Although children without ADHD can be unsupervised for short periods of time (not left home alone, but allowed to play without an adult in the immediate area), children with ADHD are often not ready to be unsupervised at this age. Emotional maturity for a child with ADHD may be several years less than their non-ADHD counterparts. This also can cause problems with social skills as many children with ADHD are emotionally much less mature than their classmates.
Some children with hyperactivity can get into trouble. At home he or she may still jump on furniture or annoy siblings just to stay amused. Outside of the home children with impulsivity may shoplift, set fires, or experience physical injuries more often than children without ADHD.
In the family, the child with ADHD often requires much more attention than his or her siblings, creating tension and frustration in the household. Too often, parents are confused and are not sure where to turn for help. Both parents may have different ideas on how to handle an extremely impulsive child and arguments can create even more tension.
Children with hyperactivity or impulsiveness are the ones that receive more medical care and attention. Children without hyperactivity may been seen as lazy or uncaring and may not be treated for ADHD until later in middle or high school, if at all.
Treatment for children at this age often includes a combination of medication and behavioral modifications. Medications for ADHD have been approved by the FDA for children over the age of six. A multimodal treatment study showed that long-term combination treatment, including both medication and behavioral management strategies was the most effective in treating elementary age children. The study also showed that children receiving a combination treatment needed lower doses of medication than those children treated with medication only.
Sources:
“What is ADHD?”, 2002, Jim Chandler, M.D., Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
“(ADD) ADHD at Different Ages”, Date Unknown, Author Unknown, Edge Foundation
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, 2008, Aug, Kevin Leehey, M.D., LeeheyMD.com
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, 2008, April 3, Author Unknown, National Institute of Mental Health
