Caring for kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Bringing together the right team to help kids succeed
It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a team to help a kid with ADHD thrive. After all, the condition affects every aspect of their life, including how they interact with other children and form friendships.
Luckily, there are good ways to manage ADHD. But it’s not all about taking medication and getting better. Nina Sand-Loud, MD, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Dartmouth Health Children’s in Lebanon, New Hampshire explains further. “Medicine is just one piece of the puzzle,” she says. “Even the best ADHD medicine isn’t like an antibiotic that clears up an ear infection. Medicines give children the opportunity to learn the skills they need to cope with ADHD.”
That’s because ADHD is a chronic condition, like diabetes or asthma. “It doesn’t just go away. It changes over time, and it needs ongoing management,” says Dr. Sand-Loud. “With diabetes, you may take insulin. But you also need to make changes to your diet and lifestyle. It’s the same with ADHD. You still need to learn to focus and pay attention, to get organized and listen. And medicines can’t teach you to be organized.”
Medicine is just one tool in your child’s ADHD toolbox. Another: the care team. One study showed that team-based care is key to improving outcomes for kids with ADHD. That’s where schools and health care staff work together and share info and insights.
And there are lots of kids who could benefit. About 7 million American children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Those who have it are more likely to have other conditions too. Nearly 78 percent also struggle with other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. That makes finding the best strategies really important — and having a team in place can help.
“Without a team, it can be easy to miss that a child has anxiety or a reading disability too,” says Dr. Sand-Loud. “The team offers lots of eyes to catch problems.”
Get the most out of your benefits
Your child’s ADHD care team
Who should be on your child’s ADHD team? Dr. Sand-Loud suggests this starting lineup:
You
You’re the one who knows your child better than anyone else. “The main focus is always the parents,” says Dr. Sand-Loud. “They’re the core of the team. They know where the child is doing well and where they struggle.”
Your child
Even young children can be part of their own care team, says Dr. Sand-Loud. “They can tell you if the medicine tastes yucky. And they know when it seems to be working best. Plus, it’s important to teach kids early on that they have some responsibility for their health.”
Your child’s doctor
That could be your child’s pediatrician or psychiatrist. They may have diagnosed your child’s condition. And they’re in charge of managing their medicines and overall health.
School staff
Teachers, counselors, coaches and more spend a big chunk of the day with your child. They may have important insights to offer. Plus, they can sometimes adapt classroom strategies to your child’s needs. And they can help teach useful skills like organization. Don’t forget the school nurse. They often help report to the care team on your child’s daily progress. And they can help manage your child’s medicines during the school day.
Your child’s therapist
Even if your child isn’t having mental health issues like anxiety or depression, a therapist can still be helpful. They can help your child improve their social skills, manage their emotions and more. “Difficulty with emotional regulation is common in kids with ADHD,” says Dr. Sand-Loud. “They often experience extremes of mood and can tend to feel things a little more strongly.” With a trained therapist, your child can sort through their feelings and find better ways to cope.
Like any team, it’s important that everyone on your child’s care team works together. You may need to sign release forms that allows them to share information. Talk to your child’s primary care provider about other providers they see. They can help coordinate care and make sure everyone agrees on the care plan.
Additional sources:
Study on team-based care and ADHD outcomes: Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Stats on ADHD prevalence: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
