Check your child's sports helmet
Make protective gear part of active play, and be clear about its limits.
Not ratedgeneral health evidence
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Try to remember when your child's helmet fit was last checked.
5 minutes
Open the activity-specific CDC helmet guide and identify the fit checks.
15 minutes
With your child present, check the helmet using the guide and manufacturer's instructions.
How sure the science is
Not rated, general health evidence
No pooled trials to rate. This rests on single studies, expert consensus or clinical practice. Measured in the general population; we say so because ADHD trials of this do not exist or are too small.
General CDC protective-equipment guidance with ADHD injury-risk reviews; no ADHD-specific helmet trial estimate.
The number, drawn
Helmets should fit properly and be worn consistently and correctly
Why it matters
In children generally, helmets can reduce serious harm from head injuries, as long as they suit the activity and fit properly. ADHD is associated with more accidental injuries, so dependable protection matters more. A helmet cannot prevent every injury or guarantee protection against concussion.
How to do it
- Check the helmet is made and certified for the activity.
- Use the CDC fitting guide for that activity and the maker's instructions.
- Check fit and condition, and help your child wear it every time they do the activity.
A helmet does not rule out concussion or other injury. Get medical advice after a worrying head injury.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- Check the bike helmet before a ride rather than assuming last year's fit is still right.
- Use a helmet made for the sport your child is doing.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeNo helmet is concussion-proof. Keep safe play and supervision in place.
- Common mistakeA loose or damaged helmet may not protect properly. Check the fit and condition.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- B Trials in ADHD with low certainty, or strong general health evidence with a sourced reason it matters more with ADHD.
- The number
- Helmets should fit properly and be worn consistently and correctly (CDC, 2025)
- Benefit
- 65/100 The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of what will happen for you.
- Effort
- Some effort
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineSafety Guidelines: HelmetsCDC, 2025
- Tier 2 studyThe impacts associated with having ADHD: an umbrella reviewFrontiers in Psychiatry, 2024
- Tier 1 guidelinePhysical activity guidelines for children and young peopleNHS, 2024
General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you. Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.