ADHD Psychiatrist for Children & Adolescents

What is ADHD in Children and Adolescents?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a psychiatric condition that can be diagnosed in children, adolescents, and adults. Approximately 3-5% of children and adolescents meet criteria for ADHD. Children and adolescents who struggle with ADHD will often have difficulty with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Not all children and adolescents with ADHD struggle with all three types of symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Child & Adolescent ADHD?

Children whose ADHD symptoms include hyperactivity and impulsivity may be more likely to be diagnosed. A child or adolescent who has difficulty sitting still in the classroom or who may distract others may get additional attention (or concern) from their teacher, leading to an evaluation for childhood ADHD.

Children whose ADHD symptoms predominantly consist of inattention may be less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. A teacher may not realize that a child is struggling with ADHD if they’re sitting quietly in the classroom, even if their mind is wandering and their performance is below their capabilities.

Additional symptoms that may indicate that a child or adolescent may benefit from an ADHD evaluation by a fellowship-trained and board-certified child & adolescent psychiatrist include

• Increased Anxiety
• Low Mood
• Poor Self-Esteem
• Behaviorally Acting Out
• School avoidance
• Poor academic performance
• Others

Child & Adolescent ADHD Psychiatric Treatment Options

Treatment for ADHD in Children and Adolescents should be tailored to the individual by an expert psychiatrist and mental health provider. Your child’s treatment may include:

Child ADHD Evaluations & Accommodations

Evaluations for Children and Adolescents with ADHD start with a thorough 60-90 minute initial evaluation by a Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, or a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, with expertise in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Part of this evaluation will include a discussion about the non-pharmacological management of ADHD in your child, including services and accommodations for school. This may include IEP and 504 planning (a specific plan to help your child succeed at school). Your Psychiatrist or Child & Adolescent provider at RPA will be able to help coordinate this plan with your school and/or pediatrician as applicable. If medication management is also applicable to your child’s care, your provider will discuss the risks and benefits of psychiatric medication management for ADHD in children. Your provider may also discuss psychotherapy for your child, which can be utilized with or without psychiatric medication management for ADHD in children.

Therapy for ADHD in Children & Adolescents

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates offers in-office and online therapy for children and adolescents with ADHD. Therapy may include behavioral and organizational strategies for ADHD, ADHD specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and skills training, and other modalities of psychotherapy. Most of our Fellowship Trained Psychiatrists and nurse practitioners who see children provide both medication management and therapy to their patients.

Psychiatric Medication Management for Children with ADHD

The Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists at Rittenhouse understand that the decision to start medication management for ADHD treatment in children is a sensitive one. They will discuss the risks and benefits of ADHD treatment for your child, and answer any questions that you may have. If you mutually decide to start treatment for your child with a medication for ADHD (such as a stimulant or a non-stimulant medication), they will utilize the lowest effective doses for your child in order to effectively treat their ADHD, yet limit the risks for potential side effects of ADHD medication management.

The providers at Rittenhouse will also work to help you navigate the ADHD stimulant medication shortage. For information, please see our ADHD shortage guide. 

ADHD Medication Management for Children & Adolescents Available in these States:

• Delaware
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania

* The prescription of controlled medications via online psychiatric appointments is dependent on state and federal regulations and provider licensing. Call our scheduling specialists for up-to-date information.