TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Typical medicines for ADHD can cause difficulty falling asleep, meaning most families may try to time
the medication so that it wears off within a few hours of bedtime. For students playing after-school
sports, this might be the time when they’re finally able to sit down to do homework.

Dr. Michael Morse, psychiatrist at the Chesapeake Center for ADHD, Learning, and Behavioral
Health in Bethesda, Maryland, advises parents to work with the school to find a solution. Perhaps the
student can work in a study hall to finish homework, then proceed on with sports, dinner and bedtime.

This prevents a tired, unmedicated child from trying to do homework late in the evening, which can
end up taking double or triple the time, says Morse, and disrupt their sleep schedule. — Alexandra Frost
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