Variations of ADHD Treatment

*I*

*ADHD Defined*

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that is believed to be associated with autism, is common in school- aged children and can last into adulthood. There are three subtypes that breakdown the symptoms of ADHD:

nattentive Type

Signs include: difficulty paying attention to details, staying focused on the task at hand, troubles with being organized, forgetting daily activities, and easydistractibility.

Hyperactive-impulsive Type

Signsfor this include: being fidgety, problems staying seated for long periods of time, talking excessively, interrupting others, and impulsivity.

Combined Type

This is a combination of both the inattentive type and the hyperactive-impulsive type.  (cdc.gov, 2015)

## Diagnosing ADHD

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Since younger children display a lot of these signs such anxiety or excitability, diagnosing ADHD can be difficult especially in the children under the age of five.  According to the National Resource Center on ADHD, a complete evaluation can only be made by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a neurologist. (help4adhd.org, 2015)   For the doctor to consider the diagnosis of ADHD the child must display behaviors from one of the subtypes, the behaviors must be severe and last longer than six months, and they must have a negative effect on the child’s life in at least two areas.  The behaviors displayed by the child must be on going and not just brought on by a stressor at home, school or underlying mental health or learning disorders such as anxiety, mood or autistic spectrum disorders.  (kidshealth.org, 2015)

Once the child is diagnosed with ADHD the treatment plan can be put into place. There are several medications that are used in the treatment of ADHD.  Stimulants are the ones that are most commonly used by doctors.  The most frequently used stimulant drugs are Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine.  Some of these stimulants will involve several doses throughout the day and could have side effects that include irritability, insomnia, stomachache, and decreased appetite.  Non-stimulants such as Strattera, Intuniv, and Kapvay have been approved to help treat the symptoms of ADHD, but will sometimes need to be used with a stimulant drug as well.  Antidepressants like Wellbutrin or Tofranil can be used as a treatment option, but there is warnings suggesting that the use of these drugs can increase the risk of suicide among children and teens, although adults suffering from this disorder can use these drugs safely and effectively (webmd.com, 2014).

Anne Teeter Ellison, EdD, professor emeritus in educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee states in an article published that “one major advance in ADHD research in the past decade has been the increased number and quality of studies for most alternative/complementary treatment” (chadd.org, 2015). Although there are several prescription treatments to reduce the symptoms of ADHD, there may be effective alternative treatment options for ADHD as well.  Medical researchers have found that in addition to treatments with medication, patients with this disorder can benefit from long term use.  Such treatments range from a change in diet and dietary supplements to meditation/relaxation and consistent routines.  These actions have been very successful for the patients and their families who that are fully dedicated to making changes to their lifestyle.

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## Alternative Treatments

Dietary Suppliments

Adding different dietary supplements such as EPA omega-3 fatty acid, zinc, and magnesium to a high protein, low fat diet can reduce the symptoms of ADHD.  In an article posted in Additude Magazine Sandy Newmark M.D., founder of the Center for Pediatric Integrative Medicine in San Francisco suggests that omega-3s are essential fats needed to maintain normal brain function.  Zinc may also help with the regulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine, and adding magnesium may help to calm the brain aiding in attention and concentration.

Meditation and Relaxation

While changing the dietary habits is a good place to start when it comes to alternative methods of treatment for ADHD, National Institutes of Health doctors, Weisz, McCarty, & Valeri (2013) feel that early interventions that teach patients how to use relaxation techniques “can be extremely beneficial for children with [this] condition” (Weisz, McCarty and Valeri, 2006).  With this treatment children will learn how to use visualization, controlled breathing, muscle relaxation and massage to help themselves manage behaviors and emotions in any situation.  These calming skills also teach the child how to express themselves in a positive manner, which in the end is less stressful on not only the patient but also the families and others that the child is in contact with.

*Consistent Routine*

In their book “The Oxford Handbook of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Sleep and Behavior” written by Wolfson and Montgomery-Downs (2013), it states that consistent routine for children with ADHD is just important at school as it is at home.  Schedules and short to the point directions are best when wanting a child with ADHD to accomplish a task.  This gives them the feeling of control and accomplishment.  Make sure that schedules take into consideration the age of the child, and the severity of the ADHD symptoms.  They also suggest having the daily tasks accomplished at or around the same time each day makes it clear as to what is expected from the child.

*Conclusion*Having a child with ADHD may be stressful at times. However, there are many things that a parent, teacher, or caregiver can do to make the days and nights go a lot smoother. Taking the alternative treatment approach in conjunction with the prescribed medications can be beneficial to both child and adult when the time is put into making these changes.

# =References

ADHD, N. R. (2014). Proffessionals Who Diagnose and Treat ADHD. Retrieved from *help4adhd.org*: http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/prof

cdc.gov. (2015). Facts about ADHD. Retrieved from *cdc.gov*: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

kidshealth.org. (2015). What is ADHD? Retrieved from *kidshealth.org*: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/adhd.html#

Newman, S. M. (n.d.). The ADHD Food Fix: Fight Symptoms with Diet and Nutrition. Retrieved from *additudemag.com*: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/9136-3.html

RelaxKids. (2013). Meditation and rlaxation for children with ADHD. Retrieved from *relaxkids.com*: www.relaxkids.com/UK/.../Meditation\_and\_relaxation\_for...ADHD\_/597

Teeter Ellison, A. (2015). Researchers on ADHD Research. Retrieved from *chadd.org*: http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/Parents-Caregivers-of-Children-with-ADHD/Symptoms-and-Causes/Researchers-on-ADHD-Research.aspx

webmd. (2015). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Medications. Retrieved from *webmd.com*: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/tc/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-medication

Wolfson, A. R., & Montgomery-Downs, H. E. (2013). The Oxford Handbook of Infant, Child, and ADolescent Sleep Behavior. Retrieved from *oxfordhandbooks.com*: http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199873630.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199873630