Standard treatments for ADHD in children include:
- Medications
- Behavior therapy
- Counseling
- Education services.
These treatments can relieve many of the symptoms of ADHD, but they don't cure it. It may take some time to determine what works best for your child.
Medications that may be effective in treating ADHD include:
- Stimulants (methylphenidate)
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)
- Antidepressants (e.g. bupropion, venlafaxine)
- Guanfacine (a medicine used to lower blood pressure).
Methylphenidate
When your child begins to take a methylphenidate based medication, the physician is attempting to treat his or her medical condition by increasing the level of dopamine that is available to help brain cells communicate. This increased dopamine activity occurs in regions of the brain responsible for attention and concentration (generally the frontal lobes), in brain structures involved in mood regulation (primarily the thalamus and limbic system), and in neurological centers responsible for planned movement (the rolandic cortex).
Atomoxetine & Antidepressants
Atomoxetine and antidepressants work slower than stimulants do and may take several weeks before they take full effect. These may be good options if your child cannot take stimulants because of health problems or if stimulants cause severe side effects.
Although it remains unproven, concerns have been raised that there may be a slightly increased risk of suicidal thinking in children and teenagers taking non-stimulant ADHD medication or antidepressants. Contact your child's doctor if you notice any signs of suicidal thinking or other signs of depression.
Therapy
Children with ADHD often benefit from behavior therapy, social skills training, parent skills training, and counseling, which may be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or other mental health professional. Some children with ADHD may also have other conditions such as anxiety disorder or depression. In these cases, counseling may help both ADHD and the coexisting problem.
Examples of therapy include:
Behavior therapy. Teachers and parents can learn behavior-changing strategies, such as token reward systems and timeouts, for dealing with difficult situations.
Social skills training. This can help children learn appropriate social behaviors.
Parenting skills training. This can help parents develop ways to understand and guide their child's behavior.
Psychotherapy. This allows older children with ADHD to talk about issues that bother them, explore negative behavior patterns, and learn ways to deal with their symptoms.
Family therapy. Family therapy can help parents and siblings deal with the stress of living with someone who has ADHD.
There are three basic principles to any behavior therapy approach:
Set specific goals. Set clear goals for your child such as staying focused on homework for a certain time or sharing toys with friends.
Provide rewards and consequences. Give your child a specified reward (positive reinforcement) when he or she shows the desired behavior. Give your child a consequence (unwanted result or punishment) when he or she fails to meet a goal.
Keep using the rewards and consequences approach. Using the rewards and consequences approach consistently for a long time will shape your child’s behavior in a positive way.
The best results for treating a child with ADHD occur when a team approach is used, with teachers, parents, therapists, and physicians working together. It will be important for you to gain more knowledge about ADHD and the services available. Many children with ADHD do grow up normally, receive a proper education, and become productive members of our society.
