Will ADHD Go Away?
One of the first questions parents ask when their children get diagnosed with ADHD is whether the condition might go away with age.
Unfortunately, this isn't a question that can be simply answered with a yes or no.
You see, ADHD is a spectrum disorder, which means that no two individuals have the same experience of the condition.
Some children might have a few symptoms, while other children have all the eighteen diagnostic criteria.
Some children may outgrow ADHD, while others have to deal with it all throughout their lives.
In this article, you will learn about the many possible outcomes of ADHD.
But before doing so, let's discuss briefly the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
If you remember, the three core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Together, they have eighteen diagnostic criteria, which doctors use to determine if a child has ADHD or not - 9 criteria on the inattentive scale, and 9 criteria on the hyperactive-impulsive scale.
To receive the ADHD diagnosis, a child must meet at least twelve criteria out of the eighteen.
With this in mind, there are three possible perspectives and outcomes for outgrowing ADHD.
1) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still meet the same criteria (at least 12) by the age of 25?" then, the answer is that 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD will not meet the diagnostic criteria anymore when they reach adulthood.
This means that there are still 40% who grow up suffering from the same symptoms and still meet the criteria.
2) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still meet some of the criteria (less than 12) at age 25? Then the answer is that 30% of children have outgrown ADHD at age 25, and 70% of children with ADHD still have some symptoms while not meeting the 12 criteria threshold anymore.
3) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still have problems functioning normally at age 25?" then the answer is that only a scant 10% outgrow their ADHD, which means 90% have difficulties leading a normal life because of their symptoms.
Children with ADHD also have a high chance of meeting the diagnostic criteria for other mental disorders.
What most doctors do not acknowledge is that the symptoms of ADHD change throughout time.
This means that behaviours that fit the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in children might change to meet another diagnosis in adulthood.
For instance, an inattentive child may develop an anxiety disorder and receive this diagnosis when he or she reaches adulthood.
A hyperactive child who always got in trouble at school may develop oppositional behaviour and be diagnosed as an antisocial type ten years later.
What this means is that the three core symptoms may evolve into other disorders if they are not given adequate treatment, or if they are left to go away on their own.
It's important for you to remember that ADHD cannot be simply cured by giving medication.
Only through a comprehensive natural approach can your child learn to overcome ADHD so that the symptoms will stop being disruptive throughout the years.
Unfortunately, this isn't a question that can be simply answered with a yes or no.
You see, ADHD is a spectrum disorder, which means that no two individuals have the same experience of the condition.
Some children might have a few symptoms, while other children have all the eighteen diagnostic criteria.
Some children may outgrow ADHD, while others have to deal with it all throughout their lives.
In this article, you will learn about the many possible outcomes of ADHD.
But before doing so, let's discuss briefly the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
If you remember, the three core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Together, they have eighteen diagnostic criteria, which doctors use to determine if a child has ADHD or not - 9 criteria on the inattentive scale, and 9 criteria on the hyperactive-impulsive scale.
To receive the ADHD diagnosis, a child must meet at least twelve criteria out of the eighteen.
With this in mind, there are three possible perspectives and outcomes for outgrowing ADHD.
1) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still meet the same criteria (at least 12) by the age of 25?" then, the answer is that 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD will not meet the diagnostic criteria anymore when they reach adulthood.
This means that there are still 40% who grow up suffering from the same symptoms and still meet the criteria.
2) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still meet some of the criteria (less than 12) at age 25? Then the answer is that 30% of children have outgrown ADHD at age 25, and 70% of children with ADHD still have some symptoms while not meeting the 12 criteria threshold anymore.
3) If the question, "Will ADHD go away?" means "Do children who meet at least 12 diagnostic criteria at age 6 still have problems functioning normally at age 25?" then the answer is that only a scant 10% outgrow their ADHD, which means 90% have difficulties leading a normal life because of their symptoms.
Children with ADHD also have a high chance of meeting the diagnostic criteria for other mental disorders.
What most doctors do not acknowledge is that the symptoms of ADHD change throughout time.
This means that behaviours that fit the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in children might change to meet another diagnosis in adulthood.
For instance, an inattentive child may develop an anxiety disorder and receive this diagnosis when he or she reaches adulthood.
A hyperactive child who always got in trouble at school may develop oppositional behaviour and be diagnosed as an antisocial type ten years later.
What this means is that the three core symptoms may evolve into other disorders if they are not given adequate treatment, or if they are left to go away on their own.
It's important for you to remember that ADHD cannot be simply cured by giving medication.
Only through a comprehensive natural approach can your child learn to overcome ADHD so that the symptoms will stop being disruptive throughout the years.
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