Helping Your Child with ADHD: Why Medication and Therapy Work Best Together

Dear Parents and Teachers,

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you may be feeling a mixture of relief and concern. On one hand, you now have an explanation for their struggles; on the other, you’re likely wondering, “Does my child really need medication? What else can we do to help them thrive?” Let’s explore these questions together and understand the best ways to support your child.

Understanding ADHD: The Difference Between Symptoms and Impairments

When we think about ADHD, it’s important to distinguish between the symptoms and the impairments that come with it. This distinction will help us understand how medication and therapies work together in managing your child’s challenges.

Symptoms of ADHD can be grouped into two main categories: inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

• Inattention symptoms include difficulty staying focused, being easily distracted, not completing tasks, and struggling with organisation.
• Hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms involve restlessness, constant fidgeting, difficulty staying seated, blurting out answers, and acting without thinking.

These symptoms show up in different areas of your child’s life—school, home, and social settings. They can impact academic performance, friendships, and even their ability to regulate emotions.

How Medication Helps

Medication can be incredibly effective in managing these core symptoms of ADHD. Think of it as a tool that helps clear the path, making it easier for your child to focus, control their impulses, and stay organised. For instance, with medication, your child might be able to sit through class without fidgeting constantly or finish their homework without being distracted every few minutes.

However, while medication is a key part of managing ADHD, it’s not a magic solution. It helps with attention and hyperactivity, but there are deeper challenges—known as impairments—that it can’t fully address on its own.

Impairments That Go Beyond Symptoms

Even when medication helps with the day-to-day symptoms, some children still struggle with impairments—the underlying challenges that affect social skills, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. For example:

• Social skills: Even with improved impulse control, a child with ADHD might still find it difficult to pick up on social cues or build strong friendships.
• Executive functioning: This involves skills like planning, time management, and organisation. Even if your child can focus better with medication, they may still struggle to keep track of homework or plan their day.
• Emotional regulation: While medication helps with focus, some children continue to have difficulty managing big emotions like frustration, sadness, or anger.

These impairments need additional support through therapies that target areas beyond what medication can reach. Occupational therapy (OT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and speech therapy are examples of interventions that help your child develop the necessary skills to thrive in different areas of life. Medication makes it easier for your child to focus on learning these skills, but it doesn’t teach them directly.

Managing the Challenges Together

It’s important to understand that ADHD often comes with comorbidities—other conditions that exist alongside ADHD. These can include anxiety, mood disorders, and learning disabilities. Medication is effective in reducing the core symptoms of ADHD, but these additional challenges require a more comprehensive approach.

For example, medication might help your child stay focused in class, but if they have a learning disability like dyslexia, they’ll need extra help with reading and writing. Or, if they struggle with anxiety, therapy will be necessary to manage their emotional well-being. Working together with your child’s teachers, therapists, and healthcare providers will ensure they get the full range of support they need.

Medication: A Helpful Key, Not a Magic Fix

When it comes to treating ADHD, medication often comes up first—and for good reason. Medication is highly effective in managing ADHD symptoms. Imagine your child being able to focus on their homework without getting distracted or sitting through a meal without needing to constantly move around. That’s what medication helps with—it takes the edge off inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

However, we need to be realistic about what medication can and can’t do. Medication alone isn’t a cure-all. It’s more like a helpful tool that gives your child better control over their symptoms. Think of it like giving them a pair of glasses—they can see the board better, but they still need to learn how to read what’s written on it.

The same goes for things like organisation. Medication can help your child focus more, but they might still need reminders to tidy their room or get ready in the morning. They may still struggle with spelling or handwriting, as medication won’t instantly improve these skills. Instead, medication clears the way, allowing your child to focus on developing the skills they need.

The Bigger Picture: Why Therapy is Just as Important

While medication addresses the symptoms, it doesn’t tackle some of the deeper issues—like social skills, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. That’s where therapy comes in.

Take Jamie, an 8-year-old who struggles with focus and behaviour at school. Medication has helped him pay better attention in class, but he still finds it hard to manage his emotions. He gets frustrated easily when things don’t go his way. That’s where CBT can help—by teaching Jamie how to deal with those big emotions and stay calm instead of having a meltdown. Over time, Jamie will not only manage his ADHD better but also learn important life skills.

Let’s consider Emma, a 6-year-old who struggles with fine motor skills and sensory overload. She can’t sit still or write neatly in class. For Emma, occupational therapy (OT) is a game-changer. OT helps her improve her coordination and teaches her how to handle sensory overload, making it easier for her to focus and function in class without feeling overwhelmed.

Why Combine Medication with Therapy?

Think of managing ADHD like building a strong bridge for your child. Medication is one of the key pillars—it helps them focus and manage impulses. But the other pillar is therapy, which builds their skills in areas that medication can’t fix. Together, these pillars create a stable foundation for success.

Relying solely on medication may leave your child feeling frustrated because, while their focus has improved, they’re still struggling in other areas. On the flip side, therapy without medication might not be as effective, because your child is still battling core symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity. When we combine both, your child has the best chance of overcoming the challenges ADHD brings—not just in school but in life.

It’s also important to note that medication works best when taken consistently, every day. There may be side effects, but we can work through them together. Stay in communication with your child’s teachers, get feedback on their progress, and keep us updated on how they’re doing. The more information we have, the better we can tailor your child’s treatment plan.

How We Can Support You

At The Assessment Centre, we take a holistic approach to ADHD management. We believe that it’s not just about medication; it’s about ensuring your child gets the emotional, social, and practical support they need. Whether it’s helping your child build better friendships, improve focus, or manage their emotions, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Every child’s needs are unique, and so is their ADHD. That’s why we work closely with families to create personalised plans. From stimulant medications to executive functioning coaching, and from parenting strategies to dietary advice, we’ve got you covered.

How We Work Together

Time is valuable, and to make the most of our consultations, we encourage you to communicate any concerns via email. While we can’t manage issues over the phone, we’re always available to address your concerns during your scheduled consultations.

After the initial consultation, we usually schedule a follow-up 2 to 4 weeks later. This allows us to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments. If your child’s needs are more complex, we may recommend more frequent visits. It’s difficult to solve problems outside of structured consultations, so it’s essential to set realistic expectations around time.

Teacher reports and feedback are also essential to the process. Remember, medication is just one tool—following through with other therapies is equally important. We also collaborate with your child’s school, teachers, and therapists to ensure a well-rounded approach to support.

Need Assistance?

If you need guidance on tax rebates related to ADHD diagnoses or have questions about expenses, our staff can assist. Feel free to contact us by phone at 031 1000 474 or via email at support@drjohnflett.com.

We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Warm regards,
Dr. John Flett
The Assessment Centre
Contact: 031 1000 474
Email: support@drjohnflett.com