For more information

about ADHD:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry (AACAP)

3615 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20016-3007
202-966-7300
Potential Consequences when
www.aacap.org
ADHD is Left Untreated Attention Deficit
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behavior and discipline problems 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209
• Social difficulties and family strife 703-907-7300
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• Accidental injury
Children and Adults with Attention-
• Alcohol and drug abuse Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Places, Suite 150
• Employment problems Landover, MD 20785
1-800-233-4050
• Driving accidents http://www.chadd.org

• Delinquency, criminality, and arrest National Alliance on Metal Illness (NAMI)

3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
This brochure is intended to
• Unplanned pregnancy and sexually Arlington, VA 22203 provide general information about
transmitted diseases 703-524-7600 ADHD and available resources
http://www.nami.org
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health
disorder The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Prepared by:
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Johanna Sann
• Increased risk for school failure and dropout Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098
and
in both high school and college 847-434-4000
Valeria Galaviz
www.aap.org
 What Types of Treatments are
Effective?
What Causes ADHD?
Large scale treatment studies have shown that
Research has shown that ADHD is likely due
stimulant medications may be the most
to many genes and their interaction with the
effective for treating children with symptoms
environment. Though they require further
of ADHD. However, combining behavioral
research, some substances in the environment
treatments such as parent training, child-
that may be linked to the development of
focused treatment, and school-based
ADHD include low birth weight, alcohol,
intervention with medications enabled children
cigarette smoke, or exposure to toxins in the
with ADHD to take lower doses of medicine.
environment such as lead.
There are other types of medications available
for individuals with ADHD such as non-
Who is Affected by ADHD? stimulant medications.
ADHD is usually identified when children are Side Effects of ADHD Medications
in grade school but can be diagnosed at any
time from preschool to adulthood. Symptoms Common side effects from stimulant
include procrastinating, managing time poorly, medications include reduced appetite, weight
easily losing one’s temper, making hasty loss, headaches, problems sleeping, and
ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder decisions, or having trouble maintaining steady stomach pain. For non-stimulant medication,
characterized by difficulty paying attention, work or relationships. there may be a drop in heart rate and blood
excessive activity, and impulsivity. These pressure, fainting, dizziness, drowsiness,
symptoms can interfere with a child’s ability to fatigue, irritability, and dry mouth. All side
perform in school, function at home, and effects should be reported to your child’s
develop and maintain friendships. ADHD can doctor–– especially if they interfere with your
also affect teenagers and adults if it goes child’s everyday activities. There are often
untreated in childhood. ways to manage these side effects.