ADD is the label for attention deficit disorder, which is currently referred to diagnostically as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is diagnosed in one of three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined. Often, inattentive ADHD remains undiagnosed longer than the other two forms because the person does not cause noticeable disruptions to her environment. The treatments for inattentive ADHD, therefore, are often initiated later in the individual's life, after the symptoms have caused a more significant impact.
Behavioral Treatments
The increased levels of frustration experienced as a result of living with the symptoms of ADHD can cause a person to have a negative thought process or low self esteem. Behavioral therapies are used to help a person overturn his negative thought process and replace it with a more positive one, notes Helpguide.org. Behavioral therapies can also help a person develop practical solutions to problems that have resulted from the inattentive ADHD, such as lack of organization, poor time management and limited listening skills, reports Helpguide.org.
Parenting Skills
A form of treatment for children with ADHD is to focus on the parents, changing the way the parents interact with the children. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, parents can learn how to help manage the behaviors often associated with inattentive ADHD by changing the way they interact with their children, such as breaking down instructions into smaller tasks rather than giving them all at once. Providing the parents with the skills to work with their children who have ADHD can improve treatment because parents can have a consistent positive impact on the daily symptoms of inattentive ADHD.
Coaching
Coaching is a rather non-traditional treatment option but can be effective at helping a person manage her symptoms. The symptoms of inattentive ADHD are generally disorganization, lack of attention, inability to remain on task, being forgetful, poor time management and poor money management. These symptoms can be improved when a person with inattentive ADHD involves the use of a behavioral coach.
A behavioral coach will work closely with the person to develop practical solutions for problems that result from ADHD, notes Helpguide.org. A coach often comes to the home or school of the person with ADHD and actually aids in the implementation of the solutions. Although behavioral coaching can be effective for inattentive ADHD, it is often not covered by insurance plans and can be too expensive for some.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes are generally recommended in the treatment of inattentive ADHD. To manage the symptoms of inattention, a person will need to overcompensate for his lack of attention in certain areas. A person with inattentive ADHD should set up simple organizational solutions to manage daily paperwork, create lists containing tasks he needs to complete at the beginning of each day, leave reminders of deadlines and appointments, and assign time limits to complete different tasks.
