Nearly 1 million children potentially misdiagnosed with ADHD,
study finds Nearly 1 million children in the United States are
potentially misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder simply because they are the youngest – and most
immature – in their kindergarten class, according to new
research by a Michigan State University economist. These
children are significantly more likely than their older
classmates to be prescribed behavior-modifying stimulants such
as Ritalin, said Todd Elder, whose study will appear in a
forthcoming issue of the Journal of Health Economics. Such
inappropriate treatment is particularly worrisome because of the
unknown impacts of long-term stimulant use on children’s health,
Elder said. It also wastes an estimated $320 million-$500
million a year on unnecessary medication – some $80 million-$90
million of it paid by Medicaid, he said. Elder said the “smoking
gun” of the study is that ADHD diagnoses depend on a child’s age
relative to classmates and the teacher’s percept