Maternal health directly linked to child’s ADHD diagnoses

Washington, December 26: The likelihood of a child being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurobehavioral developmental disorder, closely depends on the mother’s health during the pre-conception period, researchers of a new study proclaim.

A developmental disorder, ADHD is a condition that makes a child hyperactive. The child often cannot control his activity levels and reactions to the outside world. Typically afflicting children of school-going age (3-5 years), the chronic condition is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity. Forgetfulness, poor impulse control, impatience and acute distractibility are other common symptoms.

For the study, researchers used automated data from Northern California Kaiser Permanente. The subjects were then categorized into three groups: mothers of children with ADHD, mother of children without ADHD, and mothers of children with asthma.

Using comparison techniques, researchers then compared mothers' diagnoses, health care use and associated spending for the three groups.

Health care costs were the highest among mothers who had ADHD diagnosed kids. They had spent about $1,000 more on health care in a year prior delivery and two years following childbirth as compared to mothers who did not have children with ADHD and those with asthmatic siblings, researchers revealed.

In addition, mothers of children with ADHD were diagnosed with more health complications such as depressiondefine and anxiety disorder than mothers of children with asthma.

"Our study raises the possibility that certain types of mothers — those who get or seek diagnoses and who use more health services — may be more likely to seek ADHD diagnoses for their children," Thomas Ray, lead author of the study asserted.

While future studies are needed to certify the exact biologic, psychosocial, or environmental factors that trigger the disorder, maternal health conditions and successive medical utilization can surely be predictive of having a child who is diagnosed with ADHD, the researchers concluded.

The study further discounts the popular belief that pronounces ADHD to be caused by poor parenting, family problems, bad teachers or schools.

The study appears in the January issue of the journal Medical Care.