Most Kids With ADHD Aren't Getting the Treatment They Need

When kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aren't adequately treated, they may seem like a whirlwind of overwhelming energy or unable to concentrate long enough to complete tasks. And that can make them — and even their parents — feel pretty out of control. But treatment can help make life feel much more manageable for kids with the common behavioral disorder.

Analyzing medical information about more than 3,000 8- to 15-year-olds, researchers found that of those who met the accepted criteria for ADHD, less than half had actually been formally diagnosed and only 32% were regularly given medications to treat the condition in the past year. In other words, many of the estimated 2.4 million kids with ADHD who need help aren't getting it.

ADHD can affect how kids interact and function socially, academically, and at home. And children and teens with the condition also may have other problems (like depression, anxiety, or learning disorders) that require treatment, too. Plus, they may be at greater risk for smoking and drug use, especially if the ADHD isn't treated consistently — or at all. That's why catching the condition and treating it as soon as possible is so crucial.

More About ADHD

ADHD affects about 8% to 10% of school-age kids. Because ADHD is a broad category covering different things — attention, activity, and impulsivity — it can show up in different ways in different people (both children and adults).

Some kids with ADHD have trouble:

• paying attention or staying focused on a task or activity
• engaging in activities quietly
• finishing assignments at school or home
• focusing on instructions and following through
• paying close attention to details or making careless mistakes
• organizing tasks and activities
• waiting their turn

Children with ADHD may also:

• jump from one activity to another
• lose or forget things (such as homework)
• become easily distracted, even when doing something fun
• interrupt or intrude on other people
• blurt out answers before questions have been completed
• fidget with their hands or feet or squirm around when sitting
• feel restless
• talk excessively

Of course, all kids (especially younger ones) act like this sometimes, especially when they’re tired, anxious, or excited. But the difference is that ADHD symptoms are present over a longer period of time and regularly happen in different settings.

What This Means to You

ADHD can't be cured, but it can be successfully managed. Scientists have found that certain drugs (which may include stimulants, nonstimulants, and sometimes antidepressants) can help control ADHD symptoms and allow kids and teens with ADHD to concentrate, focus, and function better in every aspect of their lives.

But medication is usually just one part of an ADHD treatment plan, which often includes behavioral therapy and making adjustments such as:

• reorganizing the home and school environment
• giving clear directions and commands
• setting up a system of consistent rewards for appropriate behaviors and negative consequences for inappropriate ones

If you think your child might have ADHD, schedule an evaluation with your doctor, who can get to the bottom of the behaviors and rule out other medical conditions. If ADHD is diagnosed, the doctor will work closely with you to create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child's symptoms, circumstances, and medical history.

Although it can often be challenging to raise kids with ADHD, it's important to remember that they aren't intentionally "acting out," or being "bad" or difficult. Getting kids the help they need early on and following all of the doctor’s recommendations can help them — and you — learn to control their behavior and lead much more manageable, happy lives.

Source: "Prevalence, Recognition, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a National Sample of US Children," Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Sept. 2007.