Many parents are reluctant to medicate a child who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Adults with the disorder also may resist medication because of concerns about side effects or a desire to avoid the stigma of taking prescription drugs. Fortunately, non-medication treatments are typically a doctor's first choice when dealing with the disorder. Without treatment, ADHD may cause devastating difficulties at home, in the workplace, and in social situations.
Behavior Modification
The National Resource Center on ADHD describes behavior modification, also referred to as psychosocial treatment, as "the only nonmedical treatment for ADHD with a large scientific basis".
Behavior modification starts with noting the causes or situations that trigger behaviors. These causes are called "antecedents". The consequences of these behaviors are also taken into account.
By altering the cause of a particular behavior, as well as its consequences, parents of children with ADHD may intervene to help prevent the child from acting out. Behavior modification therapy trains parents to manage a child's aggression more effectively, establish consistent rules, and reward good behavior.
Psychotherapy
The Mayo Clinic lists psychotherapy as a form of counseling that may be helpful in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Older children and adults may benefit from private or group sessions with a trained psychotherapist who specializes in the disorder.
In these sessions the patients discuss their anxieties, concerns and fears, and acknowledge the negative patterns that result in ADHD behaviors. The psychotherapist may offer information and advice about how the patient can respond more constructively to their symptoms.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatments claim to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD, but for most of them, the evidence is anecdotal and not backed by well-controlled research. These alternative treatments include dietary changes, herbal supplements, sensory integration training, and treatment for candida yeast overgrowth.
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that one type of alternative treatment, using biologic or auditory feedback, is showing great promise as a method of treating ADHD. Feedback therapies include neurofeedback, wherein the patient is taught certain "high level mental activities" while monitoring his own brain wave activity, which is being detected by electrodes on the head.
Interactive metronome and musical therapies use auditory feedback to increase attention span, motor control and learning skills. These therapies involve listening to computer-generated rhythms while performing exercises in time to the beat.
