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If your child has ADHD, it's not your fault

	ADHD is a medical condition. Nothing you or your child has done has caused it. Turn to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to better understand the neurological basis of ADHD, its symptoms and its treatments.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today and find out if stimulant drugs or behavioral therapy rates best for treating this condition.

If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you’re not alone. Consumer Reports Health is here to help with the best research about ADHD, and expert evidence and advice about how to treat it.

Key points for parents whose child has ADHD

• ADHD is a medical condition. Children with the disorder find it hard to pay attention, are overly active, and act before they think.
• Not all children with behavior problems have ADHD. Their behavior may be just a phase or part of some other problem.
• The symptoms of ADHD tend to get better as children get older.
• Treatments for ADHD include drugs and talking treatments.
• Treatments can't cure ADHD, but they can help your child develop and learn normally.

ADHD is the most common behavior problem diagnosed among school-age children in the United States. Learning that your child has ADHD can be distressing. But ADHD is nobody's fault. Nothing you or your child has done has caused it. Doctors aren't sure exactly what goes wrong in ADHD. They think that the behavior problems may be linked to the way that the front part of the brain works.

If your child has ADHD, it's important to get treatment. While treatments can't cure ADHD, they should help your child behave better so that he or she can develop and learn normally. The two main treatments for ADHD are stimulant drugs and a talking treatment called behavioral therapy.

We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your child’s doctor to learn more about ADHD. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatments are best for your child.