Introduction

All children can be difficult at times. But if your child finds it hard to concentrate, to sit still, or to think before acting most of the time, he or she may have a condition called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This behaviour tends to cause severe problems at home and at school. But there are treatments that can help.

We've brought together the best research about ADHD and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for your child.

Many parents worry at times about how their children behave. Often, disruptive behaviour is simply part of growing up. But in some children, it is caused by a medical condition called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD for short).

Children with ADHD find it hard to concentrate, are overactive and act without thinking. If your child has ADHD, it's important to get treatment. Otherwise, ADHD may affect how your child develops, and create problems at home and at school.

If your child has ADHD, bear in mind that it's nobody's fault. Nothing you or your child has done has caused the condition.

You may feel as if your child is behaving badly on purpose. But being strict with a child who has ADHD is unlikely to make things better.

Many parents of children with ADHD offer this advice: "Don't try to cope with your child's problems on your own".

With the right treatment, your child's behaviour can improve dramatically.

Key points for parents whose child has ADHD

• ADHD is a medical condition. Children with the disorder find it hard to pay attention, are overactive and act without thinking.

• Not all children with behaviour problems have ADHD. Their behaviour may just be a phase or part of some other problem.

• The symptoms of ADHD tend to get better as children get older.

• Treatments for ADHD include drugs and talking treatments.

• Treatments can't cure ADHD, but they can help your child develop and learn normally.

Different names for ADHD

You may hear ADHD called different things. Doctors used to call it attention deficit disorder or ADD. Children could have ADD on its own or with hyperactivity (being overactive). In 1987, this term was replaced with ADHD. But some doctors still use the old name.

You may also hear ADHD called hyperkinetic disorder, or HKD for short. The term HKD is usually used when your child's symptoms are severe and your child has all three signs of ADHD: inattention, overactivity, and impulsiveness. Doctors sometimes call this combined type ADHD.^[1]