February 1, 2024

The Long Term Effects of Not Treating ADHD

Treating ADHD in childhood and adolescence is important for a healthy adulthood. Not treating ADHD increases a person's risk of several issues.

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.

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We know that choosing a local ABA facility can be a hard decision. We’ve created an informational guide to help you understand more about the questions you should be asking while meeting with different providers.

Although we talk about our services here, our highest goal is for you to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about picking a provider that is the best fit for your needs. You are making a decision that will impact the entire trajectory of your child’s life!
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The cover of the NSPT Guide for Families, which helps families to figure out the questions to ask when picking an ABA provider.

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