At a glance
- Parents play an important role in helping protect their children from health risks.
- Every child with ADHD is different, and experts can't predict whether or how individual children will be affected by different health risks.
- Talk with your child's healthcare provider about the best way to protect your child's health.
Overview
Being healthy is important for all children and can be especially important for children with ADHD. The core symptoms of ADHD, including impulsivity and inattention, might lead children to behave in ways that can put their health at risk or cause them to forget healthy and protective behaviors. Over time, if not addressed, these risks can lead to injury, disease, or even an earlier-than-expected death.
Parents can talk with their child's healthcare provider to learn more about health risks associated with ADHD and about healthy habits that can help protect their child from long-term health risks.
Helping to protect against health risks associated with ADHD might include
- Preventing unintentional injuries
- Supporting mental health
- Supporting oral health
- Promoting physical activity, nutrition, and sleep
Helping to protect against health risks
Preventing unintentional injuries
Children and adolescents with ADHD are likely to get hurt more often and more severely than peers without ADHD. More research is needed to understand why children with ADHD get injured, but it is likely that being inattentive and impulsive puts children at increased risk for injuries.
Impulsivity and inattention can put children with ADHD at risk for injuries, such as
- Unintentional injuries including falls, drowning, burns, and poisoning. Learn how to keep children safe from injuries.
- Brain injuries. Learn how to recognize, respond to, and minimize the risk of concussion.
- Car crashes, particularly as teenagers and young adults. For example, teenagers with ADHD who drive may take unnecessary risks, may forget rules, or may not pay attention to traffic. Learn how to help teens develop safe driving habits.
Supporting mental health
Children with ADHD are at increased risk for mental, behavioral, and emotional concerns and disorders.
Other co-occurring conditions with ADHD include
- Behavior disorders, which may increase the risk of interpersonal violence and delinquent behavior. Learn about youth violence prevention.
- Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression. Learn about children's mental disorders.
These co-occurring conditions may put children at risk for
- Being the victim of bullying. Learn about ways to prevent or stop bullying.
- Using tobacco and other high-risk substances. Learn about ways to prevent youth tobacco use and high-risk substance use.
- Suicide. Learn about youth suicide prevention.
- Sexual risk behavior. Learn about how parents can help prevent teens from taking sexual risks.
Supporting oral health
Children with ADHD have increased risk of injury to the mouth and teeth, as well as cavities (also known as 'caries' or 'tooth decay').
Promoting physical activity, nutrition, and sleep
Children with ADHD are at increased risk for being overweight or having obesity. Healthy habits for children include
- Developing healthy eating habits, such as eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and choosing lean protein sources.
- Participating in daily physical activity based on age.
- Limiting the amount of daily screen time from TVs, computers, phones, and other electronics.
- Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night based on age.
Talk with a healthcare provider
Every child with ADHD is different, and experts can't predict whether or how individual children will be affected by different health risks. Talk with your provider about the best way to protect your child's health.
Additionally, 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. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about these side effects.
Additional resources and support
CDC funds the National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC), a program of CHADD—Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Their website has links to information for people with ADHD and their families. The NRC also operates a call center (1-866-200-8098) with trained staff to answer questions about ADHD.
Need help?
CHADD's NRC was established to be the national clearinghouse for the latest evidence-based information on ADHD.
More information
- US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Suicidality in Children and Adolescents Being Treated With Antidepressant Medications. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/suicidality-children-and-adolescents-being-treated-antidepressant-medications. Accessed on November 21, 2023.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Beyond Screen Time: Help Your Kids Build Healthy Media Use Habits. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/healthy-digital-media-use-habits-for-babies-toddlers-preschoolers.aspx. Accessed on October 7, 2024.
- Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP). Inattention & Hyperactivity (ADHD). Available at: https://effectivechildtherapy.org/concerns-symptoms-disorders/disorders/inattention-and-hyperactivity-adhd/. Accessed on October 25, 2024.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Learning Disabilities. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/learning-disabilities. Accessed on October 25, 2024.