Should I Give Medication to My Child With ADHD?
written by Dr. Liz Matheis, posted on Psychology Today
Medication for ADHD is not some sort of magical solution. Although it may help with improving your child’s attention for longer periods, it will not manage the executive functioning, behavioral, social, and emotional struggles that often walk hand-in-hand with ADHD.
Parents often struggle with this question – should I place my child on medication? The diagnosis itself does not create a clear-cut yes or no answer. Instead, it depends on your child’s profile and which types of activities of daily living your child is struggling with at home, as well as which abilities your child is having trouble with in school.
Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, and Inattention
When children in elementary school are diagnosed with ADHD, it’s not uncommon to see a high level of external hyperactivity and impulsivity. This may look like:
- Shouting an answer within the classroom without raising his or her hand
- Intruding or interrupting conversations or activities among peers
- “Falling” out of his seat
- Leaving her seat often and sometimes without a clear reason
- Getting angry or sad quickly
- Having a low frustration tolerance when things don’t come easily and giving up
Over time, as our children grow into teens and young adults, external hyperactivity and impulsivity turns into internal hyperactivity and impulsivity. That is, although our kids may not be leaving their seats or speaking out of turn, they are now internally distracted with their thoughts and worries. They are not feeling the need to get up and move but instead are restless and fidgety at their desk. They are tapping their pencil, shaking their leg, or twirling their hair.