NEW ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines!

The American Academy of Pediatrics just released new guidelines for the treatment and diagnosis ADHD. This change has the potential to be a great blessing to many families if parents are aware of what the guidelines actually say and mean. Below is a quick overview of the important changes, followed by a few suggestions every parent and family should know regarding these changes.

• Pediatricians are now informed to initiate formal evaluations for ADHD for children ages 4 (four) to 18 (eighteen) who exhibit behavioral or academic problems along with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. 
• In addition to evaluating for ADHD, the pediatrician should also asses for other behavioral and emotional disorders that are known to coexist with ADHD. 
• ADHD is considered a chronic disorder. Meaning long term care and treatment guidelines should be followed. 
• Probably the most important change is that for children ages 4-5 years old, the first line of treatment for ADHD should be an evidenced based parent-child behavior therapy. Only if this line of treatment fails, should the pediatrician prescribe medication. 

Expanding the criteria for diagnosing ADHD to an earlier age can improve the potential that behavioral treatments will be effective, likely limiting the need for medication treatment. However, it is important that parents and families understand that a diagnosis of ADHD at any age is best treated with a combination of behavioral treatment and medication treatment. I like the recommendation for behavioral therapy first and would recommend that this be the first line of treatment for any diagnosis of ADHD.

Next week, I will write a brief article on the proper diagnosis of ADHD, followed by how to find a qualified therapist for the treatment of ADHD. We welcome your thoughts about these new guidelines, please leave comments below.