Center for Children and Families Resources
What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined as a pattern
of behaviors in which a child shows, usually before the age of 7, developmentally
inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity.
It is the most common mental health problem of childhood, affecting
3% to 5% of the population, and is considerably more common in boys
than in girls. The behavior of children with ADHD often results in
serious disturbances in their relationships with parents, teachers,
peers, and siblings, as well as academic problems. For more information
about ADHD, see "What Parents
and Teachers Should Know About ADHD".
A large number of standardized rating scales and assessment tools
are available for ADHD. A number of rating
scales and interviews used
by the CCF are available for free download.
Treatment for ADHD
Comprehensive Treatment for ADHD should always include a strong psychosocial (that is, not medical ) component. Most professionals believe that effective psychosocial treatment is the backbone of good treatment for ADHD. Medication is a very useful addition to psychosocial treatment in many cases, yielding a combination approach that may be even more effective than psychosocial treatments alone (see “ADHD Medication Information Sheet for Parents and Teachers”). Indeed, the scientific literature on treatment for ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health, and many professional organizations say that there are two treatments that have a solid base of scientific evidence for short-term effectiveness: behavioral psychosocial treatments—also called behavior therapy or behavior modification—and stimulant medication. Behavior modification is the only nonmedical treatment for ADHD with a large scientific evidence base.
For more information, see our information sheets on psychosocial treatment and medication.
One of the most widely-used behavioral treatments is a daily note
or daily report card. In a daily report card program, parents or teachers
target specific behaviors for the child to work on improving, and provide
rewards for meeting daily goals. The CCF has developed guidelines for
creating daily report card programs for school and home.
When considering medication treatment for ADHD, it is important to conduct a controlled assessment of medication effects, including possible side effects. For professionals interested in more information about conducting medication assessments for children with ADHD, the CCF has developed guidelines and accompanying behavior ratings.