According to a new report from the American Journal of Psychiatry, contrary to previous notions, children with ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive disorder don't normally outgrow their condition.
Experts from 16 institutions in the U.S., Brazil, and Canada said in their new study that only 10 percent of children could outgrow ADHD, while 90 percent may experience the "residual symptoms" of their disorder in their adult life.
The researchers based their findings on a 16-year study where they kept track of 556 children between 8 to 25 years old. The subjects were also assessed for their ADHD symptoms every two years while the researchers conducted interviews with family members and teachers about the children's behavioral changes.
The experts learned that around 30 percent of the participants fully remit their disorder during initial follow-ups, but 60 percent had ADHD recurrence. Only 10.8 percent had full and stable remissions at the end of the study, while 63.8 percent had fluctuating recurrences.
In the past, studies suggesting that half of the children with ADHD can outgrow the disorder didn't involve such a thorough assessment process, according to lead study author Margaret Sibley of the Seattle Children's Research Institute. Thus, this is the first time that the experts have determined and seen that ADHD could come back in adulthood.
Stress, Environment, Lifestyle
However, Sibley said that people with ADHD must understand that it's still normal to feel that some things could be unmanageable while other things are easier to control. The experts have not determined what causes the disorder to come back or flare up later in life.
As with many health factors, Sibley believes that a person's lifestyle, environment, and stress management could either trigger or prevent the manifestations of the symptoms. If a person with ADHD is also taking time to manage the symptoms, from childhood to adulthood, either through therapy or medication, it can significantly keep the symptoms from getting out of control.
The study authors said that most of their research subjects, who technically do not meet the adult ADHD criteria anymore, still show traces of the disorder even with good management. Yet Sibley said that many people with ADHD could thrive in their adult life if they find their passion or have a job that cannot interfere with their condition.
The expert advised that those diagnosed as children with ADHD but still cannot function well in adulthood may seek professional help, especially if their disorder has been causing problems at work or in relationships.
ADHD Statistics in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6.1 percent of kids in the U.S. have ADHD while 4.4. percent of adults are affected by this disorder.
ADHD is not the same as ADD or attention deficit disorder and ASD or autism spectrum disorder. However, children in the spectrum could have ADHD that may further impact delays in their behavioral development.
For many experts, the goal for children with ADHD is not to outgrow the condition but to help the child adjust to the stages of development. It's also possible for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis later in life because they were never assessed in childhood.
