This summer two studies were published illustrating that a diagnosis of ADHD is more common among students who are the youngest in their respective grade. Both North Carolina State and Michigan State Universities found that immature students are often misdiagnosed with ADHD. In Michigan, students born before the kindergarten enrollment cutoff date of December 1st were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than those born after December 2nd who had to wait a year to enroll. By the time students reach fifth grade, the youngest in the class are more likely to be prescribed stimulants than their older classmates.
There are no blood tests or neurological screenings for ADHD, diagnoses are based on observations, commonly those made by teachers. These teachers may be basing their judgement on students who act more mature because they are up to a year older than the student in question.
It is unfair to be so quick to label students who fail to align with the ideal of the perfect student (which doesn't exist anyway).
