How Can Having a Child with ADHD Impact on Families?

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs there is, filled with equal parts joy, learning experiences, and challenges but when one child has ADHD, it can create a shift in dynamics that affects the whole family. Helping a child with ADHD can be difficult for parents, it can also cause stress to siblings and conflict within the entire family.

Understanding your child’s ADHD and the challenges they pose to your family is a challenging job but one that can help you work toward a happier, supported environment for the whole family. Let’s take a look at the effects having a child with ADHD can have on your family and ways you can manage its impact.

What Impact Can Having a Child with ADHD Have on the Whole Family?

When one person in a family has ADHD, it can impact how satisfied other family members feel about their everyday lives. Having a child with ADHD can draw so much attention away from partners and other children, they can feel neglected, causing relationship problems and conflict.

Emotional Impacts.

Parenting a child with ADHD can be emotionally demanding and can lead to feelings of frustration, guilt, and exhaustion as they navigate their child’s ADHD symptoms, whilst also trying to nurture other children’s and partners’ emotions. A child with ADHD needs much more help and supervision than a neurotypical child which can be draining.

Siblings of children with ADHD may feel overlooked and they may struggle with feelings of resentment, embarrassment, or frustration toward their sibling, particularly in social situations where their sibling’s actions draw unwanted attention. 

Financial Impacts.

Raising a child with ADHD can be expensive as they may need investment in ADHD medication, therapy, ADHD assessments, specialised education or alternative education settings to support their needs. Parents may also have to adjust their work schedules to accommodate ADHD appointments within schools or clinics which could result in a reduced household income.

Practical Impacts.

Children with ADHD will find it difficult to organise themselves, keep track of time, and regulate their emotions, which can have a profound impact on daily schedules, including getting ready for school, completing homework, or attending social events. All these everyday tasks therefore need much more time and patience than with neurotypical children, adding to parents’ and siblings’ stress.

Social Impacts.

Making and maintaining friendships may be difficult for a child with ADHD due to their impulsivity and difficulty reading social cues which can lead to feeling isolated among their peers and could result in low self-esteem. 

Educational Impacts.

Children with ADHD may struggle in school due to difficulties with focus, impulsivity, and following instructions which can lead to academic setbacks and behavioural issues. This could require additional parental involvement in their education with parents often needing to advocate for their child and working with teachers to ensure they receive the necessary support. 

Relationship Strains and Achieving Sibling Equilibrium.

As mentioned briefly, siblings of an ADHD child can often feel the stress of their home environment. They may feel guilty because they seem more “normal” than their sibling or they are struggling with a lack of attention and act out to gain extra attention from their parents. They could get angry much more easily because they need to help out more around the house and feel embarrassed when their friends meet their whole family.

Couples may disagree on parenting approaches, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings and a lack of personal time and constant stress can also impact their emotional connection. Extended family members may also struggle to understand your child’s ADHD, not fully understanding it as a neurological condition.

Encourage family time to create more family connections by setting specific time aside for each child individually. 10 or 15 minutes per child can ensure they are seen and heard and encouraging time together as a family where you can communicate openly and have fun can help to mitigate feelings of stress and frustration. 

Managing Your Child’s ADHD and the Impact on Your Family.

There are many challenges when it comes to parenting a child with ADHD, but there are strategies you can adopt to help create a more harmonious and supportive environment for the whole family.

• Behaviour Management – using point systems and praise can help with organisation to encourage targeted behaviour and techniques such as the Pomodoro method can help them to focus for a short period, enabling them to complete the same tasks as their siblings.

• ADHD Education and Awareness – educating yourself and the rest of the family on ADHD can help other family members understand the effect ADHD has on their siblings and can help to manage expectations and adopt effective parenting strategies.

• Create Consistent Routines – creating a structured routine for the whole family can help manage stress and help others understand their responsibilities. A consistent routine will also help an ADHD child feel included and their siblings feel less of the burden.

• Encourage Strengths – focusing on your child’s strengths and positive traits can boost self-esteem and build confidence.

• Working with Teachers – ensure teachers know of your child’s diagnosis and their specific needs and support. Having the right tools to learn can help an ADHD child feel less dependent on support at home.

• Practice Self-Care – practice mindfulness and take breaks throughout the day to manage your stress and anxiety. Taking care of yourself and avoiding burnout is the best thing you can do for your family and their overall well-being.

• Support Groups – connecting with other families who have children with ADHD can help you feel seen and share the load, which can help toward your mental well-being.

• ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis – seek a comprehensive child ADHD assessment and diagnosis to fully understand your child’s ADHD and get tailored and personalised approaches to management. 

How a Private ADHD Clinic in Manchester Can Help.

Beyond is a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, offering comprehensive child ADHD assessments and utilising evidence-based diagnostic tools along with input from families and teachers to gain a clear picture of your child’s ADHD.

For children, we offer ADHD assessments up until their 18^th birthday so if you would like to speak to one of our professional and friendly medical experts, contact us today for advice and support, or arrange an ADHD assessment for your child.