ADHD
and Christiane Fux, medical editorJulia Dobmeier is currently completing her master's degree in clinical psychology. Since the beginning of her studies, she has been particularly interested in the treatment and research of mental illnesses. In doing so, they are particularly motivated by the idea of enabling those affected to enjoy a higher quality of life by conveying knowledge in a way that is easy to understand.
More about the expertsChristiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
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ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness are the main characteristics. If the disorder is left untreated, it affects academic and professional performance and social contacts. ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in childhood. In many cases, it lasts for life. Read here how you can recognize ADHD and how the disorder can be treated.
People quickly talk about ADHD these days when children are inattentive and fidgety. However, only specialist doctors and psychologists can make a reliable diagnosis.
Marian Grosser, doctor
ADHD: quick reference
- Main symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. With some also dreaminess
- Possible consequences: learning or professional difficulties, behavioral disorders, problems in dealing with others
- Causes: probably mostly genetic, but also unfavorable environmental influences as a trigger
- Diagnostics: Inquiring about typical characteristics, observing behavior, excluding other mental and physical illnesses as the cause
- Therapy: behavioral therapy, possibly in combination with medication. Training of parents in dealing with children.
- Prognosis: Often remains as "ADD" into adulthood. Hyperactivity then decreases. If left untreated, there is a risk of serious consequences for professional and private life
ADHD: symptoms
If children or adults are fidgety, unfocused, chaotic and uncontrollably impulsive or even constantly dreamy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be the cause of the problems. In the vernacular one also speaks of the "fidgety philippy".
According to the definition of ADHD, the main symptoms of the disorder are:
- Attention deficit
- pronounced impulsiveness
- extreme restlessness (hyperactivity)
Three subgroups
The symptoms of ADHD can vary in severity. Nor do all of the signs always appear in a patient. There are three subgroups of ADHD in total
- predominantly hyperactive-impulsive: "fidgety philipp"
- predominantly attention-deficit: "Hans-peep-in-die-Luft" or "Träumsuse" (attention deficit type, ADD))
- Mixed type: disturbed and hyperactive
ADHD symptoms by age group
ADHD is considered a congenital disorder that becomes noticeable before the age of six. The disease can persist for a long time. However, ADHD symptoms manifest themselves differently in infants, toddlers, adolescents, and adults.
Early signs in the infant
A reliable diagnosis of ADHD is not yet possible in infancy. In long-term studies, however, researchers have found a connection between ADHD and so-called regulatory disorders.
Babies with dysregulation often cry long and hard, sleep poorly and are sometimes difficult to feed. They are also very restless and often appear in a bad mood. Some infants who develop ADHD later in life refuse body contact. Such behavior can, however, be based on completely different causes. Only a third of babies who displayed such behaviors were later diagnosed with ADHD.
ADHD symptoms in infancy
ADHD is difficult to detect even in young children. A toddler with ADHD usually screams a lot, has no desire to play, and has little ability to pay attention. Typical ADHD symptoms at this age are pronounced motor restlessness and restlessness.
Social problems: ADHD often burdens the child and their parents equally. Due to their disruptive behavior, the children find it difficult to make connections. You have trouble making friends with other children.
Poor Concentration: Toddlers with ADHD have great difficulty concentrating on quiet activity for long periods of time. After a short time they switch from one game to the next. Their unpredictable behavior can also result in more frequent accidents.
Pronounced defiant phase: The defiant phase is also more violent than with other children. ADHD children often burst into conversation in the middle of a conversation. Some can strain their parents' patience by making noises all the time.
Conspicuous language acquisition: Language acquisition in toddlers with ADHD occurs either noticeably early or with a delay.
Lack of movement coordination: Many children with ADHD find it difficult to use handicraft tools due to their lack of fine and gross motor coordination.
ADHD symptoms in elementary school age
Common ADHD symptoms in elementary school children include low tolerance for frustration and tantrums when things don't go their way. Constant talking and inappropriate facial expressions and gestures are further symptoms. ADHD is also manifested by clumsiness and frequent gaming accidents. The children suffer from the effects of the disorder and are usually low in self-esteem.
Rules are difficult for children with ADHD to follow. In school they are therefore often seen as "pain in the ass" and "spoilsport". You talk excessively and interrupt others. They solve tasks slowly and unsystematically, they are also easily distracted and hardly tolerate frustrations. All of this makes them outsiders.
For the teachers, signs of ADHD such as being disturbed in class and being highly distractible are challenging. Not every affected child fidgets all the time, but all children with ADHD are out of the ordinary.
In many cases the children have reading, writing or numeracy difficulties. These ADHD symptoms make it difficult for children to keep up in school. In addition, their writing is often difficult to read and the way they are organized is chaotic.
ADHD symptoms in adolescence
Adolescents with ADHD are still inattentive and often develop a “no-go mentality”. They refuse the necessary services and take refuge in an aggressive anti-attitude. To a certain extent, such behaviors are not uncommon in puberty anyway, but they are much more pronounced in ADHD.
Adolescents with ADHD are prone to risky behavior and are often drawn to socially marginalized groups. Alcohol and drugs often play a role in this. Many suffer from low self-esteem, some experience severe anxiety and also depression. But there are also adolescents whose symptoms improve - restlessness and impulsiveness decrease.
ADHD in adulthood
About 40 percent of children with ADHD have the disease for life. Around two million adults in Germany also suffer from ADHD or ADD.
However, the appearance of the disorder changes. The excessive motor skills are usually lost during puberty. In the foreground, then, panic, forgetfulness or disorganization come to the fore. Symptoms such as impulsive behavior and rash actions are also still present.
The problem is that ADHD is often not recognized in adulthood. The symptoms have existed for so long that they are perceived as part of the personality.
If the disorder is not treated, however, it can have serious effects on social contacts, professional careers and life satisfaction for those affected. Due to their impulsiveness and rash actions, they often take unnecessary risks and harm themselves.
Often, additional mental illnesses occur, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse or addictions.
If they manage to control and use the wealth of ideas that is typical of ADHD, adults with ADHD can also be extremely successful in life
You can find more about ADHD in adulthood in the text ADHD Adults.
Positive Symptoms: ADHD can have benefits too
ADHD can also have positive sides. People with ADHD are often very flexible mentally and can be extremely creative. If you find a task that inspires you, you are highly motivated and extremely productive. In that case, they can turn their full attention to one thing and be very successful.
They also have good access to their feelings and are considered to be very helpful. Their sense of justice is also strong. Despite the many difficulties people with ADHD have because of their symptoms, they often find amazing ways to cope with them.
Difference between ADD and ADHD
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) refers to people who are inattentive and have trouble concentrating, but are not hyperactive. So they correspond to the "dreamy" subtype of ADHD. So there is no fundamental difference between ADD and ADHD.
Children with ADD are less noticeable than their hyperactive fellow sufferers. The disorder is therefore often not recognized in them. But they also have great difficulties at school. They are also very sensitive and easily offended.
How ADHD and ADD differ
ADHD: causes and risk factors
It has not yet been clarified exactly why some children develop ADHD. What is certain is that the genome has a great influence. Organic brain changes play a decisive role in the development of ADHD. With a corresponding predisposition, environmental factors can then trigger ADHD.
ADHD is not a modern disease of civilization, as was often assumed in the past. It is not caused by poor upbringing, poor diet, or excessive media consumption. Although these factors can have an adverse effect on the disease, they are not the actual cause.
Genetic causes
Researchers assume that the genes have a 70 percent share in the development of ADHD. In many cases, parents, siblings, or other relatives also have ADHD. The risk of developing ADHD is significantly higher, especially for boys, if one parent suffers from the disorder.
Signal disturbance in the head
Scientists suspect that malfunctions in the brain are the main cause of ADHD. Certain regions are not active enough - they are in a kind of "deep sleep". These include the frontal lobes and certain areas of the basal ganglia and cerebellum. These parts of the brain are responsible for attention, execution and planning, concentration and perception.
In them, the concentration of special messenger substances that are necessary for the communication of the nerve cells is too low. These include serotonin, which regulates impulse control, as well as norepinephrine and dopamine, which are important for alertness, drive and motivation.
Missing filters
Countless pieces of information enter our brain every second, but we are only aware of some of it. A filter protects against overstimulation and helps to distinguish important from unimportant.
In ADHD / ADD children, the brain does not adequately filter out unimportant information. The brain of ADHD sufferers is then confronted with too many different stimuli at the same time and overwhelmed.
Therefore, it is difficult for them to concentrate. The unfiltered flood of information makes them restless and tense. If the teacher shows something on the blackboard, the child is already distracted by the noises made by his classmates. Children with ADD without hyperactivity behave rather calmly, but have just as much difficulty paying attention as the classic "fidgety".
Environmental influences
Environmental toxins and food allergies are also suspected of contributing to ADHD and ADD. Alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, as well as a lack of oxygen at birth, also increase the child's risk of developing ADHD.
The external circumstances in which a child grows up can influence the course of the disorder. Examples of adverse conditions are
- little emotional affection
- cramped living conditions
- constant quarreling between parents
- noise
- missing or not transparent structures
- Sedentary lifestyle
- time pressure
- high media consumption
ADHD: examinations and diagnosis
ADHD can manifest itself in very different ways. That makes diagnosis difficult. Not all signs of the disorder are always present. It is also often difficult to distinguish ADHD symptoms from age-appropriate behavior. That is why only experienced specialists, such as paediatricians or child and adolescent psychiatrists, can diagnose ADHD.
For the diagnosis of ADHD, certain criteria according to the ICD-10 classification system must be met. Typical for ADHD is an unusual level of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. When diagnosed with ADD, the children are only inattentive, but neither hyperactive nor impulsive.
Diagnostic criterion inattention
In ADHD, at least six of the following ADHD symptoms of inattentiveness can be identified. They have been occurring for at least six months and cannot be traced back to an age-appropriate development phase. The affected
- do not pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes,
- have trouble concentrating in the long term,
- often don't seem to listen when spoken to directly,
- often do not fully execute instructions or do not complete tasks,
- have trouble completing tasks and activities in a planned manner,
- often avoiding or refusing to do tasks that require sustained focus,
- often lose things like toys or homework books,
- are easily distracted by insignificant stimuli,
- are often forgetful about everyday activities.
Diagnostic criterion hyperactivity - impulsivity
In addition, ADHD manifests itself in at least six of the following ADHD-typical hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. These have also occurred for at least six months and cannot be traced back to an age-appropriate development phase. The affected
- fidget or squirm in the chair,
- do not like to sit and often leave the seat, even when sitting is expected,
- often run around or climb up everywhere, even in inappropriate situations,
- are restless, busy or often behave as if driven by a motor,
- are usually very loud when playing,
- often talk too much,
- often burst out with the answer before questions are completely asked,
- often have trouble waiting their turn
- often interrupt or disturb others in conversations or games.
In children with ADHD, these symptoms are typically seen before the age of seven. They do not only appear at home or only at school, but in at least two different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, there must also be clear suffering or difficulties in social contact, in learning or in the professional field.
Investigations for the diagnosis of ADHD
In order to determine ADHD, the specialist uses special questionnaires with which certain ADHD-typical behavior can be recorded.
Behavioral problems and peculiarities that affect learning, performance or, later, the job are important. Further topics are the family situation and illnesses in the family. He also asks about special features during pregnancy, childbirth and development as well as about previous illnesses and current other complaints.
In the case of adult patients, he will also ask questions about nicotine, alcohol, drug use and psychiatric illnesses.
How parents can prepare for a visit to the doctor
- Observe and describe your child's behavior: Are there current critical events that may be causing the restless behavior? When do the attention disorders occur, at what time of the day, on what days of the week (school days, weekends)?
- Talk to the caregivers of your child: kindergarten, school, after-school care center, grandparents.
Questioning parents, caregivers and teachers
For an ADHD diagnosis in children, the specialist asks parents and other caregivers about social, learning, performance behavior and the personality structure of the child. The doctor could ask the following questions in an initial consultation:
- Can your child concentrate on one activity for a long time?
- Is your child fidgety when asked to sit still?
- Does your child often talk in between or a lot?
- Is your child easily distracted?
The teachers can provide valuable information on the intellectual performance and attentiveness of the little patient. Exercise books also provide information on a possible disruption based on order, guidance, writing and division. Certificates document school performance.
Physical exams if ADHD is suspected
The doctor examines the child's motor coordination skills and assesses their behavior during the examination. To do this, he observes the child's ability to cooperate, gestures, facial expressions, language, and sounds. A measurement of the outward currents in the EEG is only necessary if, for example, there is a suspicion of epilepsy.
Behavioral observation if ADHD is suspected
During the examinations and the anamnesis, the doctor / ADHD specialist observes the child and pays attention to behavioral problems.
Sometimes video recordings help confirm a diagnosis of ADHD. With videos, the specialist can also demonstrate to parents the conspicuousness of their child in facial expressions, gestures and body language or the loss of attention. The recordings also show the reaction of the parents and later document the course of therapy.
Differentiation from other disorders
It is important to differentiate ADHD from other problems with similar symptoms. Psychologically, this can be, for example, a reduced intelligence or a reading and spelling weakness (dyslexia). If possible, the specialist compares the results with previous findings, for example the school enrollment examination. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can also cause ADHD-like hyperactivity.
In some cases, however, the hyperactivity is also based on physical causes such as metabolic disorders, epilepsy, tic disorders, Tourette's syndrome or pathological itching, vision or hearing problems, which must be treated accordingly.
Lots of misdiagnoses
Experts believe that ADHD in children is often diagnosed prematurely. Not every particularly active or lively child has ADHD. Some children may just not get enough exercise to express their energies.
Others need more moments of retreat and relaxation than other children and are therefore excited. Lifestyle changes are often enough to ease the situation. It is therefore important to have a precise diagnosis by an experienced pediatrician or a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
ADHD: Giftedness is rare
If children fail at school, it is not necessarily due to a lack of intelligence. Some children with ADHD are more intelligent than average but still have great difficulty teaching. However, the combination of ADHD + giftedness is rather rare.
However, gifted children are often under-challenged in school and are therefore restless and disturbing. They may then be incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD.
Children are considered gifted if they achieve a value of over 130 points in an intelligence test. Such children are usually characterized by a particularly good ability to concentrate, which is not the case with ADHD.
It is important to find out which treatment is optimal in each individual case. The specialists work together with parents, teachers, educators and other carers. Often no clear cause of ADHD can be found.
The aim of ADHD therapy is to enable the patient to develop normally and lead a life that is as normal as possible. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder doesn't go away on its own. But a lot can be achieved with individually tailored therapy and a lot of patience. The well-coordinated cooperation of all those involved is crucial for success.
therapy
Therapy modules
The following building blocks are important for successful ADHD treatment in children:
- Education and advice for parents, the child / young person and the educator or class teacher
- Parent training, family involvement (including family therapy) to reduce symptoms in the family environment
- Kindergarten / School: Cooperation with educators and teachers
- Cognitive behavior therapy of children / adolescents (from school age): Learning to control impulsive and disorganized behavior
- Therapy with appropriate medication (usually amphetamines such as methylphenidate) to reduce symptoms in school, kindergarten, in the family or in other settings
The combination of medication, behavior therapy and parenting training has proven to be very effective. Which building blocks are used or combined depends on the age of the child and the severity of the ADHD.
Therapy in preschool age
In the pre-school age, the main focus is on parent training and informing the environment about the disorder. Cognitive therapy is not yet possible at this age. If the children have difficulty sticking to one thing for a long time, play training can encourage this ability. Some clinics offer a special mother-child cure. In these clinics, ADHD is treated with a combination of learning training and relationship work.
Experts warn against treating preschool children with drugs for ADHD. It is unclear how the drugs will affect the development of the children. There is little experience with the use of methylphenidate in children under the age of six. Some professionals fear that ADHD drugs are affecting brain development.
Therapy in school age
For school children and adolescents, education and advice for children and parents as well as parenting training are the basis of the therapy. An important first measure is the so-called self-instruction training. The children give themselves their next steps in a linguistic self-instruction.
The motto “first act, then think” is reversed to “think first, then act.” The ability to give oneself concrete instructions strengthens self-control and helps to rethink one's own behavior.
Self-instruction for treating ADHD can be learned in five steps:
- The therapist or educator speaks the "self-instructions" as a model and acts accordingly.
- The child acts according to the instructions given by the teacher (external behavior control).
- The child directs its behavior through its own self-instructions (open self-instruction) with loud speaking.
- The child whispers the self-instruction (hidden self-instruction).
- The child should learn to control himself by practicing internalized self-instruction (hidden self-instruction).
If the child is extremely restless or aggressive despite therapy and training, additional medication can be useful.
Behavior therapy
Behavioral therapy includes working with the children, their parents and the school. The children learn to structure their everyday life and to better control their behavior. In many cases it makes sense to have a professional helper support the children at school for some time.
Practicing in model situations can also be helpful. As part of role plays, for example among their peers, the ADHD children practice behavior in a practical situation that they can later use at home or at school. If they experience recognition, they will quickly incorporate the new behavior pattern into their repertoire.
Parent training
Parent training is an important part of ADHD therapy. In order to better support their offspring, the parents learn a consistent but loving parenting style. These include:
- Provide clear structures, express yourself unambiguously
- Bring your own behavior in line with the instructions
- Avoid distractions from a task at hand
- Provide feedback as to whether they find the behavior positive or negative
- Reward desired behavior in a clearly recognizable way
Many parents also seek help from parenting initiatives. Exchanging ideas with others helps them out of isolation and can reduce possible feelings of guilt. Often, parents of ADHD children only manage to accept their hyperactive child for who they are thanks to the support of the groups.
Medications in ADHD Treatment
Medication to treat ADHD can help with severe ADHD symptoms that otherwise cause significant difficulties in everyday life. They usually work quickly and well. In the case of severe behavior problems, they often create the prerequisites for behavioral therapy. In less severe cases, children should only be given medication if behavioral therapy is inadequate.
Medicines cannot cure the disorder. Therefore, patients often have to take them for years, sometimes into adulthood. In order to permanently stabilize ADHD, they must be taken regularly. Treatment should not be interrupted on your own.
In addition, the doctor should check the course of the disease at least once a year and determine whether the active ingredient and dose are still optimal. If the ADHD symptoms have improved significantly over a longer period of time, it may be possible to stop taking the medication.
Methylphenidate
The most common drug used to treat ADHD is methylphenidate. Methylphenidate is not a sedative, but promotes activity. This seems contradictory at first, given that children with ADHD are hyperactive anyway.
It is best known under the trade name Ritalin. The active ingredient is a psychostimulant from the group of amphetamines. It increases the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine transmits signals between nerve cells. It plays a crucial role in controlling movements, but is also crucial for psychological drive and the ability to concentrate.
In most affected children, methylphenidate reduces inattentiveness and restlessness and improves their concentration. For some children, methylphenidate is what makes it possible for them to attend classes in the first place and makes social contacts much easier.
This is how methylphenidate works
Methylphenidate works quickly. After just one hour, the patients feel a clear effect.
At the start of therapy, the doctor will determine the lowest effective dose. To do this, he slowly increases the amount of active ingredient. This dose is different for each patient: it can range from one low-dose tablet to three high-dose tablets a day.
For ADHD children who need stabilization all day long, tablets that are taken once in the morning are suitable. They continuously release the active ingredient throughout the day. Regular tablet intake is not easily forgotten. Sleep disorders are also less common.
Methylphenidate falls under the Narcotics Act. To prevent abuse, doctors are only allowed to prescribe such drugs for a limited period of time and only on a special prescription form (narcotic prescription). However, methylphenidate is not physically addictive.
When used properly, the risks of narcotics are low. However, if they are misused, for example for "brain doping", they can endanger health.
Atomoxetine
A newer active ingredient used to treat ADHD is atomoxetine. It comes from antidepressant research, but does not have an antidepressant effect. The active ingredient tends to work a little less well than methylphenidate, but offers an alternative. Above all, it increases the concentration of norepinephrine in the brain by slowing down its breakdown. The messenger substance remains active longer and ensures that the signal transmission in the brain works better again.
Unlike methylphenidate, atomoxetine is not subject to the Narcotics Act. It can be used to treat ADHD in children from the age of six.
More medication
If methylphenidate and atomoxetine do not work sufficiently, various neuroleptics, antidepressants, sedatives and other amphetamines as well as fenetylline and pemoline can be prescribed.
| substance | Stimulant, for example methylphenidate | Norepinephrine (NA) reuptake inhibitors, for example atomoxetine |
| Mode of action | Acts on dopamine metabolism in the brain, increases dopamine concentration | Affects norepinephrine (NA) metabolism, NA is more slowly reabsorbed into the cell and thus acts longer |
| effectiveness | Will help in the majority of cases | Effectiveness rather less than that of methylphenidate, may be effective in patients who do not respond to methylphenidate |
| Duration of action | 1 to 3 doses per day, newer sustained-release preparations ensure a duration of action of 6 or 12 hours | Continuous effect throughout the day |
| experience | For more than 50 years | On the market in Germany since March 2005, study experience since 1998 |
|
Side effects |
In the initial phase for 2-3 weeks: - Headache Frequently: Rarely: |
Especially in the initial phase: - Headache Frequently: - decreased appetite Occasionally: Rarely: |
| Long-term consequences | No increased rate of long-term effects, fears about Parkinson's disease or brain damage cannot be proven. | Long-term consequences are not yet foreseeable |
| Addictive | Used correctly, no increased risk of addiction; is even reduced in ADHD (progress studies). | No risk of addiction |
| Contraindications | - epileptic seizure disorders - fear and tension - increased pressure in the eye - Tourette syndrome - Simultaneous use of drugs from the group of drugs called MAO inhibitors for the treatment of depression - Hyperthyroidism - severe angina pectoris - irregular heartbeat - Severe high blood pressure - severe depression - anorexia - psychosis - Tic disorders - drug abuse - Alcohol or drug abuse - Pregnancy and breast feeding period - prostate enlargement - recent stroke | - Simultaneous use of drugs from the group of drugs called MAO inhibitors for the treatment of depression - increased pressure in the eye (narrow-angle glaucoma) |
| regulation | Narcotics (BTM) prescription, confirmation from the attending physician required for trips abroad. | Normal recipe |
| permit | For children and adolescents from 6 years | For children and adolescents from 6 years of age, also for further treatment into adulthood |
Neurofeedback - ADHD therapy on the computer
Neurofeedback is a procedure in which the patient learns to positively influence his brain activities. To do this, electrodes are stuck to the scalp that read the brain waves so that they can be seen on a monitor.
This measurement is also called electroencephalography (EEG). Through concentration, the patient manages to keep his brain activity at a certain level. With longer training, they can also apply the skills they have learned in everyday life, at school or at work. For many children, neurofeedback is an effective method of increasing concentration.
Homeopathy in ADHD Therapy
There are also alternative attempts to treat ADHD. They should complement conventional medical therapy. One of them is homeopathy. Some parents and patients report an improvement in symptoms. There is a large selection of homeopathic remedies. Depending on the symptoms, globules are based on potassium phosphoricum, which is supposed to promote the ability to concentrate, up to sulfur, which is given in case of impulsiveness and excess energy.
The concept of homeopathy and its specific effectiveness are controversial in science and not clearly proven by studies.
Diet in ADHD
Some parents report that fast food and a sugary diet further increase their children's hyperactivity. The connections between such a diet and ADHD have not been scientifically proven.
It is different with children who suffer from both ADHD and a food intolerance or allergy. In these cases, a low-allergen diet improves symptoms of ADHD in many children. Diet can then make a positive contribution. In addition to standard treatment, doctors therefore often recommend a change in diet. Some foods that often cause allergies are, for example, dairy products, eggs, nuts, colorings and preservatives.
ADHD: disease course and prognosis
Attention disorder, also known as hyperkinetic disorder, is sometimes difficult to differentiate from other behavioral disorders. That is why there are no precise figures on the incidence of ADHD. It is estimated that over 500,000 school children in Germany suffer from ADHD. Boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls. The gender difference is evened out again with increasing age.
ADHD is not a disease that just "grows out". In some of the children, the symptoms disappear over the years, but around 60 percent accompany them for a lifetime.
Untreated ADHD - the consequences
The right diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for people with ADHD, as they would otherwise have serious problems at school or at work, as well as in social contact.
- Some fail to complete school or learn a trade that does not suit their intellectual abilities.
- Some find it harder to establish and maintain social relationships.
- The risk of committing a crime in adolescence is higher.
- You are more likely to have accidents, including serious ones.
People with ADHD are also at high risk of developing other mental disorders. This includes
- Developmental disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Conduct disorders,
- Tic Disorders and Tourette's Syndrome
- Anxiety disorders
- depressions
Symptoms change with ADHD. While children with ADHD are particularly noticeable for their hyperactivity and impulsiveness, adolescents with ADHD are often more dreamy and inattentive. Hyperactivity tends to decrease further in adulthood.
So far, there are no comprehensive studies on the prognosis of ADHD. It is important that ADHD is recognized and treated in good time. Professional support enables the children to lay the foundations for their professional careers.
Additional information
Books
- Matthias Gelb, Dina Völkel-Halbrock: ADS / ADHD: A guide for parents, educators and therapists (guide for relatives, those affected and specialists) Schulz-Kirchner; Edition: January 3, 2014
- Wolfdieter Jenett: ADHD: 100 Tips for Parents and Educators (HELP - Help for Parents, Teachers, Educators) Ferdinand Schöning Verlag, June 15, 2011
- Mina Teichert Off the trail, but on the way: Why ADD and ADHD aren't the end of the world, Eden Books April 6, 2017
Self-help groups and associations
ADHD-Germany e.V .: http://www.adhs-deutschland.de/
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