Unfortunately, most medical literature today solely suggests drug therapy. Yet, many physicians are looking for alternative non-drug ways to treat these conditions. The cost to the patient is reasonable since it is done on an outpatient basis without drugs. Electroencephalograms of a brain that has ADD or ADHD shows a smaller than normal region of activity in the frontal lobe for certain cognitive functions. Conversely for dyslexia , an electroencephalogram shows a wider than normal region of activity above the ear in the temporal lobe.
Researchers theorize that the psychotropics affect the dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
However, this can be likened to a car driving in second gear on the highway. The car is maintaining a given speed, yet the RPMs are higher than the engine was designed to operate continuously at. Continue for too long and the engine burns out. Similarly, as the long term data is beginning to filter in for chronic usage of Ritalin and other psychostimulants, the indications are not good. A higher than anticipated stroke rate around the age of 40 is one finding.