During the past decade, the United States has experienced an unfortunate but rapid rise in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, there’s been a 42 percent increase in ADHD diagnoses over the past eight years, according to 2014 statistics from Healthline. The organization defines attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a mental disorder that most often occurs in children, and more commonly in males. Symptoms include trouble concentrating, paying attention, staying organized and remembering details. Since the average age of diagnosis at 7, we are often talking about very young children.

During this same time period, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of diagnosed children who are being treated with medications such as Ritalin and Dexedrine. One study showed that 3 in 20 males between the ages of 5 and 14 were prescribed one of these stimulant drugs. As these medications continue to be prescribed for a growing number of children, some critics suggest that parents and teachers prefer to medicate difficult students rather than teach them concentration skills and manners. Some even say that society fails to get to the root of the problem and instead attempts to mask it with medication.

The Best Approach

As the debate continues, many healthcare professionals suggest that treatment should include a combination of medication and behavior therapy, although in most cases, behavior therapy and intervention should be the first line of defense. More specifically, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends both medication and behavior therapy for children 6 years and older, but behavior therapy as the best course of action for preschool children between the ages of 4 and 5.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or you notice some of the symptoms, begin with an extensive evaluation by a qualified professional. It’s important to understand that a diagnosis can only occur after a thorough evaluation takes place. If the physician or psychiatrist recommends medication as part of the treatment plan, your child should also meet with a psychologist, social worker or counselor who is qualified to monitor the medication and provide updates.

When Medicine is Part of the Treatment

As a parent, take the time to fully understand your child’s diagnosis, treatment plan and what you can do to help. If your child’s physician or psychiatrist recommends medication as part of the treatment, here is a list of helpful questions to ask:

• What is the name of the medication? Does it have any other names?
• How has this medication helped other children with a similar condition?
• How will the medication help my child, and when can I expect to see an improvement?
• What are the common side effects of this medication?
• What are the rare or serious side effects, if any?
• Is this medication addictive? Can it be abused?
• What is the recommended dosage, and how often will my child take the medication?
• Does my child need any laboratory tests before he or she starts taking this medication, or do these tests need to occur while my child is taking the medication?
• Who will be monitoring my child’s response to the medication?
• Should my child avoid any other medications or foods while taking this medicine?
• Does my child need to avoid any particular activities while taking this medication?
• How long will my child need to take this medication? How will we know when it’s time to stop the medication?
• What should I do if a problem develops, such as illness, a missed dosage or side effects?
• Do I need to inform the school nurse that my child is taking this medication?

In my next blog post, I’ll share some behavior modification tips for parents of a child with ADHD.

David Lowenstein, Ph.D. is a psychologist and the clinical director of Lowenstein & Associates, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to providing therapeutic services to individuals and families, he offers training and consultation to numerous associations, schools and agencies around the country. Additionally, he is a frequent radio and TV guest and a resource and contributing writer for numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide. Contact Dr. David Lowenstein at 691 South Fifth Street
Columbus, OH 43206 or by phone at 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432.