It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and new research suggests that also is the case when it comes to helping children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD.
According to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a team approach - involving parents, clinicians and doctors - significantly improves impulsiveness, social skills and overall behavior.
Psychologist Carla Allan said these findings confirm what many parents often say - that they want more than just medication for their children with ADHD.
"Treatments designed to teach their children new skills - ways of managing their behavior better, ways of making and keeping friends - those are kinds of things that parents really want for their kids to have," she said.
According to statistics (posted on Healthline.com), Kentucky has the highest rate of ADHD in the nation at 14.8 percent. An estimated 6.4 million American children, ages four to 17, have been diagnosed with the disorder.
Allan said parents' involvement in ADHD treatment is critical, no matter what sort of intervention is used.
"Even if you're just using medication, it's dependent on the parent remembering to give the child the medicine every day, being able to get the child to take the medicine when the child maybe wants to do something else," she said. "It's dependent on parents being able to remember, 'Oh my gosh, their prescription's almost out.' "
Kentucky has the second-highest rate of treatment with medication at 10.1 percent.
