In Outliersa book published fifteen years ago, Malcolm Gladwell explains in particular that, in several professional sports, there is a higher concentration of athletes born in certain months of the year.
This is due to the existence of a cut-off date for determining the age of entry into sports during childhood. Those whose entry is the latest are, necessarily, a little more developed than their cohort colleagues, attract more attention, receive more support and develop more… Until adulthood.
The phenomenon being talked about in the media these days, that there are more ADHD diagnoses among students born in August or September, is exactly the same, but at the other end of the yearly window.
Gladwell’s book has sold millions of copies, is clearly aimed at the general public, and is just one of many sources explaining the phenomenon. The phenomenon in question was therefore not known only in a small restricted circle. I’m willing to bet it was discussed by many in the health and education networks for a long time.
In short, we knew, or at least should have known, that the month of birth has a considerable influence on the perception we have of a child.
The overdiagnosis decried these days is a problem. It is important that we talk about it.
But there’s also the other problem… How come it so frequently takes so long for us to open our eyes to issues we know or should know?
To see in video