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.
efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More
Many parents would like to homeschool their children but are... Read More
Research literature, recent books, and common sense, all point to... Read More
So you're going to become a father. Now is not... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
Fall marks the beginning of many new things both for... Read More
It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball... Read More
A fun way to build your child's imaginationWriting is still... Read More
Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Although many children are picky eaters at some stage in... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
21 Reasons I Love Being A DadWhat you will read... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
Dear friends here we will charge up our mind with... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Courage means doing the right thing when it is hard,... Read More
cleaning lady near Wilmette .."Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
"I wipe my baby's chin with my college diploma and... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
As the kids go back to school, you can go... Read More
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More
When our oldest son was 2, my wife went out... Read More
Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
More and more parents are expressing their concerns about how... Read More
"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9.... Read More
Courage means doing the right thing when it is hard,... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
The word no is probably the most overused word in... Read More
The key to a successful car wash fundraiser event is... Read More
You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
From the time the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
When parents help their children learn to read, they help... Read More
As with everything, names go through cycles of change with... Read More
Parenting |