Pediatricians have developed vast clinical experience over the past few decades in treating children with ADHD. Sadly, too many children remain undiagnosed and do not get the help they need to overcome their attention problem. There are many options for parents to consider when treating their children for ADHD, but the most important is to bring the child's behavior to the attention of their pediatrician.

Consequences of Delaying Treatment

Parents might be reluctant to have their child labeled and treated, but the consequences of not dealing with the situation can be devastating. Without formal diagnosis and treatment for ADHD, children with this condition are likely to suffer through years of poor academic achievement and delinquency. Not only are they deprived of the opportunity to acquire the knowledge they need to succeed as an adult, the toll on their self-esteem is often irreparable. If intervention is introduced too late, the child will not benefit much from the belated treatment because they no longer believe in their innate ability and talent. More often than not, they end up scraping by through life as underachieving adults.

Structure and Lists

Establishing a structured routine in your child's life is paramount; this is even more important if your child has ADHD. Because children with ADHD are more forgetful, having a daily schedule for the child to follow is a powerful way to help them organize their activities.

In addition, keeping lists as reminders can help your child stay on task and finish the tasks. This is a common technique used by adults with ADHD to keep their lives in order. Just make sure that the lists are kept in specific locations so that they are not misplaced.

Having another person who reminds them of things can be useful as well, but this is not always feasible. While parents can oversee their child's progress in school and remind them to finish their homework, this kind of assistance is not workable once the child is old enough to live independently. It is a good idea to gradually wean your child from your constant reminders before she enters young adulthood.

Medications

This is a dreaded option for many parents because they think placing their children on medication is tantamount to drugging them into passivity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Medications designed for ADHD are technically stimulants, but they have no stimulating effect on children with ADHD. Quite the opposite, these medications allow children to focus their attention more easily and to curb their hyperactivity. While the overall effect is that your child appears calmer, these medications do not have any sedating effect at all.

One of the most important aspects of ADHD treatment is close monitoring and regular follow-up exams. The first medication that the doctor prescribes for your child might not be the best. Furthermore, instead of being based on the child's weight, dosage is subjective and varies from child to child. The key in monitoring treatment is to continuallygauge the child's behavior and school performance on the medication. Carefully checking for potential side effects is equally important. It may take up to six months to determine the right medication at the appropriate dosage. Be patient, and understand that the process can be frustrating.

Dealing with Side Effects

The most common side effects associated with the stimulants that treat ADHD include loss of appetite, insomnia, vague stomach discomfort, and headaches. These side effects all typically lessen in intensity with time, once the body adapts to the medication. If a side effect becomes intolerable, your doctor will either reduce the dosage or switch to an alternative medication.

Follow-up exams are generally scheduled monthly. The physician monitors the child's weight and blood pressure at each visit. Inquiries into academic performance and sleep are routine. If a child is overmedicated, school performance may actually deteriorate rather than improve. Once again, the importance of monitoring your child closely while she is on the medication cannot be overemphasized. You should notify your doctor immediately if anything worries or alarms you.

Fear of Misdiagnosis

Since ADHD cannot be diagnosed with blood tests or brain scans, many parents are uncomfortable with the diagnosis and question its validity. This is a perfectly valid concern. You wouldn't want your child to take a medication that alters brain function for the wrong reason.

Since all children diagnosed and treated for ADHD require close monitoring and regular follow-up visits, your physician will notice if any prescribed medications are not working as intended or expected. The next step would be to investigate other possible causes of poor school performance. At the same time, it is important to remember that many children with ADHD have other learning disabilities. Dyslexia, other learning disorders, and tic disorder are common conditions that can coexist with ADHD. Additional therapy may be necessary for these children with multiple diagnoses.