This is the final series of articles addressing ADHD.

 

The research community in the 1990s became aware that children who were diagnosed with ADHD as youngsters generally continued to be ADHD as adults. In fact, we now know that over eighty percent of children continue to be diagnosed with ADHD as adults. The understanding, evaluation and management of ADHD in adults is still under great research and study. However, we know that adults who are treated in the same fashion as children, both pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically, are able to achieve similar outcomes.
 

Recent research has determined that ADHD is a disorder of response inhibition and executive functioning.

 

This leads to deficits in self-regulation, impairment in the ability to organize behavior towards present and future goals, and difficulty adapting socially and behaviorally to the environment. Treatment effective for ADHD must be done at the point of performance. It would include behavior and medication managements. In addition, treatment for parents of ADHD children need to be addressed in regard to behavior management, problem solving and communication skills training with adolescents. Equally important is teacher education and training as being an effective non-pharmacologic tool in treating ADHD.