Treating Adhd - What Treatment Choices are Available to Parents?
January 8th, 2009 | by admin |Roger Douglass asked:
When my 8 year old son was almost 5 years old, he was diagnosed with ADHD. We then set out on a long, arduous task of working thru many different ADHD treatment programs, doctors, and school programs to address his issues.
If you are embarking on that same journey, my best piece of advice is to trust your instincts as a parent and learn everything you can about this condition. If you are reading this article, you are probably somewhat familiar with ADHD but just to set a common background, this is how most of the medical community describe ADHD.
Characterized by “pervasive inattention” and/or “hyperactivity-impulsivity”, ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder results in significant behavioral and cognitive impairment. ADHD is frequently tied to an imbalance in the chemicals used to regulate behavior, mood and energy levels in the body.
Symptoms can include excessive worry, fearfullness, agressiveness, or panic, which can also lead to physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, cramps, and diarrhea. Symptoms of ADHD will probably appear over the course of many months and can usually be diagnosed before a child is 10 years old.
Many children with ADHD show inattention symptoms and are not impulsive or hyperactive. However, most show signs of both. Since Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is accepted as a neurologically based disorder, we should conclude that, besides a possible head injury, the patient with ADHD would have been born with the disorder.
Our son fits virtually all of the ADHD symptoms to a “T”. So in order to understand and to help as best we can, we set out on a mission to learn about the various tretment options available for ADHD children. And to our mutual joy our dismay, there are many, many options that you can explore.
In most cases, ADHD is most sucessfully treated with an even mix of medication and behavior therapy. When determining the correct treatment for your child, the care giver might try several different medications in various doses, especially if your child is being treated for ADHD along with another disorder.
Behavioral councelors, classroom accommodations, and family and community support are other necessary components of ADHD treatment but the “best” treatment options for ADHD are a matter of opinion. But nevertheless, children who are successfully treated for ADHD are better able to attain success in their educational and career goals, and lead better, less stressful lives.
A number of alternative treatments are studied and attempted by parents including: megavitamins, body treatments, diet manipulation, allergy treatment, chiropractic treatment, attention training, visual training, and traditional one-on-one “talking” psychotherapy.
The variations range from mainstream synthetic medications to a mixture of regular medicine and holistic medicine , or a choice could be to simply implement an alternative treatment approach for ADHD using herbs.
The good news is, with proper treatment, children with ADHD can manage their symptoms and learn to successfully live with them. If your child has ADHD and a coexisting disorder, your physician will take that into account when designing a treatment program.
Whatever you decide, without a doubt, talk with your physician to decide on the best option for you or your child’s particular circumstances. Just always remember that this is your child and you probably know them best and never be too afraid to trust your instincts.
So don’t be embarrased or put off even 1 more minute by a lack of understanding of ADHD. Get the help you need and your child deserves. Get specific help regarding ADHD Treatments along with loads of other ADHD information, articles, videos, and resources at ADHD-digest.com, a website with articles, guidance, and resources for parents of children with ADHD.
Derek
When my 8 year old son was almost 5 years old, he was diagnosed with ADHD. We then set out on a long, arduous task of working thru many different ADHD treatment programs, doctors, and school programs to address his issues.
If you are embarking on that same journey, my best piece of advice is to trust your instincts as a parent and learn everything you can about this condition. If you are reading this article, you are probably somewhat familiar with ADHD but just to set a common background, this is how most of the medical community describe ADHD.
Characterized by “pervasive inattention” and/or “hyperactivity-impulsivity”, ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder results in significant behavioral and cognitive impairment. ADHD is frequently tied to an imbalance in the chemicals used to regulate behavior, mood and energy levels in the body.
Symptoms can include excessive worry, fearfullness, agressiveness, or panic, which can also lead to physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, cramps, and diarrhea. Symptoms of ADHD will probably appear over the course of many months and can usually be diagnosed before a child is 10 years old.
Many children with ADHD show inattention symptoms and are not impulsive or hyperactive. However, most show signs of both. Since Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is accepted as a neurologically based disorder, we should conclude that, besides a possible head injury, the patient with ADHD would have been born with the disorder.
Our son fits virtually all of the ADHD symptoms to a “T”. So in order to understand and to help as best we can, we set out on a mission to learn about the various tretment options available for ADHD children. And to our mutual joy our dismay, there are many, many options that you can explore.
In most cases, ADHD is most sucessfully treated with an even mix of medication and behavior therapy. When determining the correct treatment for your child, the care giver might try several different medications in various doses, especially if your child is being treated for ADHD along with another disorder.
Behavioral councelors, classroom accommodations, and family and community support are other necessary components of ADHD treatment but the “best” treatment options for ADHD are a matter of opinion. But nevertheless, children who are successfully treated for ADHD are better able to attain success in their educational and career goals, and lead better, less stressful lives.
A number of alternative treatments are studied and attempted by parents including: megavitamins, body treatments, diet manipulation, allergy treatment, chiropractic treatment, attention training, visual training, and traditional one-on-one “talking” psychotherapy.
The variations range from mainstream synthetic medications to a mixture of regular medicine and holistic medicine , or a choice could be to simply implement an alternative treatment approach for ADHD using herbs.
The good news is, with proper treatment, children with ADHD can manage their symptoms and learn to successfully live with them. If your child has ADHD and a coexisting disorder, your physician will take that into account when designing a treatment program.
Whatever you decide, without a doubt, talk with your physician to decide on the best option for you or your child’s particular circumstances. Just always remember that this is your child and you probably know them best and never be too afraid to trust your instincts.
So don’t be embarrased or put off even 1 more minute by a lack of understanding of ADHD. Get the help you need and your child deserves. Get specific help regarding ADHD Treatments along with loads of other ADHD information, articles, videos, and resources at ADHD-digest.com, a website with articles, guidance, and resources for parents of children with ADHD.
Derek
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