| ADHD is a somewhat controversial subject for | | | | success in school, etc., behavioral coaches that |
| parents. If their child is diagnosed with ADHD, | | | | can help teach time management, motivation, and |
| they are often left wondering what they can do | | | | solutions to problems, etc., psychologist and |
| about it. Are they doomed to a child who will get | | | | psychiatrists, who can provide talk therapy. |
| poor grades? Have low esteem? Or behavioral | | | | 2. How severe is their ADHD? If your child has |
| problems? Are they going to have to medicate | | | | only a mild case of ADHD, then medication may |
| their child? For how long? Most physicians will | | | | not be the best solution, as the benefits may not |
| immediately provide ADHD drugs as an option for | | | | outweigh the risks. However, if medication can |
| a child with ADHD, but as a parent it is your job | | | | help them be functional, where they are not |
| to ask if your child needs ADHD drugs. The | | | | without it, it may be a great option. |
| following is a look at that question: | | | | 3. Are medications effective? One of the best |
| 1. Have you tried other treatment options? While | | | | ways to know if your child needs ADHD drugs is |
| most doctors immediately jump to medications, | | | | to try them out with your child. Your doctor can |
| as a parent this may not be the best route to | | | | give you samples, and monitor your child's |
| take. For one thing, medication can be very | | | | behavior. Trying them out can help you determine |
| expensive. For another thing, medication does not | | | | how effective they are for your child, and |
| cure ADHD, it simply relieves some of the | | | | whether or not your child will get significant |
| symptoms. This means when you do not have | | | | benefit from being on them or not. In many |
| your child on it, they will exhibit the same | | | | cases the child will focus better, but will hate the |
| symptoms they exhibit now. Next, medication has | | | | medication for how it makes them feel, and so |
| different effects on different people. Your child | | | | you may be improving their concentration at the |
| may see drastic differences, and they may only | | | | price of their self-esteem. The only real way to |
| see slight gains. So, it is not a cure-all, and may | | | | know if the medication is effective is to try it. |
| not actually be that helpful. Lastly, ADHD drugs | | | | 4. Are there any side effects that are not worth |
| often come with other side effects. So, before | | | | the gains from the medication? Often ADHD |
| immediately jumping to ADHD drugs, try other | | | | medication comes with improved concentration |
| treatment options. | | | | and behavior, but is fraught with side effects as |
| Behavioral therapy is a great option. Rather than | | | | well such as headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, |
| suppressing the symptoms of ADHD, therapy can | | | | decreased appetite, inability to sleep, repressed |
| teach your child how to handle them. It teaches | | | | personality, etc. As a parent your job is to |
| them tricks to focus, calm themselves, etc. Other | | | | determine if the side effects from the medication |
| similar treatment options include educational | | | | are worth the benefits it offers your child. |
| specialists that can teach your child techniques for | | | | |