The course of ADHD varies. Symptoms have been shown to persist into adolescence in 60 to 85 percent of cases, and into adult life in about 60 percent of cases. The remaining 40 percent of cases may remit at puberty or early. In some cases, the hyperactivity may disappear, but the decreased attention span and impulse-control problems persist. Most individuals with the disorder undergo partial remission and are vulnerable to antisocial behavior, substance use disorders, and mood disorders. Learning problems often continue throughout life.

Do children with ADHD/ADD have other mental health problems?

Most children with ADHD have some social difficulties. Socially dysfunctional children with ADHD/ADD have significantly higher rates of other psychiatric disorders and have more problems with behavior in school as well as with family members and peers. Overall, the outcome of ADHD/ADD in childhood seems to be related to the degree of other mental health issues, including conduct disorder, social disability, and chaotic family factors.