“10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About My Child’s ADHD”

Following your child’s ADHD diagnosis, you may have more questions than answers: Does ADHD explain their executive function challenges? Do they have to take a stimulant medication? How can we get more help at school?

If you are overwhelmed, know you are not alone. 10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About My Child’s ADHD is here to provide answers and support.

ADDitude surveyed its community to identify what doctors told caregivers after their children received an ADHD diagnosis — and what they didn’t, but caregivers wished they had. In this eBook, we highlight the top 10.

10-PART GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’s ADHD

In its 185+ pages, 10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About My Child’s ADHD details expert advice and resources spanning the following topics:

• CHAPTER 1: ADHD IS NEUROLOGICALLY LINKED TO EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION

  • Emotional dysregulation, including anger, irritability, and rejection sensitive disorder (RSD), are fundamental parts of the ADHD experience but are noticeably missing from diagnostic criteria.
  • ADHD increases the likelihood of developing oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and other related conditions.
  • Emotionally dysregulated teens are more sensitive to peer rejection and more likely to engage in risky behaviors and impulsive decision-making than their neurotypical peers.

• CHAPTER 2: ADHD IS DIFFERENT (AND OFTEN MISSED) IN GIRLS

  • Girls show fewer outward symptoms of ADHD compared to boys, which contributes to them being largely misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or untreated.
  • Teen girls with ADHD face a significantly higher risk for self-harm, unplanned pregnancy, and intimate partner violence compared to girls without ADHD.
  • Fluctuating hormones play a significant role in cognition, behavior, and ADHD symptoms.

• CHAPTER 3: NOT TREATING ADHD POSES REAL DANGERS

  • Using stimulants for ADHD does not cause addiction to stimulants or other substances. In fact, the opposite is true.
  • Without treatment, teens with ADHD face a higher risk of serious traffic accidents, unsafe sexual practices, substance abuse, and early death.
  • Treating ADHD with medication — stimulants, in particular — may improve driving safety and mitigate risk for drivers with ADHD.

• CHAPTER 4: ADHD MEDICATION RARELY WORKS ON THE FIRST TRY

  • Decades of research confirm that the benefits of both stimulant and non-stimulant medications for ADHD far outweigh the risks.
  • Trial and error is required to find the right medication at the right dosage.
  • ADHD medications do not linger in the system; they must be taken daily to achieve continuous symptom control.

• CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH SUPPORTS A FEW COMPLEMENTARY ADHD APPROACHES

  • Physical activity promotes brain growth, improves brain efficiency, and strengthens learning abilities.
  • Poor eating habits do not cause ADHD. However, consuming unprocessed foods, proteins, vegetables, and fruits can help your brain perform better.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parent training in behavior management as a first-line ADHD treatment for children diagnosed before age 7 and as a complementary treatment approach thereafter.

• CHAPTER 6: ADHD RARELY EXISTS IN ISOLATION

  • As many as 60% of children with ADHD have at least one related condition.
  • Treating ADHD may resolve and improve co-existing conditions, or it may exacerbate them. Most comorbidities require separate treatment.
  • Girls with ADHD suffer from serious comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, with more frequency and severity than do their neurotypical peers or boys with ADHD.

• CHAPTER 7: ADHD AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED

  • Children with ADHD may not think or act age-appropriately because they develop executive functions a few years behind their neurotypical peers.
  • The social executive function skills that elude kids with ADHD can lead to awkward social interactions and difficulty making and sustaining friendships.
  • The difficulty for ADHD brains to “see” and “feel” time causes time blindness and issues with procrastination and prioritization.

• CHAPTER 8: STUDENTS WITH ADHD HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS AT SCHOOL

  • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees the right of students with qualified disabilities, such as ADHD, to participate in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that provide special education and related services to improve students’ academic outcomes.
  • Not all children with ADHD qualify for an IEP; however, students may still be eligible for help under Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act).
  • If a student has an IEP or a 504 Plan, the school staff is legally required to implement it.

• CHAPTER 9: PEOPLE WITH ADHD ACHIEVE REMARKABLE THINGS

  • Putting a spotlight on a child’s “islands of competence” shifts the attention away from their weaknesses.
  • Teaching a child how ADHD symptoms impact their decisions, thoughts, and actions is the first step in helping them manage these traits.
  • Parents need to identify their children’s learning and executive function challenges early on so that they can receive accommodations and practice strategies in school and beyond.

• CHAPTER 10: YOUR NEURODIVERGENT CHILD NEEDS TO BE PARENTED DIFFERENTLY

  • Raising happy, healthy children with ADHD comes down to acceptance, leveraging their strengths, and understanding that mistakes are inevitable.
  • Setting boundaries is a skill all parents must learn and practice to prevent burnout and improve their wellbeing.
  • Scaffolding is not about making excuses. It is about demonstrating, teaching, and slowly abdicating control.

10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About My Child’s ADHD: The Caregiver’s Guide to Emotional Dysregulation, Executive Dysfunction, Related Conditions, Medication Management, and Raising a Child with ADHD 

ORDER THE SPECIAL REPORT NOW!
The full report has even more expert advice, information regarding executive dysfunction, co-occurring conditions, parenting strategies for emotional regulation, treatment options, and more from ADDitude!

PLEASE NOTE: This eBook is a downloadable PDF; it does not ship.