Deciding whether and when to include medication in your child's ADHD treatment plan is a big decision. And the decision is also a completely individual one, so you will need to take into account a host of information about your child, his or her condition, and your preferences as a parent.
In order to arrive at the choice that makes the most sense for your child and your family—you'll want to answer a few questions first:
- How much does ADHD affect my child's school life?
- How much does ADHD affect our family dynamic?
- How much does ADHD affect child's ability to enjoy daily activities and life?
- Is ADHD interfering with my child's ability to form healthy relationships and a strong sense of self-esteem?
It's important to let your child's doctor know exactly how ADHD affects your child's life. The more the above areas are affected—despite drug-free efforts to control symptoms—the more you may lean toward medication.
Treatment Success
For medication treatment to be successful, you need to be willing to help your child take the medication as directed and stick with it. You also need to understand and feel comfortable with the medication's potential side effects. If you feel like these are things you can handle, and you'd like to explore all of your child's options for ADHD management, talk with your pediatrician or child ADHD specialist about ADHD medication treatments. There is no right or wrong decision when it comes to treating ADHD with medication. It all comes down to what's best for your child and family.
If you and the doctor decide medication is right for your child, you can expect a short period of trial and error as you all work together to find the best medication, dosage, and overall treatment plan.
