As a teacher, one of the more common concerns I hear from parents is about medications for children with ADHD. As a parent, I’ve had to decide if I wanted to give my child medication for ADHD. I know what a tough decision this is for a parent. You may be thinking: I love my child’s love of life and endless energy! I get a kick out of my son’s goofy personality. My child is not sick, so why am I giving them medicine? My child is smart, they just struggle to get the work finished. Knowing what I know about ADHDers in the classroom, I decided to give my child the meds. There are 3 types of ADHD: inattentive (the daydreamer), hyperactive/impulsive (the mover and shaker), and combined type (the whirlwind). I have a “whirlwind” and a “mover and shaker” in my family, but I’ve seen all 3 types in the classroom. Here’s what I know, as a teacher, about the effects of ADHD.
ADHD Meds From a Teacher’s Point of View
There is a child in my class that has enormous academic potential, but because they suffer from the effects of ADHD they are not producing what they could be. They are struggling with motivation and self-esteem issues because they cannot make themselves meet the expectations of the teacher and their peers. They try, but continuously fail because it is beyond their control. This child cannot focus on oral instruction because they are so distracted by things in their environment (other students, something out the window, noises from the hall, what’s hanging on the walls, etc.) and miss up to 50% of what is happening in their classroom. This child has trouble working with a group of his classmates because they say something or do something before thinking it through (they misuse the materials, grab things before others can get a chance, blurt out answers, speaker louder, and make more body movements than the others) and this annoys the other students. This student requires many more reminders than other students, so they hear their name being called by the teacher (or lunch aid or bus driver, etc.) many more times than other students (_____ pass in your homework, _______ put your name on your paper, _______ return to your seat, and so on and so on). This child cannot sit still so they sometimes get into other children’s space, knock things over, get hurt on the playground, or fall out of their chair. These are just some of the ways that ADHD can affect a child at school. Because there are 3 types of ADHD, it does look different in different children (especially in girls). However, the overall effects are the same… lower self-esteem due to the fact that they have the academic potential to do well in school but struggle because of a condition that is beyond their ability to control. I have seen medication do wonders for some children with ADHD. One day they have all the side effects of it, the next day they come in and the symptoms are gone. I have also seen some children (not many though) not get that affect from medication. Generally medications for ADHD work really well and the children are happier because most of what they struggle with goes away and they are able to reach their full potential. Friendships become easier to make and keep for some students and school becomes a happier place to be.
As a parent and teacher, I feel very strongly that parents should not arbitrarily dismiss medication for their child. It is wise to first put yourself in your child’s shoes. Imagine what they struggle with daily. For your child, being at school for 6 hours with un-medicated ADHD may be like an asthmatic running a marathon with out an inhaler. If your child is old enough, ask them how they feel about having ADHD and about medication. Talk about the positives and negatives with them and get their opinion. Observe your child in the classroom, compare their attention and movement level to their peers. Watch other child react to them. Deeply consider all the ways that their ADHD might be affecting them (socially, emotionally, academically). Medication may not be right for your child, as their parent you are best suited to make this decision. However, I caution you to put aside any personal judgements you may have about medication and try to make the decision that would best benefit your child. Keep this in mind: I know more than one adult with ADHD that often says, “I wish my parents had gotten me help for this when I was a child.”
What Could Happen if I Put My Child on ADHD Meds:
- They may be able to concentrate better on instruction.
- They may develop better peer relationships.
- Their grades may improve.
- They could stay up later or have trouble falling asleep.
- They may not struggle as much with homework and classwork.
- They may not get into as much trouble at school and at home.
- They may not eat as much and may lose some weight.
- Their self-esteem may improve because they are struggling less.
- School may be a better place for them.
- They might wonder why they need to be on a medication when they are not sick.
- They might feel “right” or calmer or less worried.
- They might feel happier.
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