Question: My sister-in-law is coming to visit, and she is bringing her son who was recently diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. What kind of behavior can I expect from him? Also, I've heard that people can outgrow ADD. Is that true?
Dr. Amen's Answer:
ADD is the most common brain problem among children, affecting 5 percent to 10 percent of children. The symptoms of ADD are a short attention span, procrastination, distractibility, disorganization, and poor internal supervision. It is often, but not always, associated with hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
The notion that children can outgrow ADD is a popular one but, unfortunately, it isn't true in most cases. I think this belief has become widespread because the hyperactivity that children display can diminish with age. For most sufferers, the other ADD symptoms — impulsivity, distractibility, and a short attention span — remain through adulthood. Current research shows that 60 percent to 80 percent of ADD children never fully outgrow the disorder.
In adults, the most common symptoms of ADD include poor organization, poor planning, and procrastination. Adults with ADD often are late for appointments, may be quick to anger, and have poor follow-through. Substance abuse — especially alcohol, amphetamines, or cocaine — is common. In my practice, I have found that when a child has ADD, it is not uncommon for one or both of the parents to display ADD tendencies as well.
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