Understanding ADHD
ADHD in children
An estimated 3 to 5 per cent of children have ADHD. ADHD Medisch Centrum only helps adults aged 18 and over. On this page, you can read as a parent how to find your way.
What you may see
Being overactive, not listening, not being able to sit still, reacting impulsively or making careless mistakes. ADHD often becomes noticeable when a child starts primary school.
Many young children are very active; that does not automatically mean ADHD. During puberty many young people become less overactive, but the problems with attention and concentration often remain.
How to find your way
Discuss your concerns
With the youth health doctor (jeugdarts) at the child health clinic (consultatiebureau) or at school, your municipality's neighbourhood team (wijkteam) or your GP.Assessment in youth care
A child psychologist or child psychiatrist assesses whether it is ADHD. The municipality arranges youth care up to the age of 18.Explanation and guidance first
Treatment starts with explanation, parent training and an approach at school. If that does not help enough, medication may follow.
What you can do at home
- Be clear and positive.
- Provide fixed rules and a regular routine.
- Let your child be properly active for an hour every day.
- Provide healthy food.
At 18: the transition
From the age of 18, care moves from youth mental health care, arranged by the municipality, to adult mental health care, reimbursed by the health insurer. Prepare for this transition in good time, so that care continues without a gap.
From the age of 18, your child can come to us with a referral. Who is our care for?
Do you recognise yourself in your child?
Questions from parents
- No, we only help adults aged 18 and over. For children, you can go to the youth health doctor, your municipality's neighbourhood team or your GP.
- No. 70 to 80 per cent of the differences between people in ADHD are due to genetic predisposition. A clear, positive approach at home does help in dealing with the symptoms.
- No. Research in children and young people found no link between sugar and ADHD.
Sources
- Thuisarts – ADHD in children (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- NHG guideline (Dutch College of General Practitioners) – ADHD in children (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- JGZ guideline ADHD (youth health care) – diagnosis according to the DSM-5 (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Kenniscentrum Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie – Young adults (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Wolraich et al. (1995) – Sugar and behaviour in children, JAMA (opens in a new window)
Checked in October 2026.
Understanding ADHD
Read more
- What is ADHD?ADHD explained: the three core features, the three types according to the DSM-5, what happens in the brain, what causes ADHD and which misconceptions exist.
- ADHD in adultsWhat ADHD looks like in adults: inner restlessness, planning and organising, emotions. Why it is often only discovered late, and how common it is.
- ADHD in womenWhy ADHD in girls and women is often recognised later: the inattentive type, adapting and compensating, and the role of hormones.
Do you recognise yourself in this?
The self-test gives you a first impression in about five minutes. It is not a diagnosis; discuss the result with your GP.