Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that affects people’s behavior. A person suffering from this disorder has a problem concentrating and feels impulsive and restless. As per the 2016 CDC survey, 6.1 million children are diagnosed with this disorder, including 2.4 million children aged 6–11 years and 388,000 children aged 2–5 years.
Studies also show ADHD might affect certain brain areas that may affect your ability to solve problems. Now that you have sufficient information about this condition let’s look at the different treatment options available.
Medications
Medical experts mention that the standard treatment of hyperactivity disorder involves using different medications. However, you should always take medications after consulting your doctor.
- Stimulants
The treatment involves prescribed medications like methylphenidate or amphetamine. Doctors may also prescribe other medications along with stimulants. Medical experts mention stimulants balance and boost levels of neurotransmitters in the brain that helps manage common ADHD symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, and short attention span.
Doctors may recommend stimulants as a standalone treatment or use them with behavioral therapy to treat attention deficit disorder. Stimulants are considered effective in managing the disorder, and 70% of adults and 70 to 80% of children show improvement in symptoms after starting the treatment.
- Other Medications
Some patients cannot take stimulants for various medical reasons. In such cases, doctors recommend non-stimulants like atomoxetine and antidepressants like bupropion. Medical experts mention antidepressants and atomoxetine are effective in treating symptoms, but they are slower than stimulants. However, they can be good alternatives for patients who are not ideal for stimulant therapy.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy refers to treatment that involves using psychological methods to help a person overcome problems or change behavior. The therapy is based on regular interaction.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
It is a structured type of counseling that focuses on teaching patients specific skills to manage their behavior. For example, it can help patients change negative thinking patterns into positive ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy effectively treats mental health conditions like substance misuse and depression. It can also help deal with life challenges related to school, work, or relationship problems.
- Marital Counseling and Family Therapy
The attention deficit disorder treatment is not always focused on the patient. This therapy can help family members cope with the stress of living with a patient suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The counseling focuses on improving communication and problem-solving skills. In simple words, the therapy focuses on things you can do to help the patient.
Family therapy also includes parent coaching, where parents learn the best ways to respond to various symptoms of this disorder.
- Social Skills Training
Social skills training is also an effective treatment for managing symptoms of this disorder. Both adults and children can benefit from social skills training. The training focuses on teaching patients to manage anger, be less impulsive or aggressive and behave in a more socially acceptable way. Some of the techniques used in social skills training are:
- Practice ways to resolve conflicts.
- Watch videos of positive behavior.
- Role-playing.
- Coaching
Experts mention though there are various treatment options available for this disease, they are only directed to managing the symptoms of the attention deficit disorder and not curing it.
