Children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be treated with two types of interventions: nonmedical and medical treatment. Nonmedical treatment can vary. Two common forms of nonmedical treatment that are clinically researched and documented are nutritional-dietary treatment and behavioral therapy. Medical intervention is in the form of prescriptions that treat the symptoms of ADHD.
Nutritional and Dietary Treatment
Step 1
Change diet. Some children diagnosed with ADHD seem to respond well to a diet rich in protein, low in carbohydrates and sugar free. The premise of this nutritional treatment is that there are dietary risk factors for children diagnosed with ADHD: low protein with high carbohydrate diets, food allergens or additives, nutritional deficiencies, such as the lack of essential fatty acids and vitamin or mineral deficiency, detection of heavy metal toxicity and other environmental toxins and intestinal dysfunction or thyroid disorders.
Step 2
Get an examination. A physical exam by a medical doctor will help in evaluating the appropriateness of a nutritional therapy program for a child diagnosed with ADHD.
Step 3
Document your child's response to eating certain types of foods: sugar vs.sugar-free food, protein versus carbohydrate foods and dairy versus nondairy. Providing documentation before and after the child's appointment will help you and your physician come to an appropriate treatment plan for your child.
Behavioral Treatment
Step 1
Try therapy. Behavioral treatment, know as behavioral therapy, is a nonmedicinal approach to treating children with ADHD. The underlying premise is that children want to please the authoritative figures (i.e. parents, teachers) in their lives. Behavior therapy encourages appropriate behavior by increasing the child's desire to please the authoritative figures in their lives and offers negative consequences for inappropriate behavior. Appropriate behavior is awarded with social rewards, such as praise or verbal recognition. Other rewards are in the form of privileges or tangible rewards, such as access to TV or computer time.
Step 2
Get help. A behavioral treatment plan is often difficult to accomplish alone. Consulting with a professional will help outline specifics for behavior expectations, appropriate rewards and tips for providing consistent implementation.
Step 3
Record daily the results of the behavior treatment plan. Logging your rewards and attempts to diminish negative behavior on a daily basis helps to track patterns in the program. Patterns such as a particular time of day when certain behavior is evident, rewards that work or negative consequences that do not work. By putting down on paper what is implemented on a daily basis one is able to see more clearly the effects of behavior therapy.
Prescriptive Treatment
Step 1
Try medicine. The premise of prescriptive treatment is that with medication the symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and the inability to pay attention are subdued. Once the medication treatment plan is implemented and successful, learning, socializing and behavioral issues should be manageable. The key to a successful medical treatment plan is that the medication is the right prescription for your child. It is fairly common to try many prescriptions before finding the right medicine for your child's needs.
Step 2
Consult with a physician regarding what medications are available for the treatment of ADHD.
Step 3
Document the effects each prescription seems to have on your child. Take note of physical, social and emotional consequences of each prescription. Being able to review this information with your doctor will help you and your physician to come up with a medical treatment plan that is right for your child.
Tips and Warnings
- If you suspect your child may have ADHD talk with his teacher, caregiver or other adult figure who is familiar with your child's behavior. Consult with your physician for a complete evaluation and possible diagnosis.
- Certain medications have side effects. Discuss with your doctor the right prescription for your child and the possible side effects.
Things You'll Need
- School reports
- Medical evaluations including physical and psychological reports
- List of any known food allergies
- List of current and previously taken medication.
