Is There Hope For Kids With ADHD? Symptoms Decrease Over Time But Will Persist Into Adulthood in 50 Percent of Affected Individuals

Kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) still have hope as its symptoms tend to decrease. However, according to a report, it's not the case for all affected children.

ADHD Affects 5% of Children

Most kids are active and restless, so it's not surprising to see them jumping, running, and talking endlessly. Thus, parents should wait until their kids are 7 years old or older to have them checked for ADHD.

Approximately 5% of children are diagnosed with ADHD, and genetics is a possible factor. A parent with ADHD raises the risk of their child suffering the same by the age of 8, El Pais reported.

However, the condition is mostly due to a complex nature-nurture interaction like low birth weight and maternal alcohol and tobacco consumption during pregnancy, which multiplies the risk by three and social adversity by four.

The most concerning aspect of ADHD is its impact on the lives of those affected. The condition can lead to failure at school, with about 40% dropping out under 16, strained relationships with other kids, and serious self-esteem problems.

ADHD is a developmental risk factor for other mental health problems and can lead to depression, anxiety, behavioral problems disorder, and substance addiction.

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ADHD Symptoms May Reduce Into Adulthood

Good news for parents with kids diagnosed with ADHD, longitudinal studies have consistently shown that the symptoms could decrease over time. However, they persist in up to 40% to 50% of affected individuals.

According to Psychiatry Advisor, those with persistent ADHD are more likely to struggle emotionally and mentally. They also tend to experience social, educational, and cognitive challenges.

Hyperactivity improves and morphs into restlessness; difficulty with concentration, organization, and time management prevails. Due to this, some easily get frustrated and tend to be more impulsive. Over half of the cases succumb to substance abuse.

ADHD diagnosis in adulthood is more complicated as it can be confused with personality disorders and addiction. If left untreated, ADHD can be a threat as it is associated with higher rates of traffic accidents and fines, family conflicts, and unemployment.

Factors Associated With ADHD Symptoms in Adulthood

A study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in Atlanta, Georgia, examined eight possible factors associated with ADHD persistence into adulthood.

Logistic regression analysis revealed an association of childhood comorbidities, parental mental health problems, and parental marital problems with an increased risk of ADHD persistence.

Both ADHD severity and comorbidity were associated with poor functioning and challenges in coping, according to lead author Arunima Roy, MBBS, a research trainee at McGill University Health Center. She added that the symptoms were not completely resolved with treatment among adults with higher severity. Also, residual symptomatology may lead to greater chances of persistence.

When childhood ADHD symptom severity was controlled, the only factor linked to ADDH persistence to adulthood were parental mental health and parenting practices, specific lack of appropriate discipline.

The other factors the study considered but were not associated with ADHD persistence were IQ, parent-child relationships, socioeconomic status, and parental education.