Does a child ever "grow out of" ADD or ADHD? Than

IMHO, I think successful adults learn how to compensate for it. And those that aren’t so lucky find themselves mired in a mess of irresponsibility as a result of their ADD, meaning they can’t hold a job, they have trouble handling money, are late constantly, with being disorganized dreamers who may not reach their their potential if they can’t get a hold of their ADD/.

Research shows that the majority (great than 60 percent, I believe) do not grow out of ADHD. Although hyperactivity tends to fade away to restlessness, other features of ADHD can remain a lifelong problem. Some children do spontaneously grow out of it, but that is not the most common result. Many more children do learn how to work around or compensate for it.

[quote=”Bridget”]Does a child ever “grow out of” ADD or ADHD? Thank you.[/quote] As an adult with ADD I can verify-no, you do not just “grow out of” ADD. Since I was not diagnosed until 33yrs old I always thought I was the “lazy”, “disorganized”, “not working to potential” person everyone told me I was. I can trace all of my symptoms back to elementary school-very clearly. I attend college now and hold a 3.8GPA. I do things different than other people might but, it works for me. I think the structure of the elem. school system wants everyone to be the same and the fact is we are not. Children should be valued for the abilities they do have instead of shaming them for the ones they are missing—there would be happier children with less problems in the classroom. Children with ADD have some very good qualities to offer, unfortunately these qualities conflict with the sit in your seat for 6 hrs a day, don’t talk, do the same old work day in day out, blah, blah, blah. My daughter also has ADHD and I have to constantly be her advocate and educate her teachers about how to channel her abilities once they learn, some of them are amazed how a different approach can really help in the classroom.

No one has mentioned medication. If a child responds well to medication in school, when that child becomes an adult, the disorder doesn’t just fade away. While maturity seems to help, the need for medication generally continues. Medication when apropriately prescribed and taken, can help the ADHD adult maintain a job and function well in college and in the workplace. Research studies have documented this, and I’ve seen it in my own son.

Those with classic ADHD do not outgrow their ADHD; it is a lifelong neurological challenge like epilepsy or dyslexia.

Most peoples’ attention spans improve with age and maturity but despite that there are people who struggle with their attention, focus and concentration through life.