Does this mean they’ll need support forever?
Maybe. Maybe not. But let’s unpack what “support” really means.
Support doesn’t always look like teacher aides or formal accommodations. Sometimes it’s a different kind of desk. A schedule that makes sense for their brain. A parent who knows how to scaffold tasks instead of yelling. A coach or mentor who helps them build strategies, not shame.
Some kids with ADHD will need formal support long term. Others might not. Most will still benefit from a strengths-based lens, even if they’re doing well on the outside.
What really matters is this: support isn’t about dependence. It’s about scaffolding growth. We all learn to walk with someone holding our hand at first. That doesn’t mean we never learn to run.
And even if your child needs more support than others — that’s not a failure. It’s just information. The goal isn’t to make them “independent” as fast as possible. The goal is to help them feel confident and safe enough to try hard things without shutting down or burning out.
So yes, they may always need something. But that’s true for all of us. And the kind of support they need will grow and change — just like they will.
