Is It Possible To Grow Out Of ADHD?

While the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a list of symptoms to help mental health professionals identify disorders, the reality of living with a condition can differ for each person.  

If you had ADHD as a child, you might remember believing you were different from the other kids but not knowing how. Perhaps your teachers treated you differently, or your interests were more intense. If you are an adult with ADHD, you may have learned how to manage the symptoms to a degree but may wonder if ADHD has changed for you. Regarding the question of whether ADHD can be outgrown, there is no short answer. One way to understand whether ADHD can change is by looking at neurodivergence and how ADHD develops. 

Can ADHD be cured or go away as you age?

ADHD cannot be cured. ADHD is considered a form of neurodivergence, a brain difference that cannot be "removed." For this reason, some adults with ADHD identify with the diagnosis as their core identity instead of a disability. Some believe that ADHD would not be as disabling if accommodations were present in their life. 

Professionals who take a neurodivergent-centered approach to treatment may focus on alleviating symptoms of the condition and helping individuals manage daily life instead of attempting to "cure" or "change" the child or adult. 

ADHD at different life stages 

ADHD can have unique impacts at different stages of life, showcasing how the condition might grow and change as you do.

Symptoms in youth

Children living with hyperactivity-impulsivity ADHD (ADHD-HI) or combined-type ADHD may experience increased energy and difficulty staying still or quiet. They may also interrupt conversations and spend a lot of time fidgeting with items or changing positions. Children diagnosed with ADHD may require specialized attention and support to navigate daily challenges, as diagnostic criteria are often based on significant symptoms observed during this period.

For example, imagine you take a child with ADHD to see an action movie. People with ADHD may crave stimulus because their brains may not produce sufficient dopamine. For that reason, children with ADHD may enjoy thrilling, intense action in a movie. The child may be entertained and interested in the film for two or three hours. 

However, imagine you bring that same child to a religious service. They may have difficulty sitting still and paying attention as they did during the film. They might run around, scream, or start playing with the pamphlets on a table. Symptoms tend to be more identifiable in structured environments where the child's behavior contrasts with expectations, and you might wonder if they will face those same difficulties as they age. 

Symptoms in pre-teen and young adult life

How ADHD develops can depend on how a child's symptoms or availability needs are prioritized by their family in the developmental years. From childhood to adolescence, children with ADHD can grow through variable patterns of development. If symptoms go unmanaged, someone growing up with ADHD might struggle to fit in, understand themselves, and perform academically in high school and young adulthood. 

Because some people don't know they have ADHD until they're a teen, ADHD and depression are often comorbid at this age. A child with ADHD may receive poor grades or fail grade levels altogether. For someone who knows the child, it may be confusing to understand why an intelligent child experiences potential struggles in school.

Contrarily, if the child began receiving accommodations during the previous stage, they may better understand themselves and their needs. While they may still find school challenging due to its rigid structure, they could be better equipped to jump the hoops necessary to succeed. This child may navigate the social and academic sphere effectively with the proper skill set.

In both cases, the child experiences symptoms. However, the difference is the accommodation of their symptoms and education about how their brain works. Children and adults with ADHD often exhibit hyper-focus, which is the ability to focus intently on their interests. However, they may struggle to do so for topics they don't want to learn. Through accommodation and symptom management, the person who learns to maximize their hyperfocus may make their hyper-focus an advantage.

Symptoms in early and middle adulthood 

Many kids with ADHD carry their symptoms into adulthood, with about two-thirds of children with ADHD requiring treatment in adulthood. In addition, they might find that ADHD continues to affect different aspects of their life, including social relationships and self-esteem. However, recent studies suggest that the manifestation of ADHD changes with age. The same place in their lives where challenges were once prominent may now offer a new set of opportunities for growth.

Individuals who have been managing their ADHD since their childhood and teenage years might know their strengths and areas for growth. They may know where they struggle and where they excel. They may know what and how to study and what they're passionate about. In addition, they might be better equipped for adulthood and the challenges it brings than someone newly discovering their ADHD diagnosis. 

Still, sensual pleasures can increase dopamine, which may be lacking in the brains of those with ADHD. As a result, people with ADHD often crave stimulation. For this reason, the freedom of adulthood can be dangerous for a young adult with ADHD. 

Sensory pleasures like substances, fast food, sex, fast cars, or parties might seem like convenient, quick fixes for someone with ADHD. However, these releases may have adverse consequences when not used in moderation. Other factors like peer pressure and stress can compound temptation. 

Those who have managed their ADHD prior may live healthier young adult years. Those who haven't may turn to self-medication. However, symptoms may persist, as ADHD is not curable. While adults might not have symptoms that are as obvious to others as they were in childhood, they still exist. In addition, some people with ADHD "mask" their symptoms to fit in with society or their workplace, which can also be harmful. 

Symptoms in adulthood after 40 

By 40, people with ADHD may have found a way to cope with their more challenging symptoms, developing coping skills to manage symptoms such as inattention and impulsivity. More recent studies have provided insights into how adults cope with ADHD. For example, a qualitative study found that someone who has successfully managed their ADHD until late adulthood  may use coping strategies that can significantly affect their behavior and daily functioning.

Many adults with ADHD may have avoided pitfalls and successfully achieved healthy living. They may hold a steady job and excel in this area or have a family of their own. However, every person is different, so what "success' looks like to one person with ADHD may be different to another. 

Some people might not have the physical energy they had as a young person and may have become accustomed to life's routine. Restlessness and hyperactivity may remain mentally or emotionally if the individual is not managing symptoms. 

Someone who did not effectively manage their ADHD may not have the same results as someone who received adequate treatment. Their attempts to find pleasure may have led them to health challenges or substance use disorders. Their irritability and impulsivity may have cost them jobs or relationships. Their symptoms may continue to be challenging to cope with. 

What is the difference between successfully managing ADHD and not?

Although ADHD cannot be cured and is a permanent brain difference, presentations of the condition can differ based on privilege, connection to a health provider, accommodations at your job or school, family support, social systems, education, and location. Some people may struggle to manage their condition if they are not given the education or support they request. 

For example, adult women who have had ADHD since childhood may struggle to receive a diagnosis as an adult, as ADHD is often wrongly seen as a disorder of childhood in young white boys. However, anyone of any age, race, or gender can have ADHD. 

Proximity to quality mental healthcare and diagnosis that is neurodivergence-informed can be essential. For example, having family physicians or clinical psychologists can make a big difference in getting a correct diagnosis and helpful treatment for adults with ADHD. Without adequate support, ADHD may have more negative impacts on a person’s life.

For those who have privilege, family support, and accommodations, ADHD may seem to be a mental difference that can be coped with and accommodated daily. For example, someone might cope with their need for breaks by becoming a freelancer and working in small increments throughout the day. Accommodating brain differences can lead to fewer challenges in symptoms. 

Support for adult ADHD symptoms 

Although you cannot "grow out of ADHD," you can learn to live with symptoms, accommodate your needs, and respect yourself as a neurodivergent individual. Success in managing ADHD often depends on the type of support you have. However, it's not too late to ask for help, even if you're an adult recently diagnosed or suspect you might have this condition. 

If you face barriers to reaching out for in-person therapeutic support, such as financial burden, a busy schedule, or geographic barriers, you can also consider online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy allows individuals to match with a therapist specializing in their condition or symptoms. You can meet with your therapist via phone, video, or live chat sessions, giving you control over how you receive support. 

Studies show that online therapy is more effective in treating ADHD than sitting on a waiting list for a local therapist. In addition, online therapy can improve social skills and attention deficit in people with ADHD and is more affordable than traditional therapy.