# Check your child's sports helmet

Published by Pawel Jozefiak. [About this project](https://adhd100.jock.pl/about/), [How we check sources](https://adhd100.jock.pl/methodology/)

- Canonical: https://adhd100.jock.pl/child-head-injury-protection/
- Language: en
- First published: 2026-09-29
- Evidence checked: 2026-09-29, using AI-assisted source verification
- Clinical review: Not clinically reviewed
- Number 33 of 100 in the list: https://adhd100.jock.pl/#child-head-injury-protection

Make protective gear part of active play, and be clear about its limits.

**The number:** Helmets should fit properly and be worn consistently and correctly ([CDC, 2025](https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/safety/index.html))

## The evidence

- How sure: Certainty of evidence: Not rated. Measured in the general population; we say so because ADHD trials of this do not exist or are too small.
- Evidence grade: B. Grade B: trials in ADHD with low certainty, or strong general health evidence with a sourced reason it matters more with ADHD.
- Basis: General CDC protective-equipment guidance with ADHD injury-risk reviews; no ADHD-specific helmet trial estimate.
- 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.

## 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

1. Check the helmet is made and certified for the activity.
2. Use the CDC fitting guide for that activity and the maker's instructions.
3. Check fit and condition, and help your child wear it every time they do the activity.

## Talk to a clinician first

A helmet does not rule out concussion or other injury. Get medical advice after a worrying head injury.

## Putting it into practice

### Start now

- 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.

### What it looks like

- 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.

### Common mistakes

- No helmet is concussion-proof. Keep safe play and supervision in place.
- A loose or damaged helmet may not protect properly. Check the fit and condition.

### Trusted how-to guides

- [Safety Guidelines: Helmets](https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/safety/index.html), CDC

## Sources

- [Safety Guidelines: Helmets](https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/safety/index.html), CDC, 2025 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [The impacts associated with having ADHD: an umbrella review](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1343314/full), Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024 (Tier 2 study)
- [Physical activity guidelines for children and young people](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people/), NHS, 2024 (Tier 1 guideline)

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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.

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