How to help a child with ADHD

A Consumer Reports survey of 934 parents of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder reveals strategies for coping with the condition, which affects 3 to 7 percent of school-aged children, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eighty-four percent of the surveyed parents said that their kids had taken prescription medicine. It helped more than other treatments, parents reported, but only 52 percent of those parents agreed strongly that if they had it to do over, they would have their child take medication. One concern: side effects, which may include decreased appetite, sleep problems, weight loss, upset stomach, and irritability.

Medication helped more with behavior and performance at school than with social relationships and self-esteem.

Our results showed that older ADHD drugs, which were stimulants, were generally more helpful than the newer, nonstimulant types. Experts recommend that children have a health exam before medication is prescribed and that parents work with doctors to manage any side effects.

Asked what they'd tell other parents of children with ADHD, respondents were most likely to say, "Be prepared for the time it will take to discuss your child's schoolwork and behavior at school with teachers." To avoid common missteps reported in our survey, parents should keep thorough records, advocate for the child, and enlist a reliable, informed team of professionals to create a plan of action for school and home.

5 most useful actions

Percentage of parents who said each strategy helped a lot.

Source: Consumer Reports National Research Center.