Overall, 61 percent of the survey's respondents believe they will continue to be affected by ADHD, with 56 percent saying their condition will probably require treatment during adulthood. Often, however, youngsters do not continue treatment once they become adults, even though 37 percent of those who were treated for ADHD as children continue to exhibit typical symptoms, such as high levels of inattentiveness, nervousness and impulsive behavior. Some 42 percent of the survey's respondents say their performance in school or at work is moderately or severely affected by their condition.
A number of problems can occur when children with ADHD are ready to transition to adult medical care. The specialists who designed the survey, Prof. Gerd Lehmkuhl and Dr. Ingrid Schubert of the Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Cologne's University Clinic, report that about half of the respondents with ADHD-related problems do not consult a doctor. In addition, only 12 percent say that their medical practitioner referred them for further treatment after they reached the age of 18. Almost 14 percent say that they continued treatment after reaching adulthood, and 18 percent report that finding ongoing treatment is difficult.
According to the researchers, the survey's findings show that it cannot be assumed that young adults will receive the therapy they need, and that the transition to Germany's adult healthcare system needs to be better managed. Therapists, for example, should speak to patients and their families beforehand to decide if therapy should be continued and which medical professional should provide it. The system of treatment could also be significantly improved if therapists who treat children and adolescents and those who treat adults were to have consultation times reserved for young adults with ADHD.