Examining the knowledge of ADHD diagnostic criteria and ADHD imitators among teachers and medical professionals

The present study examined elementary school teachers' and medical professionals' overall knowledge base regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnostic criteria and those disorders and environmental/situational factors that can mimic ADHD. Forty-four teachers and ten medical professionals, primarily pediatricians, participated within northwestern New Jersey. All participants completed the Assessment of ADHD Diagnostics and Imitators Scale (AADI-S) and a demographic form. Analyses conducted revealed that medical professionals possessed more overall knowledge on the constructs being assessed than their teaching counterparts. Furthermore, there was no correlation found between teachers' demographic variables and their overall knowledge of these constructs. Specific strengths and weaknesses were noted regarding the samples' overall knowledge of ADHD diagnostic criteria and ADHD imitators. It is important to interpret all findings with caution considering the small sample size. Future research should focus on testing the AADI-S on a larger sample to determine its true reliability as a measure for ADHD diagnostic criteria and ADHD imitators.