Treatment options
Parents have many questions regarding different treatment options for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). You will find information below in a question/answer format. If you have additional questions about other ADHD treatment options, write them down and take them with you to your child's next doctor visit. A doctor is best qualified to help you decide what is right for you and your child.
Which treatment is the right treatment ?
It is really important to consider your individual situation and discuss with your doctor what the best approach for your child and family might be. According to the extensive and landmark research carried out by the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) co-operative, an independent group funded by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, a treatment plan incorporating carefully tailored medication treatment and behaviour modification is superior to intensive behavioural therapy for ADHD symptom resolution and positive outcomes in functioning.
Click here to see the NIMH Research on Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Questions and Answers about the Multimodal Treatment Study
How do behavioural techniques work?
Behaviour therapy may be recommended if the ADHD symptoms are mild and causing minimal impairment or the diagnosis of ADHD is uncertain, a child is intolerant to medication, or if there is a rejection by parents of the role of medication.
Behavioural techniques are very important in the on-going management of ADHD. Due to the disruptive nature of the condition, behavioural techniques can aid the patient and those surrounding them to reduce the impact of ADHD on functioning, socialisation and learning.
How do ADHD medications work?
It is believed that ADHD is caused by either a lower level, or an imbalance, of chemicals, called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters communicate with one another all day long, and regulate a person's attention, organisation and decision-making. It is thought that ADHD medications restore the balance, or level, of these neurotransmitters, leading to many behavioural and academic improvements.
Which ADHD symptoms do medications treat?
Although there is no cure for ADHD, medications tend to increase a person's attention span, improve focus, and decrease distractibility. They make it easier to stop and think about the consequence of a behaviour. Research with stimulant medications has also shown that they improve parent-child interactions, classroom attention and academic performance in person's with ADHD. Medications won't teach someone a new behaviour. However, they will allow a person with ADHD to focus on a new skill or new learning.
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