Health Issues

Treatment & Target Outcomes for Children with ADHD

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the outlook for most children who receive treatment for ADHD is encouraging.

While there is no specific cure for ADHD, but there are many treatment options available.

Each child's ADHD treatment plan must be tailored to meet his or her individual needs, starting with target outcomes for behavior.

In most cases, ADHD treatment should include:

A long-term management plan with

Target outcomes for behavior
Follow-up activities
Monitoring

Education about ADHD
Teamwork among doctors, parents, teachers, caregivers, other health care professionals, and the child
Medication
Parent training in behavior management
Individual and family counseling

Treatment for ADHD uses the same principles that are used to treat other chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes. Long-term planning is needed because these conditions are not cured. Families must manage them on an ongoing basis. In the case of ADHD, schools and other caregivers must also be involved in managing the condition.

Your new role, your new parenting journey Educating the people involved in your child's life about ADHD is a key part of treatment. As a parent, you will also need to learn a lot about ADHD. Read about the condition. Talk with people who understand it. Get support. This will help you manage the ways ADHD affects your child and your family on a day-to-day basis.

Step 1: Set target outcomes for your child's behavior

At the beginning of treatment, your pediatrician should help you set around 3 target outcomes (goals) for your child's behavior. These target outcomes will guide the treatment plan. Your child's target outcomes should focus on helping her function as well as possible at home, at school, and in your community. You need to identify what behaviors are most preventing your child from success.

Examples of target outcomes for children with ADHD:

Improved relationships with parents, siblings, teachers, and friends (e.g., fewer arguments with brothers or sisters or being invited more frequently to friends' houses or parties)
Better schoolwork (e.g., completing class work or homework assignments)
More independence in self-care or homework (e.g., getting ready for school in the morning without supervision)
Improved self-esteem (e.g., increase in feeling that she can get her work done)
Fewer disruptive behaviors (e.g., decrease in the number of times she refuses to obey rules)
Safer behavior in the community (e.g., when crossing streets)

The target outcomes should be:

Realistic
Something your child will be able to do
Behaviors that you can observe and count (e.g., with rating scales)
Your child's treatment plan will be set up to help her achieve these goals.

Is your child's treatment plan working?

Ongoing monitoring of your child's behavior and medications is required to find out if the treatment plan is working. Office visits, phone conversations, behavior checklists, written reports from teachers, and behavior report cards are common tools for following the child's progress.

Treatment plans for ADHD usually require long-term efforts on the part of families and schools. Medication schedules may be complex. Behavior therapies require education and patience. Sometimes it can be hard for everyone to stick with it. Your efforts play an important part in building a healthy future for your child.

Ask your pediatrician to help you find ways to keep your child's treatment plan on track.

What if my child does not reach his or her target outcomes?

Most school-age children with ADHD respond well when their treatment plan includes both medication and behavior therapy.

If your child is not achieving his or her goals, your pediatrician will assess the following factors:

Were the target outcomes realistic?
Is more information needed about the child's behavior?
Is the diagnosis correct?
Is another condition hindering treatment?
Is the treatment plan being followed?
Has the treatment failed?

While treatment for ADHD should improve your child's behavior, it may not completely eliminate the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children who are being treated successfully may still have trouble with their friends or schoolwork.

However, if your child clearly is not meeting his specific target outcomes, your pediatrician will need to reassess the treatment plan.

Unproven ADHD Treatments

You may have heard media reports or seen advertisements for "miracle cures" for ADHD. Carefully research any such claims. Consider whether the source of the information is valid.

At this time, there is no scientifically-proven cure ADHD.

There is no scientific evidence that the following methods work and they are not recommended.

Megavitamins and mineral supplements
Anti–motion-sickness medication (to treat the inner ear)
Treatment for candida yeast infection
EEG biofeedback (training to increase brain-wave activity)
Applied kinesiology (realigning bones in the skull)
Reducing sugar consumption
Optometric vision training (asserts that faulty eye movement and sensitivities cause the behavior problems)

Always tell your pediatrician about any alternative therapies, supplements, or medications that your child is using. These may interact with prescribed medications and harm your child.

Will there be a cure for ADHD soon?

While there are no signs of a cure at this time, research is ongoing to learn more about the role of the brain in ADHD and the best ways to treat the disorder. Additional research is looking at the long-term outcomes for people with ADHD.

Will my child outgrow ADHD?

ADHD continues into adulthood in most cases. However, by developing their strengths, structuring their environments, and using medication when needed, adults with ADHD can lead very productive lives. In some careers, having a high-energy behavior pattern can be an asset.

Additional Information:

Understanding ADHD: Information for Parents
How is ADHD Treated? (Understood.org)
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) or 800/233-4050
National Institute of Mental Health or 866/615-6464

Last Updated: 9/27/2019

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.