Survey Results Report Parents' Perceptions of How Long Their Child's ADHD Medication Lasts

While it is widely known that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often struggle during the school day, the condition also often impacts other areas of a child's life including homework, friendships, after-school activities and family time. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, it is important to discuss with the doctor how to best manage your child's symptoms throughout the day.

Results of a recently released national survey of 500 parents of children and adolescents with ADHD reported that 60 percent of 121 mothers surveyed said that their 6 to 12 year old child's once-daily ADHD medication stopped working before 6 pm. This survey was conducted via Internet interviews of 249 parents of children with ADHD aged 6 to 12 years (125 children took stimulant medications and 124 children took non-stimulant medications) and 251 parents of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (126 adolescents took stimulant medications and 125 adolescents took non-stimulant medications). The children of the surveyed parents took their ADHD medication once daily in the morning, the majority before 8 am.

"The results illustrate that parents may not see their children's ADHD medications working until 6 pm," said Robert Findling, M.D., lead author of the survey and Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and Director of the Division of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. "This may be important because ADHD doesn't only impact a child's school performance, but can also impact interactions with friends, coaches and other family members during after school activities, homework and family time."

How Do I Know if My Child Has ADHD?

Approximately 7.8 percent of all school-age children have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ADHD is a psychiatric behavioral disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. The core symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with ADHD may have difficulty focusing, organizing, following instructions and may struggle with impulsive behavior. If you believe your child exhibits these symptoms, a trained professional, such as a pediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist, can perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether your child's behaviors are symptoms of ADHD.

Treatment Options for Children With ADHD

Although there is no "cure" for ADHD, there are accepted treatments available that have been shown in clinical studies to improve symptoms. Most doctors recommend a combination of medication and behavioral modifications to achieve optimal results.

If your child has ADHD, talk to the doctor about options for treatment to control your child's symptoms throughout the day.

For more information about ADHD, visit www.ADHDSupport.com.

Although there is no "cure" for ADHD, there are accepted treatments available that have been shown in clinical studies to improve symptoms.