Individuals with ADHD encounter difficulty in many different aspects of their lives as a result of this disorder, and sometimes a patient can't or won't use medication to treat the condition. In these cases, behavioral treatments for ADHD may be an option. Behavioral treatments operate on the basis that rewarding good behavior and punishing negative behavior will motivate the person with ADHD to gradually adapt to better behavior overall.
ADHD
ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, develops in childhood and is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. While some children eventually outgrow the disorder, others retain characteristics of ADHD into their adult years. Individuals with ADHD often have trouble paying attention at work or school, so their ability to learn or advance professionally is impaired. The disorder can also disrupt relationships and home life.
Reasons
Some people with ADHD, or their parents, decide against medication for the condition. According to AtHealth.com, about 20 percent of children with ADHD don't respond to the drugs at all. Others may experience side effects from ADHD medication. For many of these individuals, behavioral therapy rather than drugs is chosen for management of ADHD symptoms. Behavioral treatments may also be used in conjunction with medication.
Children
The goal of behavioral therapy for children with ADHD is to provide a rigid schedule and organize the child's life to make disruptions less likely. This includes planning out a daily regular routine that includes every activity of the child's day, such as school, homework, playtime, meals and bedtime. Behavioral therapy for children also makes use of household organizers to keep all needed items in the same place at all times as well as personal organizers for the child to keep track of things he needs, such as homework assignments. To encourage good behavior, parents should praise the child whenever he behaves well or follows his assigned plan. Parents should keep criticism to a minimum.
Adults
Behavioral therapy for an adult with ADHD doesn't involve a parental figure who can control the environment, so it's up to the individual herself. An adult with ADHD may visit a cognitive and behavioral therapist to develop specific strategies for organizing home and work and to work through any issues of low self-esteem brought on by a lifetime of living with ADHD. Adult sufferers may also try relaxation techniques to lower stress levels and make it easier to focus. In adults with ADHD, positive and negative feedback can be self-generated, with the individual setting certain rewards and punishments for herself if she meets or fails to meet her stated goals.
Considerations
When planning behavioral treatment for ADHD, it is important to remember that people with this disorder do better focusing on short-term goals than on long-term ones, so break major projects into smaller pieces with a reward at the end of each piece for best results. Integrating others into the treatment plan is another way to help make it a success, so parents should talk to teachers and other family members about how they want certain behaviors handled and adult ADHD sufferers should inform supervisors and work colleagues of their plan so that everyone around them knows what to expect.
