Treatment and Prevention
It's important to treat the condition. Parents with children who have ADHD should not feel they've done something wrong if their child has trouble at school. People with ADHD are as intelligent and fundamentally capable as anyone else, and can lead happy, successful lives with the right help.
Treatment for ADHD usually consists of medication combined with educational, family, and other social changes.
Medication for ADHD involves a low, steady dose of a psychostimulant medication like methylphenidate* or dextroamphetamine. If you have ADHD, these help to filter out unnecessary distractions. The medication stimulates the areas of the brain that do not have sufficient production of neurotransmitters to produce the needed chemicals. In at least 80% of children, this allows them to pay attention, concentrate, and be less impulsive. There are possible side effects to consider, but these are often minor and controlled through the dose given.
Some parents are wary of these medications, fearing that their child will become addicted or unable to succeed without chemical help. In fact, there's no evidence of addictiveness. Some children, especially those with co-existing problems or disorders (see the list in "Symptoms and Complications" above) may require an alternative type of medication. Some children may manage without medication.
Medications should be accompanied by supportive counseling and, possibly, sessions with a specialist such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Parent training in effective child behavior management methods, classroom behavior modification methods, and academic interventions such as special educational placement, have all shown promising results. Some modern behavior modification and cognitive behavioral therapy produces successful results in children with ADHD without the use of medication. Science has not proven that changes in diet help to treat individuals with ADHD.
Overall, once a treatment is in place, children with ADHD need to learn to use their newfound concentration to the best advantage.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.