Summer is the time when many parents decide to give their child a break from ADHD medication. How can you tell whether a "drug holiday" makes sense for your child?
First, consider which of the three ADHD behaviors affect your child (impulsivity, inattention, hyperactivity, or some combination of the three).
Next, think of the setting, activities, and your expectations (as well as those of camp counselors, tutors, or anyone else involved), for the time period you are considering having your child off medication.
Now ask yourself: Will the hyperactivity, inattention, and/or impulsivity interfere with the expectations for my child's behavior during this time period - or put him at risk for getting into trouble? If the answer is "yes," a medication break would probably be unwise.
This article comes from the June/July 2006 issue of ADDitude.
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