A doctor checks the ear of a young childShare on Pinterest
Researchers say healthcare professionals need to be more aware of ADHD symptoms in children. Maskot/Getty Images

In a new study, scientists are reporting that young people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD tend to utilize healthcare services at a rate that is double that of their peers during the two years leading up to their diagnosis.


The research, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, reports that children with ADHD have a two-fold higher likelihood of consulting their general practitioner, being hospitalized, and even undergoing surgical procedures, in comparison to children who do not have ADHD.


The researchers said that children and young people with ADHD frequently consult healthcare professionals, yet current guidelines from organizations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the American Academy of Pediatrics lack specific recommendations for earlier ADHD detection.


Children with ADHD experience delays in diagnosis

The study was led by Vibhore Prasad, a scholar and visiting lecturer at King’s College London and a general practitioner in Nottinghamshire, England.


Prasad explained the key findings to Medical News Today, saying that ADHD is “a common problem in young people.”


He noted that professionals expect 3 to 5 percent of young people worldwide to have this health problem.


“However, in many countries (including the United Kingdom), there are delays in the recognition of ADHD and an under-recognition,” Prasad said.


The research primarily concentrated on understanding why children visited their general practitioner, received prescriptions, were admitted to the hospital for overnight stays, and underwent surgical procedures.


Examining medical records of children and young adults

The study examined the medical records of children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, which is a primary care database encompassing the records of approximately 15 million individuals across 730 general practitioner practices. It represents about 7 percent of the United Kingdom’s population.


The researchers said the results are important because it is known that early identification of ADHD can lead to more effective treatments, including therapeutic interventions and medications.


The conclusions drawn were based on data from roughly half of the patients in England, who also had linked hospital medical records.


The researchers said the study underscores the importance of conducting additional research to identify children with ADHD at an earlier stage, thereby enabling them to receive more timely and effective assistance.


Recognizing ADHD as a diagnosis

Experts say there is a need to raise awareness of ADHD in order for professionals to consider it as a potential diagnosis.


Prasad explained that “we know that general practitioners have difficulty in recognizing ADHD as a possible diagnosis.”


“Therefore, we used a very large dataset from primary and secondary care medical records (covering 8 percent of the English population) to investigate what happens for young people before diagnosis,” he added.


We found that young people with ADHD attend healthcare services twice as often as controls without ADHD in the two years before diagnosis. They attend for a wide range of reasons (not just for mental health reasons, as we might expect). This means there may be opportunities for earlier recognition for ADHD. We may also have opportunities to pick up young people with ADHD in primary care, hospital care, and around times of operations and procedures.


Vibhore Prasad


Dr. Anandhi Narasimhan, a physician specializing in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry who was not involved in this research, told Medical News Today that the greatest benefits coming out of this research would be “increased monitoring and allowing for early detection and intervention.”


“Due to a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, it is important the [primary care physicans] can be knowledgeable about ADHD and learn how to treat it,” Narasimhan explained.


A collaborative model between psychiatry and primary care can allow for enhanced mental healthcare and a multidisciplinary approach. Government funding that is directed toward a collaborative model can further allow for earlier intervention for individuals with the diagnosis. Advocating for such collaborative efforts and government funding can benefit patient populations, decrease the economic burden that untreated ADHD has, potentially decrease the associated risks of substance abuse and addiction, accidents, interpersonal relationship collapses, etc.


Dr. Anandhi Narasimhan


Opportunity to identify ADHD earlier in all healthcare settings

Prasad also notes that “we may have opportunities to identify ADHD earlier and in all healthcare settings if we look out for young people with symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in all healthcare settings.”


“We should also be aware that healthcare professionals from non-specialist backgrounds may be treating young people with ADHD without realizing they need help with their behavior and mental health,” he added.


“We still don’t know a lot of things about why there is a problem with under-recognition of ADHD. The healthcare systems are complex and there is clearly a great deal of demand for services to assess young people with mental and behavioral symptoms,” Prasad said.


One of the answers may be more training for healthcare professionals. Another solution may involve greater services to assess, diagnose and treat young people with ADHD… However, the current situation is that there are not enough services and they have long waiting times.


Vibhore Prasad


With that in mind, Prasad concluded by saying “we need to design better healthcare pathways that can prioritize young people correctly.”


“This is a complex problem that requires more research about which young people need specific sorts of help and which young people can be helped with less specialized help,” he added.


IBD: Mental health interventions may improve Crohn’s, colitis symptoms

Share on PinterestNew research suggests that mental health interventions like therapy may help impro

Stroke: Why Black adults face a higher risk than white adults

Share on PinterestExperts say healthcare inequities have created more serious health issues for Blac

Heart health: Lack of exercise during free time may raise death risk

Share on PinterestResearch has linked a lack of exercise to a higher risk of cardiovascular death. T

Dementia: Daily vitamins may help improve cognitive abilities

Share on PinterestExperts say there are a number of ways daily multivitamins can help improve cognit

Is there a link between dietary restrictions and brain aging?

Share on PinterestResearchers are investigating whether calorie restriction may help preserve brain

Early onset dementia may be prevented by newly identified risk factors

Share on PinterestResearchers have identified 15 modifiable risk factors that contribute to developi

Can drinking less alcohol reduce your risk of cancer?

Share on PinterestAccumulating evidence shows that people who cut out alcohol can reduce their risk

Great British Bake Off: Are desserts ever healthy?

Share on PinterestAlthough not all their ingredients are healthy, desserts in moderation might not b

What to Know About New JN.1 COVID Variant

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that a new Omicron variant, JN.1

Tips To Help You Feel Your Best This Thanksgiving

While holidays can interrupt your habits and routine, certain practices can keep you feeling your be

Can You Take Ashwagandha Every Day?

Ashwagandha is a popular supplement that can purportedly boost brain function, manage anxiety, reduc

Quality Carbohydrates Found to Impact Weight Management in Middle-Aged Adults

New research found that differences in carbohydrate quality can impact weight management in middle-a