High-Risk Behavior. Impulsivity in young people with ADHD can certainly cause them to take chances before thinking them through, putting them in situations where the consequences become clear only after the action has been taken. Children with ADHD and high levels of aggression are at higher risk for delinquent behavior in adolescents and criminal activity in adulthood. However, children with ADHD who are not aggressive have a lower and even normal risk for dangerous activities. Even in aggressive children with ADHD, close parental attention and early treatment can limit the risk considerably.
Learning Problems
Although speech and learning disorders are common in children with ADHD, the disorder does not affect intelligence. People with ADHD span the same IQ range as the general population.
One study suggested, however, that 90% of children with ADHD were underachievers, and that half were held back at least once. Some evidence suggests that inattention may be a major factor in low academic performance in these children. About 20% also have reading difficulties, and 60% have serious handwriting problems. Adults with ADHD are also at very high risk for these conditions.
Persistence of ADHD into Adulthood
Some research suggests that ADHD persists in one- to two-thirds of those diagnosed with the condition in childhood. Many experts, in fact, describe the pattern of ADHD as they would a chronic illness, in terms of whether it goes into remission or not. They define this remission in three categories of severity:
- Syndromatic Remission. Person does not have all the symptoms of full-fledged ADHD, but significant functional impairment in social or occupational activities is present.
- Symptomatic Remission. Person has few symptoms and some functional impairment.
- Functional Remission (Full Recovery). Few symptoms and no functional impairment.
Effect on Family
The time and attention needed to deal with a child with ADHD can change internal family relationships and have devastating effects on parents and siblings.
Effect on Parents. Studies indicate that any intervention for the child must include the parents. Parents who are responsive to their child in a positive way can help reduce the chances for oppositional behaviors. But it can be very difficult. A child with ADHD is wonderful one day and terrible the next, for no apparent reason. The parent can feel betrayed and hurt, and believe they have no control over their child. Parents must protect themselves and their child by establishing tough but kind rules about where their space ends and the child's begins. The are many effects on parents:
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