Accurately Assessing ADHD in Children
We all know someone with ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It’s no surprise, either, considering the number of diagnoses is growing exponentially. So how do we identify, assess, and track this crisis?
First, let’s size-up the issue.
How many people are affected by ADHD?
More than 1 in every 10 children in the US have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to their parents. An estimated 7 million, or 11.4%, of children between the ages of 3 and 17 years have received an ADHD diagnosis. That’s, according to a national survey of parents in 2022.
ADHD symptoms can vary in severity, according to the CDC. About 6 in 10 children with ADHD have a moderate or severe case. Most also have another co-occurring condition, such as behavioral or conduct problems, learning disorders, anxiety, or depression. Parent-survey data suggest more than three-fourths of children with ADHD had at least one other co-occurring condition. Almost half have a behavior or conduct problem while roughly 40% have anxiety. These conditions can of course lead to, or exacerbate, one another if not properly identified and treated.
The parent-survey data suggests that the median age of onset for ADHD is 6. But that can vary: Severe ADHD has a median diagnosis age of 4. Moderate ADHD’s median diagnosis age is six. The age of mild ADHD is 7.
What does this tell us? It’s not that varying degrees of ADHD have earlier onsets. It’s that children are often diagnosed much later because it’s harder to identify normal aging and symptoms of ADHD when a child is younger. Parents often wait for a child to “outgrow” what are really symptoms of a behavioral health issue.
How do we better identify ADHD?
It’s clear the US has an issue with correctly identifying ADHD. Diagnosis estimates vary from 6% to 16% across US states. Treatment for ADHD among children with the disorder varies from 58% to 92%. The issue is proper testing.
That number has grown rapidly. From 2016 to 2022, one million additional children had received an ADHD diagnosis. So young children born in the US are being diagnosed with ADHD at an increasing rate.
Our patented SmarTest® AI technology is one solution to the burgeoning ADHD issue among children in the US. It tracks progress and outcomes for both patients and providers, helping notice subtle changes in mood and behavior that can be difficult to recognize particularly in children. Of course, SmarTest® AI is HIPAA-compliant, and can be used in-office on tablets or at-home via email or mobile phones. For the iPad generation, that can be a huge help in getting children to answer standardized behavioral questions! Our alternate responder feature also allows a teacher, parent, or guarding to take ADHD assessments on behalf of their child. One example is the Vanderbilt assessment which is used to evaluate symptoms in children and adolescents. Because it is a lengthy assessment, MHT makes it easy to complete on a mobile device or computer, and at your convenience, easily picking up right where you left off.
We automate the entire screening process to help clinicians be more efficient and effective, spending more time with their patients than looking at paperwork. For our clinical partners, we send patients assessments, upload results directly into your EMR, notify you of high-risk results and make referrals on your behalf. MHT also tracks and uploads subsequent test results performed by referred specialists.
Integrating the entire team of healthcare professionals can help triangulate any behavioral issues a child may be suffering from, and provide useful information to their pediatricians. We believe this is a breakthrough in behavioral healthcare, particularly for children when identifying issues can prevent a number of other disorders from arising.
To learn more about how MHT’s SmarTest® AI works, contact us here.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
https://psychology-tools.com/test/vadrs-vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-rating-scale