When my 9 year old son was just 5 years old, he was diagnosed with ADHD. We then set out on a long, arduous task of working thru many different ADHD treatment programs, doctors, and school programs to address his issues. If you are embarking on that same journey, my best piece of advice is to trust your instincts as a parent. If you are reading this article, you are probably somewhat familiar with ADHD but just to set a common background, this is how most medical people describe ADHD.
The common behavioral disorder ADHD affects an estimated 8% to 10% of grade school kids. ADHD is not a result of poor upbringing, excessive proccessed sugar, or immunizations.
ADHD is offered as a diagnosis approximately three times more often in boys than in girls. Clinically, ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by "pervasive inattention" and/or "hyperactivity-impulsivity" and resulting in significant functional impairment impairment. ADHD is often attributed to to a chemical imbalance of elements used to control behavior, mood and energy levels in the body.
Our son fits virtually all of those symptoms to a "T". So in order to understand and to help as best we can, we set out on a mission to learn about the various tretment options available for ADHD children. And to our joy *and* our dismay, there are many, many options that you can explore.
ADHD Treatments
In most patients, ADHD is most sucessfully treated with a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Children with ADHD who take well to the treatment for the disorder live happier, less stressful lives, and are better able to attain success in their career and educational goals.
The symptoms of ADHD include too much worry, fearfullness, or panic, which can cause physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, cold sweats, cramps, and irregular bowel movements. Symptoms of ADHD generally appear over the course of many months.
A lot of kids with ADHD show symptoms of inattention and are not hyperactive or impulsive. Most, however, show signs of both. Since ADHD is accepted as a neurologically based condition, we would expect that, besides a possible head injury, the patient with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder would have been born that way. The good news is, with the correct treatment, children with ADHD can learn to successfully live with and manage their symptoms. If your child has ADHD and a coexisting disorder, your care giver will carefully consider that when designing a treatment program.
When evaluating the correct treatment for your child, the care giver might try a few different medications in various doses, especially if your child is being treated for ADHD as well as another disorder. A number of other alternative therapies are evaluated and attempted by parents including: megavitamins, body treatments, diet manipulation, allergy treatment, chiropractic treatment, attention training, visual training, and traditional one-on-one "talking" psychotherapy.
A popular natural treatment for ADHD is herbal treatments. One such is Centella Asiatica; an herb which is an alternative treatment for ADHD. It increases memory function and clarity of though. Also,some herbs such as Panax Ginseng have been known to decrease stress, increase energy and reduce fatigue. To round out just a few options, there is Rosemary, which is known to increase blood flow to the brain and to be an energizer.
Counseling, special accommodations in the classroom, and community and family support are other key components of a treatment program. The best treatment for ADHD is always a subject of debate. The options range from "normal" manufactured medications to a combination of traditional medicine and holistic medicine , or one could choose to simply try an alternative treatment approach for ADHD using herbs.
Whatever you choose, definitely talk with your doctor to decide on the best option for you or your child's particular circumstances. Just always remember that this is your child and you probably know them best and never be too afraid to trust your instincts.
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