ADHD is one of the most common mental health conditions, but there’s still confusion about when it begins. Parents (or even adults diagnosed later in life) may wonder, “are you born with ADHD, or does it develop later?” While genetics and brain development suggest the condition is present from an early age, symptoms usually aren’t recognized until preschool or school years.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what causes ADHD, when it begins, how long it lasts, and if it will ever go away.
What Are The Causes of ADHD?
Genetics, brain development, and environmental factors all play a part in the development of ADHD. Here’s a deeper look:
Genetic Factors
Studies estimate that ADHD is 74% inheritable. This doesn’t mean ADHD is guaranteed to show up if a parent has it, but it does mean that family history matters in diagnosis. Researchers have found that many genes contribute to risk, including one called ST3GAL. Lower activity of this gene is linked to higher chances of ADHD, while higher activity appears to be protective and tied to learning and cognition. Even with these findings, genes only point to risk, not fate.
Brain Development
Brain imaging studies have shown differences in how the brains of children and teens with ADHD are connected compared to those without the condition. Youth with ADHD show greater activity between subcortical regions and the frontal cortex, which are areas that help regulate focus, attention, and decision-making.
They also show stronger connections between the frontal cortex and the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in processing emotions. This suggests ADHD may be related not just to attention and impulse control but also to how emotions are managed in the brain.
Environmental Factors
Aside from genetics and brain wiring, the environment also influences the risk of ADHD. A recent case-control study identified several conditions that increased the likelihood of children developing ADHD, including:
- Mothers younger than 20 years old at childbirth
- Parents with lower education levels
- Living in crowded housing (more than two people per room)
- Fathers working with chemicals like petroleum, paint, or solvents
- Mothers who didn’t take vitamins or minerals regularly during pregnancy
- Babies born with low birth weight
- Mothers who smoked during pregnancy
These risk factors don’t cause ADHD on their own; however, when combined with your genetics and personal brain wiring, they may increase the chances.
Is ADHD Present at Birth?
ADHD isn’t typically recognized in infancy. While the condition is influenced by genetics and brain development from birth, the symptoms usually don’t become obvious until children are placed in environments where they need to focus and practice self-control. For many families, that happens once a child starts preschool or school, where they’re required to sit still, follow directions, and complete tasks.
Research supports this. A 2016 study found that among the 6.1 million ADHD cases diagnosed in the United States before age 18, only 2-6% were diagnosed before the age of four. The majority of diagnoses were made much later, with more than half occurring between the ages of 12 and 17.
Can You Get ADHD as an Adult?
According to the DSM-5, adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but only if their symptoms started in childhood. The criteria require that symptoms were present before age 12, even if they weren’t recognized at the time. Adults must also show five or more symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity, rather than six, which is the requirement for children.
For adults, an ADHD diagnosis usually means that symptoms were overlooked, minimized, or masked when they were younger. Sometimes, those symptoms only become obvious later in life, especially when new stressors such as career demands or parenting make them harder to control. In fact, a recent report estimated that 15.5 million U.S. adults had an ADHD diagnosis, and about half of those people were diagnosed in adulthood.
Does ADHD Get Worse With Age?
ADHD doesn’t suddenly get worse with age, but symptoms can change over time. In childhood, hyperactivity and impulsivity are usually the most common, while inattention tends to take over once expectations increase. Here’s how the condition can look across the lifespan:
- Children often have trouble sitting still, blurting things out, and acting without thinking. As school demands grow, inattention becomes a bigger problem and affects grades and friendships.
- Adolescents may show less hyperactivity, but restlessness, fidgeting, and impulsive behaviors continue. Risk-taking is common, including substance use or unsafe sexual activity. Inattention can lead to disorganization and unstable relationships.
- Adults may notice more inattention and restlessness. This can look like not being able to manage stress, missing deadlines, or staying focused at work.
Does ADHD Go Away?
ADHD is considered a lifelong condition, but symptoms can fluctuate. Some children may seem to outgrow their symptoms for a time, and then have them come back later. Research shows about 30% of children with ADHD experience a period of remission, but around 60% of them see their symptoms return. True recovery, meaning sustained remission into adulthood, is rare: only 9% maintained full remission over time, while most participants had fluctuating periods of improvement and recurrence.
While ADHD may not go away completely, therapy and medication may be able to help reduce the impact of its symptoms and support lasting stability.
Compassionate ADHD Care at Cura Behavioral Health
ADHD doesn’t suddenly appear in adulthood, and it rarely disappears completely. With the right treatment, though, it can be managed at every stage of life.
At Cura Behavioral Health, our team specializes in evidence-based ADHD care. We take time to understand your symptoms and challenges so that we can build the best treatment plan for you.
Don’t wait to get the support you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
- Unraveling ADHD: genes, co-occurring traits, and developmental dynamics – Life Science Alliance
- Altered brain connections in youth with ADHD – National Institutes of Health
- Association between some environmental risk factors and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder among children in Egypt: a case-control study – Italian Journal of Pediatrics
- Early identification of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – PLoS Digital Health
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023 – CDC
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know – National Institute of Mental Health
- Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD – The American Journal of Psychiatry
