By the time children are four years old, more than half of parents feel that they are inattentive or overactive, and 40% of them are of concern to parents and teachers because of the severity of the problem, but the vast majority will improve spontaneously within three to six months. This suggests that symptoms associated with ADHD that appear at age 3 to 4 do not necessarily persist. However, in children who develop ADHD symptoms early and whose symptoms persist for at least a year, the ADHD may persist into childhood and even into adolescence, so the severity, onset, and duration of preschool-age ADHD symptoms determine whether the symptoms will migrate. School-age children with ADHD are not as fortunate. Foreign statistics show that up to 80% of children will have symptoms that persist into adolescence. The notion that ADHD cures itself during adolescence is untenable. And about 35 percent start drinking and even using drugs during adolescence; as many as 58 percent of adolescents with ADHD stay at least one grade level; and about 35 percent drop out of school. Their performance in math, reading and spelling is significantly below normal standards. The need for self-acceptance during adolescence and dealing with the confusion of partnerships, physical development and early love are difficult for normal adolescents to cope with, and even more so for those with ADHD. A few of them experience sadness and depression, lack of self-confidence, lack of hope for the future, and concerns about completing school and being accepted by society. Adolescents with ADHD may start having sex earlier and are less likely to use contraception; they are also prone to driving problems and are three to four times more likely than their peers to be penalized for speeding or to be involved in traffic accidents. Parents must therefore be more vigilant and work to prevent these events from occurring. Fifty to 65 percent of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms into adulthood. Although many are able to find work and afford to live on their own, their educational level and socioeconomic status are often lower than that of others, even their own siblings. At least 20% to 45% of these individuals engage in antisocial behavior, and 25% meet the diagnosis of adult antisocial personality disorder. In the United States, adults with ADHD account for 4/5 of those who have physically assaulted someone in the past three years. In adulthood, people with ADHD often have poor work records and low work performance, and appear to be incompetent at work. A follow-up survey from childhood illustrates that people with ADHD change jobs more frequently than others and are often fired because of their bad behavior and lack of self-control. They have several serious problems with their ability to work: inability to work independently; inability to be punctual and complete tasks on time; inability to work consistently and efficiently; and inability to get along with co-workers. The adverse consequences of ADHD on the daily life and social functioning of the patient go far beyond the disease itself, especially for adult patients, mainly because of the increasing variety and importance of their social responsibilities. You should now understand that people with ADHD face additional problems as they age. Some of these problems can be alleviated or even eliminated with maintenance treatment, but it is important to note that there is no guarantee that all children will be cured after treatment. Children who have very mild ADHD symptoms in childhood are more likely to recover completely. Good intelligence, less aggression or defiance, appropriate parental care and guidance, and adequate financial and social support are all favorable factors in facilitating their recovery.