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