ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a psychological disorder that can affect both children and adults. Symptoms of ADHD are broken up into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. According to the National Institutes of Health, these symptoms can severely impact the patient's quality of life. Thus, effective treatment, such as therapy, is needed to help control these symptoms. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics has set specific guidelines for treating ADHD.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
According to the authors of the article "ADD and ADHD Treatment: Professional Help for Children and Adults," cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used to help both adult and child patients. The goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to manage symptoms without medication, thus helping the patient perform better in school, work and home. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy will set goals for behavior and achievement. In addition, cognitive-behavioral therapy emphasizes rewards and consequences in child and adolescent patients.
Educational Help
Another method of therapy for ADHD focuses on helping child patients improve in school, according to the authors of the article "ADD and ADHD Treatment: Professional Help for Children and Adults." Since a child with ADHD has a hard time focusing in school, educational therapy emphasizes one-on-one instruction with the child's teacher.
American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines
According to the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics has specific guidelines for ADHD treatment and therapy. First, appropriate goals need to be set to guide the patient's therapy. Then, medication and behavior therapy are started. If the goals of therapy are not met, then the patient's diagnosis should be reevaluated, as well as the effectiveness of the treatment plan. The key to success in ADHD therapy, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is following up on the patient's progress through input from the parents, teachers and patient.
