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The treatment of ADHD often requires several interventions in your child’s many environments in order to improve his ability to function. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations encourage doctors to work as a team with family and school or job personnel. Together you can set realistic treatment and performance goals and evaluate your child’s response in every area of activity.
Properly selected and attentively administered medications have generated life-changing results in children with ADHD. However, there are many issues to consider when you initiate drug treatment including the difficulty of diagnosising accurately, the ability and willingness to adhere to a strict treatment and medication regimen, the addicting potential of some of the medications. While medications are usually beneficial and well tolerated, there is the potential that important behavioral and lifestyle interventions are not utilized in combination with or in place of medications.
Typical treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes
Medications
Alternative and complementary therapies
At this time, there are no surgical procedures for treating ADHD.
References:
ADHD. American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/adhd.cfm. Accessed November 22, 2009.
ADHD: a guide for families. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry website. Available at: http://www.aacap.org/cs/adhd_a_guide_for_families/resources_for_families_adhd_a_guide_for_families . Accessed November 22, 2009.
AD/HD and kids. Mental Health America website. Available at: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/ad/hd/ad/hd-and-kids/ad/hd-and-kids . Accessed November 22, 2009.
American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: www.aap.org/ .
Attention Deficit Disorder Association. Available at: http://www.add.org . Accessed April 1, 2007.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder website. Available at: http://www.chadd.org . Accessed April 1, 2007.
Children and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. American Psychiatric Association website. Available at: http://www.healthyminds.org/adhdfacts.cfm . Accessed April 1, 2007.
Mikami AY, Cox DJ, Davis MT, Wilson HK, Merkel RL, Burket R. Sex Differences in Effectiveness of Extended-Release Stimulant Medication Among Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2009 Sep;16(3):233-42. Epub 2009 May 6.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Ryan Estévez, MD, PhD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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