Home
>
Parenting
>
Will My Child Ever Out-grow His Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Will My Child Ever Out-grow His Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

If your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder then at some point you will be asking the question, "Will my child ever outgrow it?"

Well, there is good news, and not so good news, when it comes to the answer. Studies indicate that about half of those with ADHD will outgrow many of the symptoms of the disorder by the time he or she is in their 20's. However, even for these fortunate ones, some of the symptoms will remain. The old school of thinking was that once a child with ADHD reached puberty he no longer needed any help for his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but this is simply not true.

But parents, hang on! There is one final growth spurt of the brain, particularly in the frontal lobes, at about 19 or 20 years old. It is not much, but for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder it just might make a big difference. Once this growth takes place it seems that the young adult becomes more mature, better able to focus, and may improve in school. Hyperactivity may diminish at this time, and may look more like restlessness or fidgetiness. Chances are this young adult will become more socially appropriate as well.

However, symptoms of impulsivity tend to remain. This is often the biggest complaint of adults with the disorder. It causes a variety of problems from often interrupting others in conversations to quitting jobs for little reason and without other employment already lined up.

Problems staying focused may also persist into adulthood. It is often described as a constant "brain-fog" which makes tasks such as balancing check books and doing taxes very difficult. As with children, there is little problem doing interesting or exciting tasks. In fact someone with ADHD may enjoy some tasks so much that it seems everything else in the world is blocked out, for hours! But when it comes to routine or boring tasks, it is hard to focus for even a minute. Learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at the adhd information library.

We should also acknowledge that for many ADHD will turn out to be the ticket for disaster in their lives. About half of all individuals with ADD will also develop problems with society, with authority, with the rules of life. These individuals will average about two felony arrests before the age of 20 unless they are properly treated as a child.

One study suggests that about half of all men in prison in the state of California carried the diagnoses of ADHD and Conduct Disorder as children, but went untreated, either because the families denied that there was a problem, or didn't have the financial resources for treatment, or because they just didn't know what to do about the problem. It is extremely important that all children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, whether the inattentive space-cadets or the impulsive hyperactive ADHD children, it's important that all children with ADHD receive the help that they need. These children need to tools to help them be successful.

Gladly, most young adults with ADHD can find jobs where their strengths can shine, and can be successful. Depending on skills and preferences, we have seen many with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder shine working with computers and computer programming, art work, sales positions, and even trucking. Look around and find a profession that is rewarding and stimulating, and pursue it.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including adhd information library., helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..

In The News:

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. Instead of relying only on a password, MFA requires you to verify your identity using two or more methods.

Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled a game-changing tool called DunedinPACNI. It uses a single AI brain scan to reveal how fast a person is biologically aging.

A disturbing wave of fake agent phone scams is sweeping across the United States, catching people off guard and draining their savings.

Emojis aren't just playful add-ons; they're powerful tools for building stronger connections in our increasingly digital world.

Google has taken a major step toward the future of clean energy by partnering with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-out working to build one of the world’s first commercial fusion reactors.

If you create and share art online, you might have seen messages warning that Facebook's parent company, Meta, claims the right to use or even sell anything you post, whether it's pictures, poems, or artwork.

Cybercriminals hit Qantas in a major data breach that exposed information from up to six million customers.

Having reliable, loud, and timely emergency alerts on your phone or device is important because when severe weather strikes, every second counts.

Here's how your daily brew is becoming the foundation for greener buildings.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are transforming how we learn. But what does this mean for AI and learning retention?

Modern AI data centers use much more electricity than traditional cloud servers. In many cases, the existing power grid cannot keep up. One innovative solution is gaining traction: repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers.

Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a tactic that injects fake billing alerts directly into their calendars.

Researchers are now showing us that old smartphones as data centers could be the next big thing in sustainable tech.

Scientists have created micro-robots for sinus infection treatment that can enter the nasal cavity, eliminate bacteria directly at the source, and exit without harming surrounding tissue.

Let's examine how your data is collected in everyday life, who is buying and selling it, what happens to it afterward, and, most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed small robots called "Pipebots" that can travel inside water pipes to find and potentially repair leaks, all without any excavation.

A groundbreaking new study has uncovered disturbing AI blackmail behavior that many people are unaware of yet.

Four teams of autonomous humanoid robots competed in China's first AI soccer tournament, demonstrating advanced capabilities in ball detection and independent decision-making.

The ID. Buzz autonomous van features self-driving technology with 13 cameras, nine LiDAR units and five radars after Volkswagen partnered with Hamburg and Uber for 2026 deployments.

Social Security phishing scams use urgency and impersonation to steal personal data. Learn how to spot fake SSA emails and implement 10 protective measures.

French startup Pazzi Robotics created an AI-powered pizza robot that made pies in under five minutes without human help, but it closed in 2022 despite patents and expert partnerships.

Reclaim your time from big tech with effective screen time reduction strategies for iPhone and Android, featuring steps to limit app usage and create phone-free zones.

Amazon Prime Day shoppers face threats from 120,000-plus scam websites as cybercriminals prepare phishing traps and malware ahead of the July sales event.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

The AEON humanoid robot tackles labor challenges with Nvidia AI, Microsoft Azure cloud and advanced spatial awareness, working alongside industry leaders Schaeffler and Pilatus.

Will My Child Ever Out-grow His Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Parenting