What's the Right ADHD Medication for Your Child? When Wendy's pediatrician first suggested she have her son tested for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the Florida mom was skeptical. He was 7, and he didn't bounce off the walls or misbehave like other children she knew with the disorder.

But his teachers were concerned about his inability to focus in school. And he was so forgetful that if she asked him to go brush his teeth, he would often lose track of what he was supposed to do by the time he got to the bathroom.

A neuropsychologist did diagnose Wendy's son with ADHD. (It's an umbrella term that covers all cases, even those that don't include hyperactivity). But when the doctor suggested medicine, she put her foot down. "I was adamantly opposed to putting my child on medications and resisted it for months," she says. "I didn't want him to think life's problems were solved with something out of a bottle."

Doctors hear this concern every day, says Edward Hallowell, MD, co-author of Delivered From Distraction. "Most parents don't want to give their children medication at first, but the research and the facts are very reassuring." When used properly, medication is safe and effective. "It can dramatically help children 80% of the time," he says.

After her doctor explained the risks and potential rewards to her, Wendy agreed to give medications a try -- and she says it has changed her son's life for the better.

How Well Are You Managing Your Child's ADHD?