Children diagnosed with ADHD may continue to have symptoms into adulthood


 By Dr. JYOTI BHAGIA
 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY
 Dear Mayo Clinic: Our son was diag-
nosed at the age of 9 with ADHD. He's
now 13 and doing well but is still on
medication. Will he need to continue
taking the medication until adult-
hood, or do children usually outgrow
the condition as they mature?
 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity dis-
order, or ADHD, is a chronic, lifelong
condition. Throughout their teen
years, children with ADHD need to
continue taking medication to effec-
tively control the disorder. As adults,
about 50 to 60 percent of people
diagnosed with ADHD as children
continue to have symptoms and may
benefit from treatment.
 Children with ADHD usually have
a combination of problems, such as
hyperactivity, impulsive behavior,
disorganization and difficulty main-
taining attention. Hyperactivity tends
to decrease in the teen years and often
goes away in adulthood. However, for
most people, difficulty with attention
and organization persist as they get
older. With that in mind, physicians
usually recommended that children
stay on ADHD medication throughout
their teen years.
 Taking the medication is particu-
larly important in helping teens to be
successful in school. As students, they
need to be able to learn new infor-
mation every day. Medication allows
teens with ADHD to effectively process
and retain that information. Without


it, those tasks can be very difficult,
particularly in middle school and high
school, as workloads become heavier
and class subjects become more
difficult.
 ADHD medication also helps with
organization. Each day, most middle
school and high school students are
required to transition from one class-
room to another, meet the expecta-
tions of multiple teachers, understand
different course curricula, and keep
track of their belongings. All of this
requires a high level of organizational
skill.
 As they grow, children may need
adjustment in the kind or amount of
ADHD medication they take. For ex-
ample, young children may only need
medication that lasts four to six hours
each day to help control symptoms
during the time they attend school.
 Teens with ADHD often need longer
coverage. Extra-curricular activities
that go beyond the school day also
require a high level of learning and
organization. If students are involved
in after-school activities, homework
often must wait until later in the
evening. Concentration is needed for
that, as well.
 As they reach the age when they
can begin driving, it's critical teens
with ADHD take medication regularly.
Driving requires careful attention.
Studies have shown that teens with
ADHD who do not take medication
are four times more likely to be in an
accident than those who do.
 For teens who continue their


education after high school, staying
on ADHD medication is a good idea.
Just as they did in high school, these
medications will help students per-
form better in college.
 After schooling is done, doctors
typically recommend that adults take
ADHD medications if symptoms of
inattention and disorganization affect
day-to-day life, including home, work
and social interactions.
 Adults diagnosed with ADHD as chil-
dren who manage without medication
do so not because the condition has
gone away, but rather because they've
learned to handle their symptoms
through lifestyle choices. For example,
they may use tools like planners,
calendars and phone apps to remind
them of important activities and to
help them stay organized. Also, some
adults have jobs in which learning
new information is not required on a
regular basis.
 Some parents worry that taking
ADHD medication for years may lead
to other health problems in their
children. Studies have found no long-
term risks in taking these drugs. They
can provide safe, effective treatment
for ADHD. And, when it is successfully
managed, those affected by ADHD can
function well and become successful
in any professional field they choose.
 Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is
an educational resource and doesn't
replace regular medical care. To submit
a question, write to medicaledge@
mayo.edu. For health information, visit
www.mayoclinic.com.


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