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Although there is no precise cure for ADHD, such current treatments however may help reduce symptoms and improve functioning. In general, the types of common treatments for ADHD are medication, psychotherapy, and other behavioral interventions. For children, treatment often includes parent education and school-based programs. While researchers are constantly studying new treatments for people with ADHD such as cognitive training and neurofeedback, these options are usually explored only after medication and psychotherapy which have already been tried. In any case, the types of treatment in ADHD involves a combination of elements for some people out there.

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MEDICATION

Like all medications, stimulants can have side effects and must be prescribed and monitored by a health care provider. Such stimulants are the most common type of medication used to treat ADHD, and research shows them to be highly effective because they work by increasing levels of brain chemicals involved in thinking and attention. Health care providers sometimes prescribe nonstimulant medications like antidepressants to treat ADHD. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved these medications specifically for ADHD due to the fact that a person must try several different medications or dosages before finding the one that practically works for them.

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PSYCHOTHERAPY AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS

The psychological interventions for ADHD can take many forms and be combined with medication and other elements for parents, families, and teachers. Adding therapy to an ADHD treatment plan can help some people better cope with daily challenges, gain confidence, or manage impulsive and risky behaviors. Therapy is especially helpful if ADHD co-occurs with other mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, conduct problems, or substance use disorders. Some people find it helpful to get support from a professional life coach or ADHD coach who can teach them skills to improve daily functioning. Thus, below here are several psychosocial interventions which have been proven to help manage symptoms and improve functioning in ADHD patients.

►Behavioral therapy helps a person change their behavior. It might involve practical assistance, such as organizing tasks or completing schoolwork, learning social skills, or monitoring one’s behavior.

►Cognitive behavioral therapy helps a person become aware of attention and concentration challenges and work on skills to improve focus and organization and complete daily tasks (for instance, by breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps).

►Family and marital therapy helps family members learn to handle disruptive behaviors, encourage behavior changes, and improve interactions with children and partners.

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PARENT EDUCATION SUPPORT AND SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS

Therapy for children and teens requires parents to play an active role. This is particularly true since treatment sessions with the child alone are more likely to be effective for treating symptoms of anxiety or depression that may co-occur with ADHD compared to managing core symptoms of the disorder. Mental health professionals can educate parents about the disorder and how it affects a family. They also can help parents develop new skills, attitudes, and ways of relating to their child, which include parenting skills training, stress management techniques for parents, and support groups that help parents and families connect with others who have similar concerns.

While parent education support emphasizes on the child alone, the school-based programs on the other hand focuses on behavioral interventions and academic accommodations. Many children and teens with ADHD benefit from school-based programs, which include behavior management plans or classroom-taught organizational and study skills. Accommodations, for instance, may include preferential seating in the classroom, reduced classwork, and extended time on tests and exams. Needless to say, the school-based programs may provide accommodations through what is called a 504 Plan or, for children who qualify for special education services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

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COGNITIVE TRAINING & NEUROFEEDBACK

Cognitive training is shown to modestly improve the tasks being practiced. It involves repeatedly using a program or activity over several weeks throughout the courses to improve specific functions, such as memory or attention. In this case, exercises are tailored to the person’s ongoing performance.

Apart from that, the Neurofeedback is a noninvasive technique in which an electronic device monitors and records a person’s brain activity providing them with immediate feedback to support self-regulation. The device used in Neurofeedback measures brain activity through such means as EEG or fMRI scans and feeds the information back to the person, usually in the form of a computer screen or visual cue. As a result, people learn how to self-regulate their brain activity to directly alter the associated behavior. Overall, the assumption or the premise behind Neurofeedback approach is that with repeated real-time information, people can change their internal brain activity with observable effects towards their behavior and cognition.