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Treatments for ADHD
Approximately two million children are estimated to have Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the USA, according to the
National Mental Health Institute. Various treatment options exist to
treat the symptoms of ADHD including pharmaceutical drugs, psychotherapy
and alternative medicines.
Each child may respond to treatment
differently so it's important for a medical professional to oversee the
treatment process to ensure the treatment is working as planned. Often,
treatments are done in combination with one another and will be modified
as needed.
Using Medications to Control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children
Pharmaceutical
drugs are often prescribed to control ADHD symptoms. The most common
prescribed drug is a stimulant which can calm ADHD children. The other
type of drugs are non-stimulants, which work differently than stimulant
drugs. A combination of different drugs is another option if using only
one drug does not control the ADHD symptoms by itself.
Some ADHD drugs used to control symptoms are:
- Adderall
- Concerta
- Dexedrine
- Focalin
- Ritalin
- Strattera
Some
of the medications used to control ADHD symptoms are long lasting
(extended release) while others are short acting. Each medication has
its own list of side effects which must be understood by the patient and
caregiver. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires all
manufacturers of ADHD drugs to provide a Patient Medication Guide to
warn of possible side effects, including life threatening ones.
Psychotherapy for Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms for Children
Behavioral
therapy is an option to combat the symptoms of ADHD, by helping a child
learn how to change their behavior. This type of therapy is done not
only by a professional but also by caregivers and educators to help the
child learn proper social skills, ways to deal with emotions and how to
keep themselves organized.
Caregivers are often coached in certain areas like:
- helping their child complete tasks by breaking them down and making them more manageable
- setting limits on stimulating activities such as T.V watching, video game playing or the size of playgroups
- using a rewards & consequences approach
- applying stress management to ensure dealing with a child's behavior is done in a calm manner
Natural Alternative Remedies to Treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Kids
A
newer trend in treating ADHD is via alternative remedies. While very
few studies are conclusive on many alternative practices, they are still
used by many to treat the symptoms of ADHD.
Various natural alternatives available include
- Dietary
Reductions:reducing and/or eliminating certain products that are
suspected to cause disruptive behavior (such as milk, chocolate, eggs,
artificial colorings, wheat)
- Dietary
Inclusions:increasing certain products suspected to aid in controlling
ADHD symptoms (such as Zinc and Essential Fatty Acids)
- Neurofeedback: a process in which a child learns to control his/her own brain wave activity
- Musical Therapy: believed by some to improve attention, motor control & behavior
- Non-Drug Therapy:Daily massage, meditation and relaxation therapy
- Herbal Therapy: Use of herbal remedies & supplements
Treatments to Control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
As
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is still relatively new to
medical professionals, so are the solutions for treating it. What works
for one individual may not work for someone else which can make it
difficult to find a solution that works.
Caregivers should always
contact a medical professional first to confirm their child has ADHD
and to evaluate their child's overall health. From there, a caregiver
will have the option of choosing to treat the ADHD with either
pharmaceutical drugs, behavioral therapy, alternative remedies or even a
combination of therapies.
Disclaimer:
The
information contained in this article is for educational purposes only
and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the
opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his
or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
References:
National Institute of Mental Health. "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (accessed September 8, 2010).
University of Maryland Medical Center "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Other Treatments" (accessed September 8, 2010).
ADHD Child. "ADHD Statistics" (accessed September 8, 2010).
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About the Author Author of "The Cosmetic Chemicals Guide", and "Helping Your ADHD/ADD Child,
Tamara Laschinsky has published over 550 articles since 2010. Her work
has been published in a variety of magazines, health newsletters and
online publications across the world and her books are also sold world-wide.
Tamara is the owner of the natural health & wellness store,
Natural e GREEN, based in Airdrie, Alberta. She divides her time between
running the store and researching new stories for her readers. Dedicated to helping consumers make safe choices and to providing information for the younger generation, Tamara continues to find the safest products available and share them with her readers and customers.
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