Relative standards in ADHD diagnoses: The role of specialist behavior

Recent papers indicate that children who are relatively old-for-grade have a significantly lower incidence of ADHD diagnosis. We find that this is not the case in Denmark, suggesting that diagnoses are less subjective in a regime where only specialists diagnose. ► Relative standards are being applie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economics letters 2012-12, Vol.117 (3), p.663-665
Main Authors: Dalsgaard, Søren, Humlum, Maria Knoth, Nielsen, Helena Skyt, Simonsen, Marianne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ADHD diagnosis
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Behavior
Children
Examinations
Human behaviour
Medical diagnosis
Professional standards
Psychiatry
Relative standards
School starting age
Specialists
Studies
Young-for-grade
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Summary:Recent papers indicate that children who are relatively old-for-grade have a significantly lower incidence of ADHD diagnosis. We find that this is not the case in Denmark, suggesting that diagnoses are less subjective in a regime where only specialists diagnose. ► Relative standards are being applied in diagnosing ADHD in the US and Canada. ► Previous research suggests that this may be because non-specialists diagnose ADHD. ► We find support for this hypothesis. ► In the Danish regime, where only specialists diagnose, we find no evidence of relative standards.
ISSN:0165-1765
1873-7374
DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2012.08.008