5 Steps to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment
It your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cannot be permanently cured, it can be effectively treated with a five-prong approach. Please note that the advice in this article is not meant to replace evaluation and treatment from a competent mental health professional.
There are several medications on the market that can help balance the chemicals in your child's brain and make it easier for him or her to concentrate and focus. The most common treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder consists of low levels of stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall, etc.). However a new drug on the market, Strattera, is not stimulant-based and seems to produce the same improvement in symptoms.
Getting your child's attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms under control is the first vital step in treating the disorder.
Watch you child's eating patterns. Do certain foods seem to make his or her symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity worse? Many children, for instance, become more hyper and have a harder time with self control when they eat sugar or caffeine. Wean the foods that seem to spell trouble from child's diet.
Explain attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to your child in language he or she can understand. You might say, for instance, that everyone's brain works a little differently. Some brains are good at math, and others are better at reading. Your child's brain has a hard time concentrating and focusing. It doesn't have anything to do with being good or bad, or being better or worse than anybody else. It's just a fact of life that your child must deal with. That's why he or she takes medication, and that's why you sometimes remind him or her to "slow down" or "take a moment and think about that." A child who understands his or her condition is much easier to treat than a child who doesn't.
It's a good idea to get your child into counseling with someone who can help your child challenge illogical thoughts, such as "Why should I even try? I'm just going to fail". The professional can teach your child how to learn new self talk, for instance, "I can do this; I may have to take my medicine and concentrate a little harder than my friends, but I can do it" as well as new behaviors.
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment, Step 5: Support
If possible, get your child into a support group with other kids who suffer from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. This will help your child realize he or she is not alone. Your child may even learn new coping techniques from other group members.
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