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Treatment for AD/HD
AD/HD often occurs in combination with reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and language problems, as well as social and emotional problems. And, AD/HD can mimic other problems. That's why it's so important to get a careful and comprehensive medical and educational assessment by a qualified professional — someone who has the appropriate license or certification in the state in which they practice. This might be a:- Physician
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Professional counselor
- Psychiatric nurse3
It's also important to make careful note of patterns of behavior over time.
Although treatment does not cure AD/HD, it can greatly help with symptoms. Treatment is likely to include:
- Medication such as stimulants, which can restore a better balance of neurotransmitters and have a calming effect
- Different types of psychotherapy or behavior management
- Education and training1
How You Can Help
Parents play a crucial role in helping children with AD/HD. Here are some general guidelines. Many of these tips may be helpful not only for children, but also for teens and adults with AD/HD.- Provide structure and a consistent schedule. Help your child learn routines around daily activities such as getting dressed and going to bed. Use a picture calendar/schedule for the younger child.
- Make sure that your child gets enough sleep.
- Work out "clean-up" routines and organize and label areas used for toy storage and clothing. Make picture labels for a young child and word labels for a child who can read.
- Provide consistent, low-key reminders, prompts, and cues when needed.
- Be consistent about rewards and consequences so that your child knows what to expect.
- Be generous with praise when your child performs well.
- Avoid being overly critical when things don't go well.
- Teach and monitor the use of organizational strategies. This might include color-coded folders for different subjects, checklists and to-do lists, goal setting, and breaking projects into small, manageable chunks.
- Supervise your school-age child daily in completion of homework assignments, organization of the backpack and filing of papers (but don't do it for him or her).
Also talk with your child's teacher about ways to help your child. For example, teachers can help a lot by stressing organizational routines and staying in close communication with parents. Teachers can also allow hyperactive children to have movement breaks.
- NIMH: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- ADDA: ADHD Fact Sheet.
- ADDA: Guiding Principles for the Diagnosis and Treatment of AD/HD [PDF].
Additional Resources
National Institute for Mental HealthInsideADHD.org
ADDitude Magazine
Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Children and Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
