Boys in general and children born to parents who have low education levels, in particular, are at increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with girls and children born to parents with higher education levels, according to an article in the September issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The authors hope the findings will help physicians and school officials better identify children who might be at risk for the disorder and provide them with help at an earlier age.

Clinic researchers studied medical and school records for 5,701 children in their area. For the purpose of the current study, low levels of education for parents were defined as 12 years or less (a high-school education) and high levels of education were defined as 15 years or more (some college or other post-high school education).

“Given the frequent occurrence of ADHD and potential adverse outcomes associated with this disorder, early identification of children at risk for ADHD is necessary to ensure that they receive prompt and appropriate treatment,” said William Barbaresi, MD, a coauthor of the study.

The disorder is defined as a “persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.” A previous study by the Mayo Clinic reported that about 7.5 percent of children and adolescents are diagnosed with ADHD by age 19 years; actual prevalence is unknown. This current study contributes to the growing body of evidence that males are at greater risk for neurodevelopmental disorders than females. However, the reason for the gender difference is unclear.

In the current analysis, researchers found that low maternal and paternal education levels increased the risk for the disorder in boys more than in girls. However, pregnancy and labor characteristics, low birth weight, and presence of a twin birth were not associated with increased risk for the disorder.

Researchers analyzed information from birth certificates of all children born in Olmsted County from January 1, 1976, to December 31, 1982. Children were identified with use of medical and school records.