Healthy Tides

The 5 Most Common ADHD Questions Asked by Parents

2.23.2023 | Seattle Children's Press Team

a teen girl sits on a couch facing a woman with a clipboardFor parents with children or teens who are having problems at home or at school for more than six months due to trouble with attention, learning or behavior, understanding if it’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a related disorder, is important.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and is the most common mental health disorder during childhood. It can be effectively treated in most cases, and improvement happens most quickly with the combination of medicines and behavior therapy.

With ADHD affecting up to 10% of the population, parents and caregivers of adolescents diagnosed with ADHD often have many questions. To help answer some of those most commonly asked, On the Pulse spoke with Dr. Erin Gonzalez, Co-Director of the Behavior and Attention Management Program in Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department.

 

What is the best way to support my child who has ADHD?

Dr. Gonzalez:

The best place to start helping your child is to learn about how ADHD affects children’s thinking and behavior. Having a lens to understand why certain behaviors are happening is the first step to finding ways to help.

For verified general information and an overview of ADHD, visit the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder’s (CHADD) website or view Seattle Children’s ADHD 101 videos, available in both English and Spanish. Seattle Children’s also offers classes for parents who want to learn more called ADHD First Steps, which you can be referred to by your child’s primary care doctor.

It is important to create a treatment plan with your child’s doctor or a mental health professional, even if your current plan is to just keep an eye on ADHD symptoms.

Guidelines support Parent Behavior Management Training (BMT), in which caregivers learn strategies to set their children up for success and to respond to challenging behaviors, as the best first step of treatment in most cases for young children. It is also recommended to speak to your child’s doctor about if or when medication will be part of your child’s treatment plan.

What are the common side effects of ADHD medications? Are there any methods to reduce ADHD symptoms without medication?

Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Douglass Russell:

Medications for ADHD are well-studied and generally well-tolerated. Common side effects include lower appetite or difficulties sleeping, especially depending on when the medications are taken, and feeling more sensitive or emotional when the medications wear off. We encourage families who might be considering medical treatment to make an appointment with their primary care provider to discuss expected benefits and possible side effects in more detail.

There are no therapies or behavioral treatments that reduce the core symptoms of ADHD, which include distractibility, procrastination, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, to the degree that medications do. Rather, therapies are focused more on improving the child’s functioning in various settings, general behavior, and relationships.

Is my child eligible for special support or accommodations in school for ADHD?

Dr. Gonzalez:

A diagnosis of ADHD does not automatically qualify a child for school accommodations or formal plans like an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, but it can be a qualifying diagnosis if there is an observable impact of attention problems on your child’s learning, participation, and behavior at school.

If your child is experiencing ADHD-related difficulties in the classroom, speak to their teacher, school resource coordinator, or principal about an evaluation to determine their eligibility for school-based supports or accommodations. More information about education rights.

Will my child have ADHD their whole lives?

Dr. Gonzalez:

ADHD is brain-based and is generally something that you are born with. About half of the children diagnosed with ADHD will still meet the full criteria for the diagnosis as adults.

However, about 90% of children with ADHD will still have notable symptoms of ADHD in adulthood, even if they don’t still have the full diagnosis. Therefore, ADHD is something that usually presents lifelong at least to some degree.

But there are many ways to manage symptoms and to learn skills so that ADHD does not have as big of an impact on a person’s daily life.

Will ADHD change or improve over time?

Dr. Gonzalez:

For many individuals, ADHD symptoms improve with time and maturity. Hyperactivity almost always decreases with age. Inattentive symptoms of ADHD, such as distractibility and disorganization, are the most lasting symptoms.

Impulsivity often changes form with time. While an impulsive child might grab toys from peers or blurt out in class without raising their hand, an impulsive adult might instead have difficulty with managing money, making decisions while driving or saying things before thinking them through.

It is best to make a treatment plan for ADHD when your child is young so you can start them on a path to overcome their challenges, rather than waiting to see how the symptoms change over time.

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