Parents’ Experience and Needs After ADHD Diagnosis

Abstract

With a focus on exploring how the mental health field could better assist parents throughout their journey in raising a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder this phenomenological study comprised six study participants that had children diagnosed with ADHD. In addition, this study’s objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges parents face throughout the process. This included what they experienced prior to, during, and after their child was diagnosed with ADHD. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, this study captured the unique challenges parents’ faced in each stage. In addition, this study demonstrates significant importance in the parental role throughout the diagnostic process. Clinicians would benefit from designing their approach considering how parents process, make meaning of, and assign their role in helping their child. Further research needs were identified in both the areas of academic influence in the diagnostic process and barriers to treatment that may be linked to understanding the diagnosis.