A recent article published in Healthline indicated that there are numerous long-term negative effects of not treating children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
One of the concerns is that children who do not receive either behavioral and/or pharmacological intervention to address their inattention and impulse control never learn strategies to deal with impulsivity when they become adolescents and adults. It has been documented that there is an increase in unemployment or underemployment for adults with ADHD who never received any form of intervention. These individuals were also found to make between $8,000 to $15,000 less then non-ADHD workers in similar jobs.
There have been studies that indicate that adults with untreated ADHD are nearly twice as likely as non-ADHD adults to get divorced.
Many times in my clinic I hear parents indicate that they do not want to medicate their children, as they are afraid that it may lead to later substance use. The research actually indicates the direct opposite in that adolescents and adults with untreated ADHD are at an increased risk for substance use in the form of self-medication to help alleviate symptoms of distress associated with their inattention or impulsivity.
There is ample evidence to indicate that children who never receive treatment for their ADHD are at increased risk for negative social and behavioral concerns as they reach adolescents and adulthood. If a parent or teacher believes a child may have symptomology of ADHD it is important that the child receives intervention to help deal with the concerns they exhibit.
