So, you’ve been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD — or maybe, the diagnosis concerns someone else, like a loved one or family member. The question you’re probably asking is this: Now what?
While ADHD isn’t just a childhood illness, most diagnoses occur when the person affected is a child. According to a large-scale study on the condition, carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016:
- 388,000 diagnoses happened between the ages of 2 and 5
- More than 2 million were diagnosed between 6 and 11 years of age
- Approximately one million more cases were diagnosed between 12 and 17
ADHD is very common, but treatments that have proven successful over the long term for this incurable condition are few and far between, so whether you’re looking for answers for you, your child or another close friend or relative, it’s normal to have questions.
What is the best treatment for ADHD? Is medication safe for you or your child? Are there therapeutic alternatives? On this page, your questions will be addressed.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common ADHD treatments you’ll find offered in clinical environments today.
After Diagnosis, What’s Next?
Most people know that there are medications developed specifically to treat the symptoms and side effects of ADHD, but the naturopathic and therapeutic options aren’t understood as widely.
In the wake of an ADHD diagnosis, it’s important to know your options. Many primary care doctors and physicians who don’t specialize in treating ADD/ADHD may decide to prescribe medication first without getting an accurate picture of the whole issue.
ADHD in Adults vs. ADHD in Children
The ways in which patients of different ages manage their ADHD depend partly on the stage of their life in which they were diagnosed initially. As we know, most diagnoses happen during some stage of childhood, and according to the CDC, about one-third of ADHD cases don’t resolve themselves to the point where the person affected no longer needs treatment by adulthood.
With this in mind, there are differences between people who are experienced in managing this condition from their childhood and those who — in the less common case — were diagnosed as adults. Those who experience ADHD as adults tend to experience a more severe case than the average child with the disorder.
As we’ll discuss, a person’s unique experience with their condition has an effect on the most effective ADHD treatment methods.
Therapy Options for Treating ADHD
When ADHD started being given more respect in clinical settings — rather than simply being chalked up to hyperactivity or a lack of discipline — the initial thought was to treat it with medication.
In recent years, evidence-based therapeutic solutions have come to the forefront. The most common is one used to treat a variety of mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse issues: cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.
ADHD Treatment With CBT
The goal of CBT, no matter what it’s being used to treat, is to help the patient understand how their condition works, both broadly and in the context of their own case. CBT for people with ADHD seeks to address any confusion about the disease and shows the patient how to recognize the ways in which their disorder affects their daily lives.
Emergent Therapies for ADHD
CBT isn’t the only way that ADHD can be addressed without medication. For the 9% of children with ADHD, studies have found that parenting programs can be more effective than medical treatment. In one, called Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), parents are encouraged to be active and encouraging their child in the management of ADD or ADHD. In one study, children who received Triple P treatment performed significantly better in school than those who didn’t.
