Research on ADHD Shows Teachers Predict It Better Than Parents

A study published in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry examined how well parents and teachers can spot signs of ADHD in children.

The researchers studied over 5,830 kids between the ages of 6 and 13. They wanted to see who was more accurate in noticing ADHD symptoms — parents at home or teachers at school. They also looked at factors such as the parent’s education, child’s age, and whether the child was a boy or a girl.

Results showed that teachers were more accurate in predicting ADHD (93.7%) compared to parents (89.9%). Interestingly, both teachers and parents showed higher accuracy when identifying ADHD in girls than in boys. Also, parents who had more education were slightly better at recognizing ADHD signs than those with less education.

One reason teachers may be more accurate is because they see many children every day in the same setting. This helps them notice when a child is having more trouble paying attention or sitting still than their classmates. At home, it can be harder to tell what is typical for a child’s age.

Understanding the Research

In this study, researchers in Turkey wanted to understand how well parents and teachers can identify ADHD in children.

Each child was carefully chosen to make sure the group represented children from many different areas. Parents and teachers filled out surveys about the child’s behavior, and specially trained doctors also interviewed both the children and their parents to check for ADHD symptoms.

To make sure they got the most accurate results, the researchers combined information from the doctor interviews with what parents and teachers said about how the child was doing at home and at school. They also looked at whether the child’s behavior was causing problems in daily life.

Parents and teachers were asked about the child’s attention, activity level, friendships, schoolwork, and how well they got along with others.

The researchers then compared all the information to see how well each group — parents or teachers — would correctly spot ADHD.

Here’s what the study found:

• Teachers were more accurate than parents in spotting ADHD (93.7% vs. 89.9%)
• Girls were more accurately identified than boys by both parents and teachers: Teachers: 95.2% accuracy for girls vs. 92.1% for boys, Parents: 92.1% accuracy for girls vs. 88.0% for boys
• Parents with higher education levels were better at identifying ADHD than those with lower education levels (91.3% vs. 89.4%), but teachers still outperformed both groups.
• Age made a small difference. Accuracy was slightly lower in older kids (ages 10–13) than younger ones (ages 6–9), but the change wasn’t significant.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

While this study shows that teachers may be more accurate in spotting ADHD, it doesn’t mean parents aren’t important in the process. In fact, the best outcomes happen when families and teachers work together!

If you’re a parent or caregiver, here’s how you can use these findings to support your child:

Learn more about ADHD

Understanding what ADHD looks like, especially in different settings like school and home, can help you feel more confident in supporting your child. ADHD isn’t just about being “hyper” or having trouble sitting still. It can show up as forgetfulness, daydreaming, difficulty following directions, or becoming easily frustrated.

You can start with trusted sources like the CDC, CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD), or books written by child psychologists.

Keep a simple log of what you notice at home (and compare that with what the teacher sees)

Your child’s behavior can be hard to describe in the moment, especially when you feel tired or stressed. That’s why jotting down your observations, even just a few times a week, can make a big difference.

Use a notebook or a note-taking app to track things like:

• How your child handles routines (getting dressed, finishing homework)
• Emotional reactions (frustration, impulsiveness)
• Attention span during activities (even things they enjoy)
• Sleep and screen time habits

Compare your notes with feedback from your child’s teacher. Are they noticing the same patterns? If the challenges happen both at home and at school, it may be a sign to look more closely.

Talk to your child’s pediatrician

If you or your child’s teacher have concerns, your pediatrician can help you figure out the next steps. They might ask more questions, look into other possible conditions, or recommend seeing a child psychologist for further evaluation.

The researchers suggest that future studies should consider how factors like culture, education, and new technology can help parents and teachers work together to spot ADHD more accurately.

If you’re looking for ways to help your child build focus, manage emotions, or improve behavior, check out our ADHD worksheets.