Will ADHD Go Away?

As a parent, you may find yourself desperately hoping that your child, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, will outgrow this disorder. Unfortunately, there is not a clear answer to the question of whether or not ADHD ever goes away. However, there is some promising research that suggests ADHD can be managed by medication and/or natural means.

There is even some research to suggest that ADHD does, in fact, "go away" if causal factors can be identified and eliminated. There are varying opinions regarding the causal factors and treatments of ADHD, and, depending on the approach and results, experts come to different conclusions about ADHD's permanence.

The Role of Food in ADHD

An interesting study came out earlier this year (2011) regarding the role of diet in ADHD. This study suggested that alterations in a child's diet could greatly reduce or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Admittedly, the study said, dietary changes do not work in all cases of ADHD, but they did make a difference in the majority of test cases (64%, according to the research). For those 64%, their ADHD did indeed seem to "go away."

So you could consider this a hopeful possibility for your child; perhaps he or she is one of the ones whose ADHD symptoms are food-related. The doctors in the above study said that looking for a causal factor first - when ADHD symptoms are first observed and diagnosed - is key to managing each case according to its unique patient. Talk to the health care provider(s) of your choice about the dietary route if you think that may be the culprit.

Medication and Therapy

Many ADHD sufferers, families of sufferers, and medical professionals do not think that ADHD ever really goes away. Rather, they believe it can be managed through medication and therapy. Instead of ADHD "getting better," this camp maintains that the brain can be re-trained and symptoms managed so that the ADHD seems to go away - but actually, the patient has just learned how to manage and live with it.

Because research shows that the brains of ADHD-diagnosed individuals actually operate differently than normal brains, parents and doctors alike often focus on those cognitive symptoms and seek to normalize them. Generally, the cause of these abnormal brain patterns is not sought out by those who take this approach; the fact that the abnormalities exist is enough to warrant treatment of the abnormalities themselves.

Symptom Management

Regardless of which view you hold with regard to ADHD, there is a general consensus that symptoms can be managed. A diagnosis of ADHD does not necessarily mean a life-long battle with the same ADHD symptoms. As you work with various health care providers (and do not be afraid to "shop around" until you find one whose views you can work with), you will hopefully come to a point where you are comfortable with your treatment approach.

What Goes On in the ADHD Brain?

What is going on in the brains of people who are diagnosed with ADHD? Is there really something happening inside the head of an ADHD sufferer? Research shows that there is actually quite a lot going on in the ADHD brain. (In this article, the acronym ADHD includes ADD as well.)

Areas of the Brain Affected by ADHD

Research shows that specific areas of the brain are affected by ADHD. The frontal lobes, cortex, limbic system, and reticular activating system are all involved.

* The frontal lobes are, as the name suggests, in the front of the brain behind the forehead. This area is instrumental in concentration, the ability to make sound decisions, learn, and remember.

The frontal lobe also helps you pay attention to a task and seeing it to completion. Further, normal frontal lobes play a role in situation-appropriate behavior and emotional impulse control. Research and imagery have shown that slow brain wave activity across the frontal lobes is correlative with ADHD symptoms and diagnosis.

* The cortex - or more specifically, the inhibitory mechanisms of the cortex - are sort of like the body's impulse control center. A properly functioning cortex results in a "reining in" of hyperactivity and/or angry outbursts, for example. In ADHD, the inhibitory mechanisms of the cortex do not function properly, resulting in little or no impulse control in certain situations.

* The limbic system is deep in the center and at the base of the brain. It also acts as our "watchman," alerting us to alarming or dangerous situations. If the limbic system is not functioning correctly, then normal emotional changes and energy levels may be affected, as well as sleep patterns and stress management. Those with malfunctioning limbic systems may be subject to emotional outbursts or be hypersensitive to their surroundings.

* Located at the back of the head in the brain stem, the reticular activating system (RAS) is said to control waking and sleeping patterns, and plays a role in the ability to concentrate and focus attention. In the ADHD brain, aspects of the RAS may not be functioning normally.

It may seem ironic that stimulants are prescribed to treat ADHD. To observe the behavior of someone (particularly a child) who has ADHD, you might think that they need something to sedate them. But as noted above, slow brain wave activity in these key areas seems to be connected to ADHD symptoms, so increasing the brain's activity via stimulants makes sense.

ADHD - Who is at Risk?

Research regarding possible causes, treatments, and risk factors for ADHD is ongoing. Thus, parents and medical professionals sometimes have to rethink their ideas about ADHD based on recent research. In understanding something about who is at risk for developing ADHD, it's important to note that what role genetics, environment, injury, and parenting practices play in the development of ADHD is not a settled issue.

Following are some of the known and conjectural risk factors for developing ADHD.

Demographics

What kinds of children develop ADHD symptoms? Are there are particular groups that tend to be more susceptible to this disorder? Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD, but some sources point out that new diagnostic techniques and insights may show more females with ADHD than was previously thought.

Research indicates that ADHD is a universal disorder, and is not particular to any ethnic group or culture. However, ADHD tends to be more discernable in cultures that require children to attend school.

Genetics

Health experts have pointed out that there's no such thing as a genetic epidemic, and ADHD diagnoses are rising at epidemic proportions. Nonetheless, there may be genetic components besides gender.

ADHD has been observed running in families, but that may not necessarily indicate an actual gene being involved. Instead, parenting practices or environmental factors may come into play, as families tend to raise their children similarly to how they were raised.

Environment

The role of the environment in the development of ADHD is controversial, and is still undergoing research. Recent findings do point to some distinct possibilities in this regard, however.

Even before a baby is born, environmental factors may play a role in increasing the risk of the baby developing ADHD. Research indicates a connection between maternal smoking, drinking, and/or drug abuse and the development of ADHD symptoms in the child later on.

Exposure to pesticides has been strongly implicated in the development of ADHD. In the early spring of 2010, a highly-publicized study pointed to the possible correlation between pesticide exposure and the development of ADHD in children.

Exposure to lead in children under the age of 6 may also play a role in ADHD.

Natural health experts point out the role of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and other food additives in ADHD. They also note the overall role of a healthy diet in preventing and managing ADHD. So children whose families do not practice healthy eating habits may be at greater risk for ADHD.

Injury

According to research, children and babies who suffer head injuries are much more likely to develop ADHD than children who are not injured.

Parenting Style

Studies around the world have indicated certain parental behaviors that are consistent among families with ADHD kids. But it's unclear as to which came first - did the parenting style result in or exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD in the kids? Or did the kids' ADHD produce the same parental reactions and subsequent parenting styles?