Treatment of ADHD
Key points
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents can often be managed with the right treatment. Types of treatment for ADHD include behavior therapy and medications. Treatment recommendations vary by age group.
For younger children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parent training in behavior management as the first line of treatment, before medication is tried.
My child has been diagnosed with ADHD
What can I do next?
When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, parents often have concerns about which treatment is right for their child. There are many treatment options, and what works best can depend on the person, their family, and their environment.
To find the best options for children, parents can work closely with others involved in their child's life—healthcare providers, teachers, coaches, and other family members.
Need help?
CDC funds the National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC), a program of CHADD–Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The NRC provides resources, information, and advice for parents on how to help their child.
ADHD Helpline
The NRC operates a call center ( 1-866-200-8098 ) with trained staff to answer questions about ADHD.
More information about the NRC.
Treatment types
Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy, including training for parents Behavioral interventions in the classroom
Medications
Stimulants Non-stimulants
CDC data on ADHD diagnosis and treatment
CDC tracks trends in diagnosis and medication treatment among children and adolescents with ADHD.
Trends in ADHD Among U.S. Children
CDC uses national survey data to look at trends in ADHD data among U.S. children and adolescents.
Treatment recommendations
Behavior therapy
ADHD affects not only a child’s ability to pay attention or sit still at school, but it also affects relationships with family and other children. Children with ADHD often show behaviors that can be very disruptive to others.
AAP treatment recommendations
Behavior therapy is a treatment option that can help reduce problem behaviors and can help increase self-regulation skills. It is often helpful to start behavior therapy as soon as a diagnosis is made.
For children under 6 years of age, the AAP recommends that ADHD be treated with behavior therapy first, before trying medication. The type of behavior therapy that is most effective for children under 6 years of age is parent training in behavior management.
Parent Training in Behavior Management
Behavior therapy is most effective in young children when it is delivered by parents.
Behavior Therapy First for Young Children with ADHD
Learn about using parent behavior therapy first to help young children with ADHD.
Medications used to treat ADHD
Medication can help children manage their ADHD symptoms in their everyday life and can help them control the behaviors that cause difficulties with family, friends, and at school. Some treatments for ADHD, such as stimulant medication, may have side effects that could affect your child's health, such as difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.
Important
Before your child starts any ADHD medication, talk with their healthcare provider about possible side effects.
AAP treatment recommendations
Medications can affect children differently and can have side effects such as decreased appetite or sleep problems. One child may respond well to one medication, but not to another.
The AAP recommends that healthcare providers observe and adjust the dose of medication to find the right balance between benefits and side effects. Several different types of medications are FDA-approved to treat ADHD in children as young as 6 years of age:
Stimulants are the best-known and most widely used ADHD medications. Between 70-80% of children with ADHD have fewer ADHD symptoms when taking these fast-acting medications. Nonstimulants were approved for the treatment of ADHD in 2003.
They do not work as quickly as stimulants, but their effect can last up to 24 hours.
Keep in mind
It is important for parents to work with their child's healthcare providers to find the medication that works best for their child. Healthcare providers may need to try different medications and doses.
Treatment by age group
For children with ADHD younger than 6 years of age, the AAP recommends parent training in behavior management as the first line of treatment, before medication is tried.
For children 6 years of age and older, the recommendations include medication and behavior therapy together—parent training in behavior management for children up to age 12 and other types of behavior therapy and training for adolescents. Schools can be part of the treatment as well.
Clinical Care of ADHD in Children
The AAP provides clinical practice guidelines for children and adolescents with ADHD.
Children younger than 6 years of age
For young children with ADHD, behavior therapy is an important first step before trying medication because:
Parent training in behavior management gives parents the skills and strategies to help their child. Parent training in behavior management has been shown to work as well as medication for ADHD in young children. Young children have more side effects from ADHD medications than older children.
The long-term effects of ADHD medications on young children have not been well-studied.
School-age children and adolescents
For children ages 6 years and older, the AAP recommends combining medication treatment with behavior therapy. Several types of behavior therapies are considered effective, including:
Parent training in behavior management; Behavioral interventions in the classroom; Peer interventions that focus on behavior; and Organizational skills training.
These approaches are often most effective if they are used together, depending on the needs of the individual child and the family. Parents, healthcare providers, and schools can work together on developing the right treatment plan.
Good treatment plans will include close monitoring of whether and how much the treatment helps the child's behavior.
Resources
Understanding ADHD: Information for Parents - healthychildren.org ADHD - National Institute of Mental Health
ADHD in Children
Read about ADHD, its types, symptoms, possible risk factors, screening, treatment, and CDC's work.
ADHD Treatment Overview
The NRC provides information about ADHD treatment.
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My child has been diagnosed with ADHD Treatment types Treatment recommendations Treatment by age group Resources
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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: October 21, 2026 This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: October 21, 2026 The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.
Sources Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. Inattention & Hyperactivity (ADHD). Available at: https://effectivechildtherapy.org/concerns-symptoms-disorders/disorders/inattention-and-hyperactivity-adhd/.
Accessed on September 16, 2025. CHADD. School interventions.
Available at: https://chadd.org/for-parents/school-interventions/. Accessed on November 20, 2025.
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