Doctors reveal why both medication and school supports are important for kids with ADHD
Medical experts who work closely with children who have ADHD have revealed how to best support them to thrive – and the impact of medication.
ADHD medication for children often comes with mixed feelings, namely from parents and carers who are concerned about the impact they will have.
Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines are frequently prescribed by doctors, as are non-stimulants including atomoxetine and antidepressants.
Research about the effectiveness of ADHD medication have been in the headlines this week, with one study raising questions about its effects on children and another study showing it has winder benefits with users less likely to be suicidal.
Pediatrician Professor Desiree Silva and psychiatrist Dr Tanveer Ahmed, who work closely with children who have ADHD, have shared their take on the issue.
“There is absolutely no doubt that medication is extremely effective in managing those core symptoms and they also can help to reduce anxiety,” Prof Silva said.
Prof Silva, who has been working in this space for more than 30 years and is co-head of The ORIGINS Project at The Kids Research Institute, explained that having ADHD was a reduction in the neurotransmitters for dopamine, which results in the core symptoms of inattentiveness, distractibility, difficulty planning and managing impulsive behaviours.
She said in most cases people with ADHD also had other conditions like learning difficulties, anxiety, depression, among others. She said only about 20 per cent of people with ADHD had no secondary conditions.
“It’s all these other conditions that are associated with ADHD that tend to cloud how we manage the condition,” Prof Silva said.
She said treatment should include medication as well as other therapies to learn ways of managing the condition.
“Pills don’t teach you skills.”
Dr Ahmed agreed, explaining that in many cases people who relied on medication alone often found themselves back at square one within a year.
He recommends children do individual therapy and family counselling.
“With kids, you’re always trying to think about what’s happening in the family setting and are they getting adequate help. There’s all these complexities that the kids are going through so you are trying to work out if some of that can be improved,” he said.
Dr Ahmed said ADHD had taken on a much bigger cultural momentum, especially since the Covid pandemic.
“In the case of kids, historically it (ADHD) was the behaviour disorder of naughty boys, now there’s multiple different types. Now increasingly you’ll get lots of socially anxious, slightly introverted withdrawn types who are increasingly being called inattentive. And then you’ve got this other variety that are often the higher achieving kids and under the performance pressures of HSC or exams get super anxious.”
He said the medications “unquestionably” helped enhance performance and “helped all sorts of kids even though they may not be the kind of classic types (of symptoms) we associate with ADHD”.
“ADHD as a diagnosis and the medications used to treat them have become a cultural juggernaut,” Dr Ahmed said.
Both doctors agreed that schools also had a big part to play in helping support children with ADHD to succeed, such as having flexible lesson plans to accommodate the their needs.
“It’s important to find their strengths and showcase them because otherwise their whole experience is so negative,” Prof Silva said.
She’s also a big champion of outdoor lessons that can reduce ADHD symptoms.
Lucas Dine, 9, was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021 but it took until the start of 2024 to find the right medication to suit his needs. To help manage the hyperactivity, Lucas plays several sports including lacrosse, football and tee-ball.
“Once you have a child with ADHD and see them struggling with school and then you put them on the meds and you see the teachers, and the family (notice the difference), and their home life improves – it’s the best thing we could have done for them,” Lucas’ mum Chantelle Dine, who live in Perth, said.
She said his school allowed him to tap into EA resources in his earlier school years but he no longer has access to that because he’s not eligible for NDIS support. Ms Dine said she’d noticed a decline in his school performance as a result and would like more funding for EA support more broadly for children like Lucas who need extra support.
Sydney father Mark Dennis said the extra support his daughter Hannah, 16, who also has ADHD, received from her school had been beneficial. With her exams she is able to sit them a smaller classroom with fewer students to minimise distractions and is given extra reading time.
Originally published as Doctors reveal why both medication and school supports are important for kids with ADHD
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