Home
>
Parenting
>
Successful Treatment Planning for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD

Successful Treatment Planning for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD

O.K. So now you have taken the step of having your struggling child or teen assessed by a professional, and he has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The psychologist, or therapist, or physician now wants to begin a treatment program. But what should you know before you "sign off" on any particular treatment approach?

Here are some suggestions for you to consider. The following are merely our suggestions, but are based on having worked with over 1,000 children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Use your best judgment. Talk with your doctor. We don't want to be accused of practicing medicine across the Internet. The suggestions that follow will vary depending on your child or teen's diagnosis (such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Inattentive Type vs. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Impulsive-Hyperactive Type, and with or without temper problems, with or without some depression or anxiety, and so on) and also on the time of the year in which you are beginning treatment. To learn more about the different types of ADHD and specific treatment strategies for each type.

During the summer vacation and early in the school year we like to try the "alternative" interventions, such as the homeopathic nutraceutical medicines Attend, its "cousin" nutraceutical Extress, our recommended eating program, and essential fatty acid suppliments. EEG Biofeedback training is also a good "alternative" treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder. If these strategies work, and they will about 70% of the time, then we can keep the patient off of medication and see them succeed.

If the diagnosis is made later in the school year we tend to recommend trials of medication right away for just about everyone with Attention Deficit Disorder, knowing that we have the summer coming up to try alternatives that might be able to cut the dose of medication in half, or eliminate the need for medication altogether. But later in the school year time becomes a larger factor. We don't want the school year to be wasted or lost, so we need to try the most powerful interventions at that time.

But here is our thinking. First we want to do what we can to "salvage" the school year if we only have a few weeks left. Since medications can begin to give benefits very quickly often the child will pass classes that he might have failed otherwise. Additionally, by having a "real world" trial of medication prior to the summer break, we can use the benefits received from the medication as a "bench mark" with which to measure the effectiveness of the "alternative" treatments that might be tried over the summer months.

Also, please remember when discussing these suggestions with your physician or your psychologist, that old saying, "If the only tool that you own is a hammer, then all the world looks like a nail." Professionals who are unfamiliar with treatment options such as the "Attend" amino acids, or the EEG Biofeedback training, will tend to discount them immediately out of their ignorance. I did this myself for years, and this is where you must decide for yourself how best to help your child or teen with Attention Deficit Disorder.

You can learn more about the six types of adhd, specific treatment strategies for each type, alternative treatments for ADHD, and much more at the ADHD Information Library.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including six types of adhd, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..

In The News:

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

Successful Treatment Planning for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD

Parenting