There is no "cure" for ADHD, however, there are many treatment approaches that may alleviate or significantly decrease ADHD symptoms. As a result, improvements are evident in school/work performance, relationships with others improve, and self esteem increases.
No single treatment works for every individual. Treatment options should be explored with a health care provider who will consider the patient's needs, and family, medical, and personal history. Some people respond well to medications, some to behavioral interventions, many respond to a combination of the two. Counseling, education, and support services are often helpful. Typically, a multimodal approach to treatment works best.
Additional Reading: Optimal Treatment of ADHD
Click on Larry's Story to learn more about the importance of accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Click on Finding a Treament Provider to learn about professionals who can help.
Medications:
Stimulant medications have been found to be very effective in alleviating ADHD symptoms. Common stimulants include Ritalin, Dexedrine, Concerta, Metadate, Focalin, and Adderall. Some people respond to one kind of stimulant and not another.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a medication that is not a stimulant for the treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults. The drug is called Strattera.
It is important for individuals on medication to be medically supervised. Effectiveness of medication, side effects, dosages, etc. need to be monitored by a medical doctor.
Related Reading:
Tips for Reducing Common Side Effects of ADHD Medicine
Behavioral Interventions:
ADHD, while not caused by environmental factors, can certainly be influenced by them. A chaotic, unstructured, unorganized setting can exacerbate symptoms. On the flip side, a setting that is structured, predictable, and motivating can greatly help. Click on the following links to learn more.Parenting Children and Teens with ADD/ADHD
Tips for Organizing the ADHD Household
Strategies for Success in the Workplace
Many people with ADHD respond well to a reward system with clear consequences for behaviors. Positive behaviors are rewarded with the goal of increasing the occurrence of them. Negative behaviors may receive consequences with the goal of decreasing them. This type of system is called behavior modification and it has been found to work well with children and many adults. Click on Behavioral Modifications and Interventions to learn more
Social Skills Training:
Social skills training focuses on helping an individual with ADHD learn new, more appropriate behaviors and ways of interacting with others. The goal is to improve the basic ways an individual relates and interacts with others on a daily basis.Counseling/Psychotherapy:
Counseling and/or psychotherapy provides an individual with ADHD a place to process feelings and develop strategies for dealing with the effects of ADHD. ADHD often results in broken friendships, poor relationships, and a plunging self esteem.Parent Training:
ADHD can be exhausting. Parents dealing with children with ADHD may benefit from education and training. This training gives parents tools and techniques for managing behavior problems at home. Parents may also benefit from support and acknowledgement that they are on the right track. Click on the links below to learn more.Tips For Improving Communication with Your Child
Tips for Maintaining a Scream-Free Home
Support Groups:
People, either loved ones of those with ADHD such as parents, spouses, etc., as well as individuals with ADHD may find strength, education, and encouragement in support groups. Sharing with others who are going through the same situations can be a tremendous booster.If an individual does not respond to a multi treatment approach, the original diagnosis of ADHD should be reviewed. Coexisting conditions that may be contributing to the lack of improvement should also be reassessed. The individual’s, family, and school compliance with the treatment approach should also be evaluated.
Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics. ADHD: A Complete and Authoritative Guide. 2004.
American Academy of Pediatrics. "Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of the School-Aged Child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder". Pediatrics. Vol. 108:4:1033-1044. Oct. 2001.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment. 2007.
National Institute of Mental Health, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2006.
