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Helping Your Child's Doctor Make ADHD Treatment Decisions
It is important for there to be ongoing communication between you and your child's doctor. The doctor will be making the treatment decisions but will need your input to make the most informed decision. If the doctor decides to prescribe medication, be sure to report how the ADHD medicine affects your child's symptoms and any side effects your child may experience while on the medication.
Help your child's doctor by writing down any changes you see in your child, including both ADHD symptoms and how your child is feeling while taking the medication. You could make notes in a diary, or you could use a symptom tracking tool.
ADHD Symptom Evaluation Forms
Health care providers and other social service professionals have a variety of forms to assess your child's ADHD symptoms and their impact. All the forms point to the set of symptoms documented by the American Psychiatric Association, but each reflects different ways to document the symptoms of ADHD. Use these forms to track whether specific behaviors increase or decrease. Make a copy of an evaluation that your child's teacher or other adult completed. Complete a new evaluation form each time you visit the clinic or doctor's office.
Please click here for an ADHD checklist on this Web site. Fill it out and take it to the doctor's office to help monitor your child's progress.
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