Study finds nearly one million U.S. children may be misdiagnosed with ADHD

‘A research study conducted by a Michigan State University economist has found that nearly one million children in the United States may have been misdiagnosed with ADHD.

These diagnoses were often triggered by the child being the youngest (and therefore most immature) student in their kindergarten class.

According to the study published in the Journal of Health Economics, these students are more likely to be prescribed medication to modify their behavior than their older classmates. According to lead researcher Todd Elder, this can waste between $320 million and $500 million per year on unnecessary medication. Between $80-$90 million of that is paid by Medicaid.’

Read more: Study finds nearly one million U.S. children may be misdiagnosed with ADHD