ADHD Injuries

Summer is high season for accidents. And children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are especially prone to getting hurt. We got safety tips from Eugene Hershorin, M.D., medical director of the behavioral pediatrics clinic at the University of Miami.

Keep your child on his medication throughout the summer. Even when school's out, he still needs to focus. "Medication helps control hyperactive and impulsive behavior that can lead to injuries," Dr. Hershorin says.
Choose group sports wisely. Kids with ADHD are likely to get distracted (and hurt) in team sports. A child with ADHD who plays baseball, for example, may not be paying attention to a ball heading toward him. Better sports for a child with ADHD are track or tennis.
Be there for her. Because kids with ADHD often act without thinking, it's important to pay attention to their every move. For group sports, ask the coach to assign your child a simple job while she's not playing so that she won't get hyperactive. Or offer to be an assistant coach to keep a closer watch.

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