1. Treat ADHD With Approved Medications
The FDA has approved numerous drugs to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children, most of which are stimulants. Ask your child's doctor about specially engineered psychostimulants that can help your child block out external distractions and stimuli and focus on the task at hand.
These psychostimulants are formulated in different strengths to treat your child's moderate to severe ADHD. If you have concerns about the long-term ramifications of using stimulant medications, ask your child's pediatrician or supervising psychologist for information. There are some concerns that ADHD medications can lead to heart conditions later in life. Make sure the doctor tests your child for coexisting disorders, as medicinal treatment will differ if more than one condition must be addressed. In these cases, your doctor may direct the use of antidepressants, depending on the nature of the secondary conditions.
2. Enroll Your Child in Special Education Workshops
You can work with therapists to teach your child ways to function within structured environments with more success. Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder need a clear set of expectations and the tools to meet them. Ask your child's teacher to seat your child at the front of the classroom, where he will have fewer distractions. At home, you can encourage your child by creating a homework schedule, providing a quiet work space free of distractions and making sure your child understands homework assignments.
3. Supplement With Behavioral Therapy
To reinforce efforts to modify your child's behavior, a system of rewards and penalties can get results. Many behavioral therapists stress the importance of providing a framework that reinforces positive behavior. Ask your doctor to refer you to a behavioral therapist who can help you devise and implement this strategy.
Your child may also have a coexisting disorder, such as anxiety or depression. This is more common in post-pubescent children. In these cases, the doctor will usually seek a combination treatment of medication and behavioral therapy, which is aimed at helping your child with socialization and self-management skills.
