Industry leaders in improving attention. |
|
For more information call (800) 788 - 6786 or request
a |
Should My Child Stay on Medication Over the Summer?
For a child who receives medicine to help with school, the question of whether it should continue to be taken during the summer months is an important one. This is definitely something that should be carefully discussed with a child's doctor, although the guidelines below may be useful to take into account.
Until relatively recently, most physicians recommended that medication for treating ADHD be discontinued on weekends and over the summer. The reasoning behind this stance was that medication was intended to help children function more effectively in school, and there was thus no need for medicine when school was not in session. Concerns about the health consequences of continued use of medication were also involved in this decision.
Unfortunately, for many children with ADHD, the ability to succeed in activities outside of school is greatly reduced with the assistance provided medication. For example, some children are not able to do well with peers or to participate in organized peer activities without medication. Problems getting along with parents are also often helped substantially by medication - I've had many parents tell me how much easier it is to have a good time with their child when he or she is on medication and that they are able to spend time together in ways that are just not possible otherwise.
Success with peers and good relations with parents are extremely important in promoting a child's healthy development. Being excluded or disliked by peers and having frequent conflictual exchanges with parents can take a toll on a developing child's feelings about himself and others. Overt time a history of unsuccessful and conflictual interactions can create as much difficulty for a child as the primary symptoms of ADHD.
For these types of reasons, many mental health professionals now advocate that medication be continue year round for children who need it to be successful outside of school. Thus, if you recognize that your child gets along much better with peers, is able to participate more appropriately in various activities, and does better at home when on medication, than the use of medication during the summer months should be considered. For a child with ADHD who is able to do well in these contexts without medication, however, and who requires it primarily to assist with focusing on school work, it may not be necessary at all over the summer. In my experience, this is more likely to be the case for children who have the inattentive symptoms only and who do not also have problems with hyperactive and impulsive behavior.
Please note that suggesting medication can be appropriate to use over the summer does not mean that other interventions to assist a child with peer relations and social behavior are not important. For example, at summer camp programs that are designed to provide specialized treatment to children with ADHD, well designed behavioral interventions and social skills training are important parts of the curriculum. Even so, many of the children who attend continue to receive medication so they can participate more effectively.
Just like during the school year, medication can play a useful role for some children as part of their overall treatment plan. If a child needs mediation to be successful in the many activities he or she participates in over the summer I do not think it should be withheld, even as other efforts are being made to help the child be more successful. As noted above, this is a very important issue to discuss with your child's doctor.
Note: This article originally appeared in Attention Research Update, an online newsletter written by Dr. David Rabiner, a Duke University psychologist and former member of CHADD's Professional Advisory Board. You can learn more about Attention Research Update and sign up for a free subscription at www.helpforadd.com.