At first, I was skeptical.

Could prescribed medication really help children
diagnosed with ADHD? I became convinced
the answer is yes after several years of
working as a counselor. I witnessed children
dramatically improve their functioning
in school and social situations after
taking medication.

The case of John* is an excellent example.

After three years of taking Adderall, he
requested to discontinue using his medication
at the start of fifth grade because he thought
it no longer necessary. Often when kids
are doing well they think they don’t need
medication anymore. It is similar to when
you take Tylenol for a headache: When you
feel better, you don’t take it. Kids assume the
same for their ADHD medication.

The first month without Adderall, John
thought he was doing fine, but his mid-
term progress report said otherwise. He was
receiving a D in math and Cs in his other
subjects. His parents wanted him to go back
on the medication to see if there would be an
improvement. After taking Adderall again for a week,
John’s mother checked in with his teachers,
who reported a dramatic improvement in
both the quality of his schoolwork and his
ability to pay attention during class. “He is
a totally different kid. He stopped fidgeting,
and he was able to focus for extended periods
of time. His responses to the questions were
thoughtful and correct,” they said.

John continued to take his medication
for the remainder of the school year and
received an A in math class. He received As
and Bs in his other classes, which resulted in
receiving honor roll. He proudly displayed his
certificate in his room.

I worked with many children who
experienced similar positive effects of taking
medication to help their ADHD.

TEN TI N,
Three Benefits of
Prescribed ADHD
Medications for Children
BY CHERYL MAGUIRE
IMPROVED GRADES
IN SCHOOL
Most schools require sitting still and paying
attention for six hours, which is exactly
what students with ADHD struggle with.

The National Resource on ADHD states that
prescribed medication can help attention
span, impulsivity and focus, especially
in structured environments. All of these
improved behaviors can lead to better
grades in school.

Additionally, a study conducted at the
National Institute of Mental Health found
students who took medication for ADHD
did better in math and reading compared
to students with ADHD who did not
take medication.

HISPANOLISTIC / E+
24 Washington FAMILY OCTOBER 2021