When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, parents often worry about the best treatment for their child. ADHD can be effectively managed with the proper treatment. There are many treatment options, and the most effective course of treatment may vary depending on the person, their family, and their environment. After your child gets an ADHD diagnosis, you can collaborate with their doctor to create a plan to address their specific needs. Finding the right combination of treatments that work best for your child may take time.
Here, we discuss the best treatment options for children.
Regular Quality Sleep
Getting regular quality sleep can significantly enhance the symptoms of ADHD. However, many kids with ADHD struggle to fall asleep at night. Sometimes, these sleep issues are due to stimulant medicines, and reducing the dose or quitting the prescription completely can solve the problem.
However, many children with ADHD who are not taking stimulants also experience sleep difficulties. If your child is one of them, you can follow these tips.
- Set a regular bedtime.
- Consider using a fan or a sound machine if your child can’t sleep due to background noise.
- Turn off all electronics (TV, computer, video games, iPhone) at least an hour before bed.
- Limit your evening physical activities.
Encourage Children to Eat a Healthy Diet
Here are some ways you can support your children to eat a healthy diet:
- Schedule regular meals and snacks about every three hours. This helps keep their blood sugar levels stable, which can help them concentrate on their tasks.
- Consume lean protein like dairy products, eggs, beans, and complex carbohydrates like whole grains and fruits at every meal or snack. Again, this helps them concentrate and may also lessen hyperactivity.
- Check your child’s iron, magnesium, and zinc levels. Studies have shown that raising iron levels with supplements may help children with low iron levels experience fewer symptoms of ADHD.
- Add omega-3 fatty acids to your children’s diet. Studies show omega-3s can help reduce hyperactivity and enhance impulse control and focus capacity. Omega-3s are found in fatty fish like tuna and salmon and some fortified egg and dairy products. You can also use fish oil supplements.
ADHD Testing and Behavior Therapy
Children with ADHD often benefit from behavior therapy, social skills training, parent skills training, and counseling provided by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Some children with ADHD may also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. In these situations, counseling can potentially assist both ADHD and the coexisting issue.
Examples of therapy include:
Behavior therapy: Teachers and parents can learn behavior-changing techniques for challenging situations.
Social skills training: This can help kids acquire proper social behaviors.
Parenting skills training: This can help parents to create strategies to comprehend and guide their child’s behavior.
Psychotherapy: This enables older children with ADHD to discuss their issues, explore negative behavior patterns, and learn effective methods to manage their symptoms.
Family therapy: Family therapy can assist parents and siblings in managing the stress associated with living with a person with ADHD.
The best results come from a team approach that involves collaboration between teachers, parents, therapists, and physicians. Educate yourself about ADHD and explore the available treatments and adhd testing options. Work with your child’s teachers and direct them to trustworthy information sources to support their efforts in the classroom.
Combining Medications and Child Therapy
Medication helps children in managing ADHD symptoms and control behaviors that cause difficulties in family, friends, and school. Some different kinds of medications are FDA-approved to treat ADHD in kids as young as 6 years of age:
- Stimulants are the well-known and most widely prescribed drugs for ADHD. When taking these short-acting drugs, 70–80% of children with ADHD experience fewer symptoms.
- In 2003, nonstimulants were approved for the treatment of ADHD. They do not work as quickly as stimulants, but they may still have an impact for up to 24 hours.
Medications can affect children, including decreased appetite or sleep issues. One medication may work great for one youngster but not for another. However, medications alone may not address all aspects of ADHD. Medications can be even more beneficial for many children when combined with child therapy.
