Each September, ADHD experts answer questions about ADHD in an event called ADHD Experts on Call. We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions, as well as some additional questions. Below you'll find the most common questions and answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ADHD?

• A disorder with symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsivity or a combination of all three symptoms. The behaviors are inconsistent with the developmental level expected at the person's age

I'm overwhelmed, how do I start thinking about getting help?

• Check out your local resources to meet other parents and professionals with ADHD expertise. The school, your human resource department at work, churches and neighborhood clinics may have lists of resources
• CHADD, ADDA and other ADHD support organizations also have Web site registries where you can speak with others about your experiences

Evaluation forms for ADHD seem so subjective. How can I trust them?

• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends a professional synthesize several different assessments, comparing the results with the criteria for ADHD from the American Psychiatric Association. It's not a perfect system, but it's highly reliable
• The more information the professional has, the more reliable the diagnosis. You can help with this. For example, keep a notebook or chart to describe each episode of your child’s behavior right when it happens, over a period of several months. Talk with your child’s teacher about your child’s behavior and interactions at school and gather copies of your child’s report cards. There are several good forms here on this Web site. Take these records and your notes and observations to your child’s health care professional

Medication seems like such a big step. Can I go for a diagnosis now and make a treatment decision later?

• Yes—some medical professionals can make an official diagnosis and set up a nonmedication treatment plan, although they do not write prescriptions. They understand many treatment options and can help you think through the best ones for your child

How does ADHD medication work?

• The best understanding we have—what your doctor learns from the textbooks in medical school—is that all types of ADHD medication, stimulant and nonstimulant, increase the amount of natural body chemicals between brain cells. These chemicals are thought to be involved in processes such as attention and controlling impulsivity and hyperactivity

What else can I do for my child besides or in addition to medication?

• There are additional options for treating ADHD symptoms. Behavior modification and organizational strategies are some options. An ADHD coach may also help, since he or she is trained in ADHD. Read about a total treatment plan for ADHD

Will drugs change my child's personality? I love my quirky, creative superhero!

• The medication is intended to help manage ADHD symptoms. This means that your child should continue to be “himself.” If it doesn't seem this way, talk to the doctor about whether the type of medicine or the dose may need to be changed

Why does it seem like the doctor doesn't know “right off the bat” which ADHD medicine and how much of it to give my child?

• You're probably thinking of medications where how much to take depends on the weight of the person. That rule doesn’t necessarily apply for ADHD medication. Treating ADHD can be like getting new glasses: you don’t care whether the lenses are ground a lot or a little, high or low, you just want them to work. So the doctor tests lenses until you and the doctor find the right ones, as with ADHD treatment. The doctor may need to try different doses before the right one is found

There are so many contradictory claims about ADHD, how can I tell what's real?

• Here is where science is on your side: Science is a method. Look for consistent results from large studies done at highly respected institutions that have been published in professional journals. “Real” science is taking sides with the best-supported concept today and continuing to test that concept in the future
• Be cautious about accepting recommendations from people who only have personal opinions with a few stories to back them up instead of scientific evidence
• Talk to a qualified health care professional for questions and information about ADHD

When I go to a professional I'm in and out so fast I forget to ask my questions, even when I write them down ahead of time! How can I make sure I get what my child needs?

• Hand those written questions to the professional as soon as he or she walks in the room! You can write the questions right on one of the reports or the checklist you bring
• If you've already left the office, pick up the phone and call back. A moment of embarrassment before you ask your question is nowhere near as important as getting the information you need for your child

What are the symptoms of ADHD in adults?

• Some ADHD symptoms may appear differently in adults than in children. Read more about ADHD in adults

Be sure to visit www.adhdexpertsoncall.com during September to ask your own questions!