Physicians may over-diagnose children with autism as having ADHD | Courtesy of Shutterstock
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Amanda Rupp | Oct 28, 2016

Physicians may over-diagnose children with autism as having ADHD

In the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, a team of researchers recently wrote that some doctors may be unknowingly over-diagnosing children with autism as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Using a well-known screening tool to determine whether a child has ADHD could be less accurate than health professionals originally thought, as the child may actually have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The pediatric researchers stated that children with ASD could have autism-related social impairments instead of actual attention problems. This is crucial for understanding which services and treatments are appropriate for children.

"One of our best current screening measures for ADHD may be over-diagnosing ADHD in children with autism," Dr. Benjamin Yerys, study leader and researcher in the Center for Autism Research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), said. "This is important because medications that work for ADHD may be less effective for a child on the autism spectrum."

Now, the team -- which includes a psychologist who helped to design the screening tool for ADHD -- will work to refine the tool so that it is more accurate in diagnosing the disorder. For now, experts recommend that clinicians use the tool along with detailed clinical interviews to guarantee accuracy.

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