Having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may make teens less likely to finish high school, says a new University of California, Davis study.
The study found almost a third of students with ADHD, don't graduate with their peers. That's high compared with the national high school drop out rate of 15 percent, says lead study author Dr. Joshua Breslau.
When looking at the different types of ADHD, the study found all of the types of ADHD are associated with a high dropout rate.
The study also found students who use alcohol, smoke cigarettes and use other drugs are more at risk to drop out.
Researchers say parents need to make sure they are working together with their schools so that the pediatrician and the child's teacher are communicating about the child's medical health and performance in school. "We need to better integrate school health with what's schools do, education," says Breslau.
Source: CNN
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/28/adhd-teens-more-likely-to-drop-out/