Former ADHD cases see higher IQ

Children who ‘grow out’ of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have higher IQs than those who do not, a study has shown.

Around one in 20 children is affected by ADHD, a condition characterised by over-activity, impulsiveness and a short attention span. Though many children with ADHD continue to have difficulties as adults, others become free of the problem in adolescence.

Researchers at King’s College London monitored the progress of a group of 110 children with ADHD and carried out a range of tests to assess their brain activity and thinking skills.