What is the long term prognosis?
One book states 20% outgrow it by puberty but other problems can interfere. ADHD that lasts into adulthood is referred to as ADHD-RT (Residual Type). Are there other complications of this disease?
Yes. Not really complications in the classical sense but rather clusters of other problems of the Central Nervous System such as: Learning Disabilities?
TIC disorders (such as Tourette's) 20 %
Gross and Fine Motor control delays 50%
Developmental delays (such as speech)
Obsessive-compulsive disorders What are some
alternative ADHD Treatments?
Dietary Intervention : The changing of a child's diet to prevent ADHD.
Megavitamin and Mineral Supplements : The use of very high does of vitamins and/or minerals to treat ADHD
EEG Biofeedback : Proponents of this approach believe that children
with ADHD can be trained to increase the type of brain-wave activity associated with sustained attention.
Should medication should be
stopped when a child reaches teen years?
Research clearly shows that there is continued benefit to medication for those teens who meet criteria for diagnosis of ADHD.
Do children build up a tolerance to medication?
Although the dose of medication may need adjusting from time to time there is no evidence that children build up a tolerance to medication.
Does medication for ADHD lead to greater likelihood of later drug addiction?
There is no evidence to indicate that ADHD medication leads to an increased likelihood of later drug addiction. Is positive response to medication a confirmation of a diagnosis of ADHD?
The fact that a child shows improvement of attention span or a reduction of activity while taking ADHD medication does not substantiate the diagnosis of ADHD. Even some normal children will show a marked improvement in attentiveness when they take ADHD medications.
Does medication stunt growth?
ADHD medications may cause an initial and mild slowing of growth, but over time the growth suppression effect is minimal if non-existent in most cases.
Do ADHD children who take medication attribute their success only to medication?
When self-esteem is encouraged, a child taking medication attributes his success not only to the medication but to himself as well.
