ADHD Treatment

ADHD Treatment

Treatment for ADHD

While there is no cure for ADHD, currently available treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning.

1. Psychological assessment

  • Conner’s parent & teacher Rating Scale
  • Vineland Social Maturity Scale
  • Behavioral Checklist in Children.

Medication for ADHD

ADHD medications reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, work, and learn

Stimulants.  They Increase increases the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, which play essential roles in thinking and attention.

Non-stimulants.  These medications take longer to start working than stimulants, but can also improve focus, attention, and impulsivity in a person with ADHD.

Some antidepressants are sometimes used alone or in combination with a stimulant to treat ADHD.

Psychotherapy for ADHD

Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to help organizing tasks or completing schoolwork, or working through emotionally difficult events. Behavioral therapy also teaches a person how to:

  • monitor his or her own behavior
  • give oneself praise or rewards for acting in a desired way, such as controlling anger or thinking before acting

Social skills training Therapists may also teach children social skills, such as how to wait their turn, share toys, ask for help, or respond to teasing. Learning to read facial expressions and the tone of voice in others, and how to respond appropriately can also be part of social skills training.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can also teach a person mindfulness techniques, or meditation. A person learns how to be aware and accepting of one’s own thoughts and feelings to improve focus and concentration.

Family and marital therapy can help family members and spouses find better ways to handle disruptive behaviors, to encourage behavior changes, and improve interactions with the patient.

Special Education and Training Children and adults with ADHD need guidance and understanding from their parents, families, and teachers to reach their full potential and to succeed. For school-age children, frustration, blame, and anger may have built up within a family before a child is diagnosed.

Parenting skills training (behavioral parent management training) teaches parents the skills they need to encourage and reward positive behaviors in their children to change a child’s behavior. They may also learn to structure situations in ways that support desired behavior.

Stress management techniques can benefit parents of children with ADHD by increasing their ability to deal with frustration so that they can respond calmly to their child’s behavior.