Life With ADHD: Exploring Changes In ADHD Symptoms
29th July 2024
Generally, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Deficiency (ADHD) will be diagnosed at an early age of children. In the early age of an individual, the symptoms of ADHD are more obvious in usual structured settings such as- schools and in any social event.
Normally, in most cases, it’s been found that will not show symptoms of ADHD in their adulthood years, but it’s not a guarantee that it will happen in every individual case. According to the latest study, it has been found that 1 in 40 adults have the symptoms of ADHD.
So, if you have doubts about whether the challenges and setbacks caused by ADHD will intensify or not, then we have got you covered.
In this blog post, we will be exploring whether the symptoms of ADHD will worsen or not with age.
Before you move to the topic, can we ask you a quick question? Do you follow us on Social Media? If not, then you’re missing out on a lot of informative content. We regularly share upgraded educational content, tips, feedback, and more. Check us out by clicking the profiles here - Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Instagram / YouTube
ADHD Symptoms in Childhood
Common Symptoms
Children with ADHD display a variety of behaviours that can significantly affect their daily lives. These symptoms include inattention, where they may fail to pay close attention to details, resulting in careless mistakes. Their ability to stay focused on tasks or play activities is compromised, often appearing as though they are not listening when spoken to directly. Hyperactivity is also prominent, characterized by constant motion, children may run or climb excessively, often at inappropriate times.
Impulsivity is another key symptom, with children frequently interrupting conversations, having difficulty waiting their turn, and acting without thinking about the consequences.
Impact on Social and Academic Life
The social and academic lives of children with ADHD are deeply affected by their symptoms. Socially, they may struggle with making and maintaining friendships due to their inability to pick up on social cues and control their impulses. This can lead to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem as they are often misunderstood by their peers.
Academically, children with ADHD face challenges in maintaining concentration, which affects their ability to learn and retain information. Their impulsivity and hyperactivity can be disruptive in a classroom setting, leading to a negative impact on their academic performance.
Will The Symptoms of ADHD Get Worse With Age?
ADHD symptoms usually do not get worsen with age. On the contrary, research has shown that individuals' symptoms may fluctuate over time.
While ADHD is diagnosed primarily with hyperactivity and impulsivity, it is critical to remember that these developmental delays are caused by structural changes in the brain.
So, while the symptoms may improve as an individual ages, such brain differences may persist.
In previous decades, it was assumed that children with ADHD would "outgrow" their condition. Interestingly, ADHD was once referred to as a "hyperkinetic disorder of childhood."
Since the mid-1990s, ADHD has been recognized as a disorder that can persist into adulthood. If it gets untreated then children might face challenges and setbacks caused by ADHD in adulthood. Like-
- Being consistent in Academics or in work
- Impulsive Behaviour
- Forming & Maintaining Relationships with anyone
ADHD Peaks At What Age?
ADHD symptoms usually begin between the ages of three and six. In case, the symptoms are severe, the average age for children to receive diagnosis is 4 years old. However, if an individual receives no diagnosis at an early age then the signs of hyper-activeness, impulsiveness, or attention deficiency must have been present before the age of 12 to be diagnosed with ADHD.
Does The Type of ADHD Change With Age?
The answer is Yes! - It gets changed as an individual gets older. It’s also one of the reasons for the misconception that “You can outgrow ADHD”.
There are three types of ADHD that can transit throughout life:
- Pre-dominantly Hyperactive
- Pre-dominantly Inattentiveness
- Combined hyperactivity & Inattention
The symptoms of hyperactivity in ADHD tend to decrease as the children are in their late childhood and early adolescence. Some of the hyperactive symptoms are-
-Excessive Talking
-Excessive fidgeting and movement
All ADHD hyperactive symptoms improve as the children age and are being replaced with restlessness.
Impulsive behaviour of children with ADHD mostly tends to improve with age. However, the symptoms of impulsivity can still exist in adulthood, which can be highly risky. For example- substance use disorder.
Inattention is one of the aspects of ADHD, which tends to remain present in all age groups. It interrupts each and every daily activity of an individual of any age group like- work.
Final Thoughts
ADHD is a complex and chronic developmental disorder whose symptoms can vary across every child and adult. Instead of ADHD intensifying with age, individuals might experience a slight change in symptom presentation. Special needs educators, parents, and caregivers can use several available strategies to help children to deal with challenges and setbacks caused by ADHD, to mitigate its effects.
If you want to learn more effective and helpful strategies to support your children with ADHD to thrive in every aspect of their life. Then, consider pursuing courses like a Certificate in Special Education, where you will get guidance from top expert trainers from the education industry.
Written By : Abhishek
