ADD & ADHD Health Center

Other methods of treatment that may be used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder include behavior management, social skills training, and counseling.

Treatment for ADHD is based on your or your child's symptoms and problem behaviors. Medicine is the most effective treatment for the major ADHD symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Other treatment is sometimes recommended if:

• Symptoms are mild.
• Symptoms do not respond to medicine.
• Medicines cause significant side effects.
• Another condition, such as anxiety, occurs along with ADHD. Medicine combined with other treatment often is used.

Other Treatment Choices

Behavioral interventions

Behavioral interventions help train parents, teachers, and other adults responsible for a child with ADHD. Programs emphasize the need to establish routines and rules for behavior and to closely monitor how a child responds. The adult consistently delivers rewards or consequences depending upon how the child complies with the rules. This type of treatment has been shown to be more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Cognitive-based therapies depend more upon the child to self-direct behavioral changes. A child with ADHD is not likely to have the skills to change his or her behavior without help and guidance from adults.

Behavioral interventions most often used to help treat ADHD in a child include:

• Behavior management. Time-out and reward systems can help a child with ADHD learn appropriate behaviors for the classroom and home. Parent training in behavior management skills is conducted during a series of 6 to 12 counseling sessions of 1 to 2 hours a week.
• Social skills training. These techniques help the child learn to be less aggressive and impulsive, to manage anger, and to behave in a more socially acceptable way.
• Counseling, including family therapy. All household members can benefit from learning methods to deal effectively with ADHD behavior.

Behavioral intervention for adults focuses on assistance with organizational skills and healthy relationships.

Complementary and alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine is used by some therapists or others who do not operate within mainstream medical practice. But none of these complementary therapies have been shown through clinical research to be effective in treating ADHD and should not replace proven conventional methods. More research is needed before any can be recommended as primary treatment for ADHD. But a person with ADHD may benefit from safe, nontraditional therapies used in addition to conventional medical treatment. For example, acupuncture or biofeedback may help relieve stress and muscle tension and improve a person's overall well-being and quality of life.

If you are thinking about using complementary and alternative medicine to help treat ADHD, be open with your doctor about the subject. He or she can help direct you to treatments that are safe to use in combination with proven techniques. Only those treatments that best help control ADHD symptoms without causing physical or emotional harm should be used.

What To Think About

Overall, medicines are the most effective treatment for ADHD, although individuals vary in their response to medicine. Behavioral training, training and education for parents, and counseling are sometimes used as the primary treatment for mild symptoms. Usually, these methods are used in addition to medicine for people with moderate to severe symptoms.

Parents may understandably be reluctant to give their child medicine. But studies show that for short-term use, these medicines are safe and can positively affect behavior and improve the quality of life for people with ADHD and for their families. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about any concerns in order to best understand and treat ADHD.