the brick wall scholastically.
Were you the youngest?
doug
Multiple Bonus Links:
- Pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Fast Five Quiz: Test Yourself on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults
- Fast Five Quiz: Do You Know the Signs, Symptoms, and Best Practices for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?
- A 12-Year-Old Boy With Falling Grades and Behavior Problems in School and at Home
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Children with ADHD tend to have problems in school. Duh.
Did your ADHD show early?
ADDadultstrategies 
I didn’t experience my difficulties until high school. College was really tough. In grade school I was the smartest girl in the class. Go figure.
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yep – from 4 th grade thru high school i was one of the smartest, then BAM!
thanks for the comment
doug
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ram- well, you can be sure I dont understand whats wrong, hope you can fix it. you are a great contributor,
thanks
doug
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I was not the youngest. I was born in March.
I would like to point out, Doug, that you weren’t diagnosed until a later age. So unless you’re going with the virus and December-pregnancy theory, you can rule the immaturity one out. 🙂
I was an A-student in elementary school, but the more I learn about ADHD, the more I remember stories that fit the profile. Like when my 1st grade teacher found out that I could read. We had an activity book which consisted of one activity per page. Teacher found me gluing pieces of paper on a tree – which she had not told us to do – and asked how I knew I was supposed to do that. I told her I read what was on the bottom of the page. The thing is: I was done with our activity very quick and got BORED, so I flipped a page and started doing that. :p
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ram – a great story. i doubt the virus and pregnancy theories but wanted to show that it is too easy to jump to conclusions and there can be other possible explanations.
thank you as always for commenting.
doug
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Ah! I thougt it was strange, but I did not get that hint from your post – actually my fault. Mental note to self: do not read Doug’s blog in a rush the 5 minutes before you leave for work, just because you thought of it. 😉
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There, solved! I just clicked the button to recieve mail notifications whenever you post something, Doug. Yes, for the past 4 years I’ve been remembering to pop in here once in a while and check for posts. Just because I love this blog and think of it. That is how much your blog means to me, Doug. 🙂
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rM – I never guessed you weren’t subscribed, or whatever it is. glad you benefit from the blog, thank you for your compliment for it and for your participation
doug
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I’m not sure I was aware that you can subscribe – at least in a way that you get e-mails.
Something went wrong though. I didn’t get your last two updates. I too am sometimes technologically challenged. :p
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ram – yes, I’ve written about that – skimming instead of reading. but it’s hard for me to change that. may need to come up with a strategy. I know how to do better, but haven’t yet figured out how to get myself to do it.
thank you for your comments
doug
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I was born in May so one of the oldest. My son is February so bang slap in the middle!
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dk
so is this evidence against the theory?
as always, thank you for commenting
doug
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I guess so! Anecdotal I guess…
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ken – i think its still up for grabs.
thanks
doug
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