| If your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | Hyperactivity Disorder at the ADHD Information |
| then at some point you will be asking the question, "Will | | | | Library. |
| my child ever outgrow it?" | | | | |
| | | | We should also acknowledge that for many ADHD will |
| Well, there is good news, and not so good news, when | | | | turn out to be the ticket for disaster in their lives. About |
| it comes to the answer. Studies indicate that about half | | | | half of all individuals with ADD will also develop |
| of those with ADHD will outgrow many of the | | | | problems with society, with authority, with the rules of |
| symptoms of the disorder by the time he or she is in | | | | life. These individuals will average about two felony |
| their 20's. However, even for these fortunate ones, | | | | arrests before the age of 20 unless they are properly |
| some of the symptoms will remain. The old school of | | | | treated as a child. |
| thinking was that once a child with ADHD reached | | | | |
| puberty he no longer needed any help for his Attention | | | | One study suggests that about half of all men in prison |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but this is simply not true. | | | | 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 |
| But parents, hang on! There is one final growth spurt | | | | was a problem, or didn't have the financial resources |
| of the brain, particularly in the frontal lobes, at about 19 | | | | for treatment, or because they just didn't know what |
| or 20 years old. It is not much, but for those with | | | | to do about the problem. It is extremely important that |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder it just might | | | | all children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, |
| make a big difference. Once this growth takes place it | | | | whether the inattentive space-cadets or the impulsive |
| seems that the young adult becomes more mature, | | | | hyperactive ADHD children, it's important that all |
| better able to focus, and may improve in school. | | | | children with ADHD receive the help that they need. |
| Hyperactivity may diminish at this time, and may look | | | | These children need to tools to help them be |
| more like restlessness or fidgetiness. Chances are this | | | | successful. |
| young adult will become more socially appropriate as | | | | |
| well. | | | | Gladly, most young adults with ADHD can find jobs |
| | | | where their strengths can shine, and can be |
| However, symptoms of impulsivity tend to remain. This | | | | successful. Depending on skills and preferences, we |
| is often the biggest complaint of adults with the | | | | have seen many with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity |
| disorder. It causes a variety of problems from often | | | | Disorder shine working with computers and computer |
| interrupting others in conversations to quitting jobs for | | | | programming, art work, sales positions, and even |
| little reason and without other employment already | | | | trucking. Look around and find a profession that is |
| lined up. | | | | rewarding and stimulating, and pursue it.Douglas |
| | | | Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been |
| Problems staying focused may also persist into | | | | working with ADHD children and their families since |
| adulthood. It is often described as a constant | | | | 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information |
| "brain-fog" which makes tasks such as balancing | | | | Library's family of seven web sites, including helping |
| check books and doing taxes very difficult. As with | | | | over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about |
| children, there is little problem doing interesting or | | | | ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the |
| exciting tasks. In fact someone with ADHD may enjoy | | | | Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of |
| some tasks so much that it seems everything else in | | | | Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for |
| the world is blocked out, for hours! But when it comes | | | | KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of |
| to routine or boring tasks, it is hard to focus for even a | | | | NewIdeas.net Incorporated. |
| minute. Learn more about Attention Deficit | | | | |