The Real-World Worst-Case Scenario of Untreated ADHD
Despite the perceived over-diagnosis and over-medication of ADHD among children, not addressing attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity problems is also problematic. Kids whose symptoms interfere with their schoolwork and social lives—whether they’re diagnosed with ADHD or not—can benefit from working with a counselor or cognitive behavioral therapist to establish healthier behavior patterns. Untreated, ADHD can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed in school, driving them elsewhere to establish themselves and find ‘positive’ feedback. It also is associated with high impulsivity, a trait that increases the likeliness of both substance abuse and crime. The worst-case scenario of untreated ADHD was exhibited in a new study of Swedish prison inmates. In the study, a higher-than-average percentage of convicts met diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and while most had shown trouble since childhood, few received attention and even fewer received treatment.