Can You Grow Out of ADHD?

By Dr. David Velkoff

Way back in 2013, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published an article by Dr. Volkow and Dr. Swanson on the reality of adult ADHD, and the fact that often it doesn’t simply go away as people get older, it just expresses itself differently. This truth or discovery still appears to be relatively unknown even in 2017.

Many people continue to believe that the answer to the question “does ADHD go away on its own?” is a resounding “yes”; however, this is clearly just a myth.

In fact, this is not true for many patients seen at the Drake Institute. Though we do believe that some children with ADHD or ADD will outgrow it, long term studies have reported that up to 60% of children with ADHD or ADD will continue to have ADHD symptoms and difficulties in their adult lives, leading them to face various challenges/problems that non-ADHD adults do not have to deal with.

Adult ADHD versus Childhood ADHD

Symptoms of ADHD and ADD do present differently in adulthood than they do in childhood, which may lead some adults to believe that they are no longer suffering from their condition.

Hyperactivity, in particular, is less present in adulthood but still may be present in a different manifestation. Though some adults with ADHD may still be hyperactive, it is not as physically visible, and instead, evolves into more internal symptoms (racing thoughts that one cannot stop, inner restlessness, or a feeling of a "motor running inside them") as opposed to external symptoms (not able to sit still, fidgety). This dynamic can confuse the picture of  growing out of ADHD.

Furthermore, some adults who were previously hyperactive as kids, may only be struggling with focusing, executive functioning or organizational skills as adults. This may convince themselves that they are no longer afflicted by the condition because they’re not exhibiting traditional signs of hyperactivity.

So even though some children/adolescents with ADHD, who were hyperactive when younger,   may actually outgrow the hyperactivity but they could continue to suffer from the "inattention" symptoms and sometimes the impulsivity in their adult lives.

Inattentive Symptoms

The inattention symptoms and lack of executive functioning (e.g., planning, prioritizing, organization, time management, etc.) found in ADHD will cause different problems in adulthood than in childhood/adolescence.

While the ADHD child may have access to tutors and parental supervision to help mitigate some of the troubles associated with their condition (i.e., forgetting to turn in their homework, completing their homework, etc.), adults typically have to face their ADHD symptoms on their own. They no longer have the “safety net” of living with their parents for support and receiving micromanagement from parents to make up the difference.

Getting help as an adult can be far more difficult and challenging. As we’ve discussed, many adults feel as if they have already outgrown their ADHD or simply do not want to admit they are still experiencing symptoms since they may have absorbed frequent criticisms or even blame growing up with ADHD .

Nonetheless, the adult with ADHD may continue to experience various symptoms or problems such as disorganization, impatience, excessive procrastination, poor time management, not completing job tasks on time, difficulties keeping appointments, and depression especially if left untreated.

Brain Mapping Reveals More of the Story

Brain imaging studies in the New England Journal of Medicine article reported reduced connections in the brain and decreased activity in brain networks involved in executive functioning and attention.

At the Drake Institute, we have seen similar findings for years with our brain map testing of patients. Adults with ADHD can have motivational problems and feel like they will always struggle because of a history of so many frustrating experiences. Often, they have given up on their dreams, and have lost their motivation to try and succeed fully due to their prior disappointments.

The Dangers of Leaving ADHD Untreated

The New England Journal of Medicine in this article reported, as has been known for years, that many adults with ADHD have much harder and less successful lives.

Adults with ADHD have additional vulnerabilities to employment problems, financial difficulties, lower socioeconomic status, marital conflicts, anxiety, depression, and increased risks of substance abuse.

Many adult sufferers of ADHD who seek help will be prescribed medication for these secondary conditions of anxiety or depression, which at times can provide short-term relief.

However, these medications are only treating the fallout of ADHD and can simultaneously introduce possible new side-effects into the mix.

The truth of the matter is that although many adult sufferers realize that they may not have outgrown their ADHD, they may be afraid to admit it because of how they have been unfairly judged throughout their lives.

Societal Influences

Some adults are afraid to admit that they might have an attention problem because they do not want to be seen as “lazy” or “weak” by their friends, family, or colleagues.

It’s a psychological trap of sorts, and by failing to get help, the cycle of suffering may only continue to get worse.

The bottom line is this: do kids grow out of ADHD? Sometimes yes, but a lot of the time, no.

The only way to truly remedy the array of symptoms associated with ADHD is to seek medical help from trained professionals who have years of expertise studying and treating patients suffering from ADHD.

The Drake Institute Can Help