Hoarding emerges in childhood

Children are being recruited into an Australia-wide study on hoarding in the hope of finding ways to identify and treat the disorder early.

Victoria's Deakin University is seeking participants aged eight to 17-years-old nationally to learn more about hoarding and its connection with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Around five per cent of Australians will display hoarding behaviour in their lifetime.

It's believed that 28 per cent of people diagnosed with hoarding disorder also have ADHD.

Previous research has shown that hoarding begins in childhood, but is frequently not noticed until adulthood, says researcher Fiona Lynch.

"Therefore children with ADHD who go on to develop hoarding disorder may have symptoms that remain undiagnosed and not treated until adulthood," says Ms Lynch, a doctor of psychology candidate.

She says parents can tell if hoarding is a problem for their child if they become overly distressed when items are discarded, or by the need to save items.

Parents of children, with or without ADHD, who are interested in taking part in the study can contact Fiona Lynch at flynch@deakin.edu.au or 0466 826 185.