Parents and doctors now have more tools than ever before to help kids manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But experts say there’s a looming question about the next generation of treatments: Are these new drugs and devices any better than what’s come before?
At least four new treatments — two drugs, a nerve stimulation device, and a prescription video game — have come to market in recent years to manage or treat symptoms of ADHD. The condition, which is marked by an inability to focus, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, has historically been treated with stimulants. But with new drug formulations and entirely novel approaches, experts say it’s proven difficult to grasp how different options stack up to one another, because there are rarely any studies that compare ADHD treatments head to head.