AD/HD Treatment

While getting tested for AD/HD is an important first step, it doesn’t do a whole lot of good to know you have AD/HD if you don’t treat it in some way or another. Fortunately, there are several methods of medical and non-medical AD/HD treatment available. The following is a brief overview of the more popular treatment methods:

First, is medication; medications effectively treat the disorder in 90-95% of the AD/HD population; they are effective in addressing core AD/HD symptoms (e.g. attentional issues, impulsivity, hyperactivity), and they improve functioning in all major aspects of daily life (home, work, school, relationships). They eliminate all AD/HD symptoms in 50%, and reduce the symptoms in 90% of cases; they can also enhance academic function, increase effort and compliance of task demands and improve recall of learned information. AD/HD medications are typically safe and have relatively few side effects. The top two side effects I have observed in my personal contact with medicated AD/HD patients are 1.) loss of appetite and 2.) withdrawal. More information regarding different types of medications and their benefits and side effects can be found at: www.mayoclinic.com

Next, is treating any other comorbid disorders. AD/HD has a high rate of comorbidity meaning that, if you have AD/HD, you are much more likely to have other cognitive difficulties. Studies indicate that as many as 65% of children with AD/HD will also have at least one other comorbid condition at some point in their lives. If you have another disorder along with AD/HD, treating AD/HD may help but it will only address part of the problem; you won’t see optimum results until you treat every aspect of the problem. The potential for comorbid conditions is one reason why testing is so important; at the Neuropsychology Clinic, we not only test for AD/HD, we also investigate the potential for other common comorbid conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, learning disability, personality disorder, etc.)

Many people find counseling very helpful in addressing their AD/HD related difficulties. There are several different types of counseling available. First, is marital and family therapy. This type of counseling can help loved ones cope with the stress of living with someone who has AD/HD and learn what they can do to help. It can also help moderate problems linked to AD/HD that often place stress on relationships. For example, your spouse or other family members may feel like you're unreliable, messy, a poor listener or not contributing equally to family responsibilities. Understanding that your faults are not due to lack of effort or refusal to change your behavior can relieve tension and minimize conflict. Couples therapy and classes in which family members learn more about AD/HD often significantly improve relationships. The next type of counseling is psychotherapy, which focuses on helping develop skills to resolve specific issues. Psychotherapy can help:

· Improve your time management and organizational skills

· Learn how to reduce your impulsive behavior

· Develop better problem-solving skills

· Cope with past academic or social failures

· Improve your self-esteem

· Learn ways to have better relationships with your family, co-workers and friends

· Develop strategies for controlling your temper

Other forms of counseling focus on improving communication skills, peaceful conflict resolution and problem solving. In many situations, you can participate in all these forms of therapy with the same counselor.

Some of our AD/HD testing patients report that regular, structured physical exercise such as yoga, karate, or gymnastics help moderate their AD/HD symptoms by teaching them to focus their minds and allowing them to release excess energy.

While little to no research actually indicates that changes or additions to the diet reduce AD/HD symptoms, some individuals with AD/HD find it helpful to reduce foods thought to increase hyperactivity, such as sugar or caffeine. Also, if you notice that a certain food causes an increase in your symptoms, you may want to try eliminating it from your diet to see if it makes a difference. However, always consult your physician before dramatically adjusting your diet; eliminating too many types of foods can be unhealthy because it may deprive you of necessary vitamins and nutrients.

While certain vitamins and minerals are necessary for and promote good health, there is no evidence that supplemental vitamins or minerals actually reduce AD/HD symptoms. In addition, some supplements, if taken in overabundance can exceed the body’s Tolerable Upper Limit (the maximum amount of a particular vitamin or mineral the body can handle) and become harmful.

It is unknown whether taking herbal remedies or supplements actually help with AD/HD, though some people claim they do.

While essential fatty acids (e.g. omega-3 oils) and glyconutrients (specific sugars believed to reduce symptoms by helping form compounds called glycoproteins), are necessary for proper brain function, it is again too soon to say whether they reduce AD/HD symptoms.

In summary, there are many different proposed AD/HD treatments available. Though some are more researched and proven than others, there is no ‘magic cure’ for AD/HD. Because AD/HD varies in severity and effect and each individual reacts differently to treatment, it is up to you and your health care provider to determine which form of treatment is right for you.

Information taken from www.mayoclinic.com

and

http://www.ncpamd.com/ADD_Comorbidity.htm