According to a new study, young children with ADHD are often given medication immediately after their diagnosis is made. Yet they should first undergo six months of behavioural therapy as prescribed by clinical guidelines. However, doctors often prescribe medication right away, and parents understandably listen to medical authorities and give the child the medication.

What is ADHD

It is a developmental disorder that is characterized by hyperactivity and concentration disorders. In addition, impulsive behavior is also typical of ADHD. If you observe any signs in your children that might suggest ADHD, it is a good idea to see a specialist early. There is nothing to wait for. It is just advisable to discuss the matter first. Early identification and effective treatment improves children’s outcomes in the future.

According to research, good treatment also prepares an individual for many aspects of adulthood such as maintaining employment, building successful relationships or avoiding trouble with the law. But getting the right treatment certainly doesn’t mean that a doctor will put you on medication immediately after diagnosis. Each patient needs to be treated individually. Especially with young children.

Some people find it disturbing

Dr. Yair Bannett, associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, thinks this situation is worrying. “We know that starting treatment for ADHD with a behavioral approach is beneficial; it has a big positive impact on the child and the family,” he said. He was the author of the study, where researchers analyzed data from more than 712,000 children between the ages of 3 and 5. About 1.4% of them were diagnosed with ADHD, and nearly 70% were immediately prescribed medication.

The importance of further treatment

Early identification of the disorder, but especially treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in preschoolers, is important to alleviate social, emotional, and academic problems. For this reason, clinical guidelines recommend behavioral intervention in the first instance. Only then is medication consideration appropriate. In fact, medication can harm young children.

━━ ( Source: Lance Reis /  Unsplash+ )

Side effects

Experts understandably do not like the fact that preschool children are given medication immediately. It is not good for their body. At first glance, of course, the medication helps with the disease. But they also carry other risks. Stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD cause more side effects in young patients than in older children. In fact, before the age of 6, children’s bodies have not yet fully metabolised the drugs.

As for the toxicity of the drugs, experts disagree. However, there is a high probability that the treatment will fail because the side effects at an early age may outweigh the benefits of the drugs. Stimulants can make young patients more emotional, aggressive and irritable. While it is important to detect this disease early, effective treatment must also be set up. Behavioral therapy works on the child’s environment. On the behaviour of the parents and on the routines that the child has. Parents learn how to work with the child.