Does your child have trouble staying in one place? Or is he unable to focus on anything? Is he very impulsive, doing things too quickly? These could be signs of a condition we call ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. So when you find out that your child has something like this, one of the biggest hopes in the minds of many parents is, "It's okay, this is probably just a childhood quirks that will go away on their own as they grow up." Is that really the case? While it may be the case sometimes, the latest data shows that ADHD is not something that simply "gets better." Let's talk about this in a little more depth.
How do ADHD and its symptoms change with age?
ADHD is usually diagnosed around the age of 6. In the past, doctors and parents used to think that about half of children with ADHD would outgrow the condition by the time they were teenagers or adults. But that idea has changed.
Think about it, previous surveys showed that about 30% or 40% of children with ADHD continue to show symptoms as adults. That means more than half get better.
However, there was a small flaw in these old surveys. That was, they only tested the children once or twice before coming to a conclusion.
In a more recent, long-term study, researchers followed a group of children with ADHD on eight occasions over a period of 16 years, until they were about 25 years old. They collected information from the children, their parents, and their teachers, and also considered whether they were receiving treatment .
What was revealed there is very important.
- 90% of those children had more or less ADHD symptoms as adults.
- Only a very small group, about 9%, had completely lost their symptoms.
- Many people's symptoms were not stable. That is, at times the symptoms would subside and then increase again over time. Like a wave that would rise and fall.
- For some people, the symptoms seemed to disappear completely, but then reappeared a few years later.
Simply put, ADHD is not something that can be "have" or "don't" with a hyphen. It is an ongoing condition that can change over time.
What to expect with ADHD as your child grows up?
Your child's ADHD may not go away as they grow older, but the way it manifests itself may change. It's easy to recognize the signs of ADHD in a young child. But an adult who has lived with the condition for years may have found ways to control their symptoms or hide them from others.
Let's see how this change goes.
| ADHD symptom | How it looked when I was young | How to look in adulthood |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperactivity | Inability to stay in one place, constantly running around and playing, fidgeting even in a chair. | Instead of the physical discomfort, there is a feeling of inner restlessness . Feeling bored easily, always wanting to do something new. |
| Inattention | Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and homework, frequent daydreaming, and forgetting things. | Inability to plan work properly, difficulty completing tasks on time, and losing focus during a conversation. |
| Impulsivity | Inability to wait in lines, jumping in while others are talking, and doing things without thinking. | Spending money without thinking, getting angry quickly, impatience, making hasty decisions. |
Many factors influence how these symptoms change over time, including stress , social support , and ways to learn to manage these symptoms.
Another thing is that sometimes children who seem to "get better with ADHD " may not actually have ADHD. That is, even though they may show symptoms similar to ADHD, it could be due to a different cause. When such a child is mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD, and those symptoms disappear as they grow older, they may think, "ADHD has gotten better."
What happens to the brain of someone with ADHD as they grow up?
This is a complex topic that is still in the research stage. Scientists have seen in brain imaging studies that people with ADHD show slight changes in the structure and density of some parts of their brains.
Most importantly, a recent study showed that even if someone who showed ADHD symptoms as a child becomes an adult, those brain changes remain the same.
This reinforces the idea that ADHD is not something that is limited to childhood and goes away with age. It is rooted in brain function .
But a lot more research is needed to understand this exactly.
Take-Home Message
- ADHD is not a condition that usually "goes away" as children grow up. According to the latest research, the condition persists to some extent into adulthood in about nine out of ten people.
- Rather than disappearing as a child grows, ADHD symptoms can take on a different form. Childhood mischief can become an internalized restlessness in adulthood.
- This is not something to be afraid of. With the right treatment, behavioral therapy, and support from parents, teachers, and society, a child with ADHD can manage their symptoms and live a successful, happy life.
- If you have any doubts or concerns about your child's behavior, the best and most important thing you can do is talk to your doctor, who has expert knowledge. He or she will guide you in the right direction.
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