Current estimates put between 4 and 12 % of school children, as having ADHD and treatment plans for this chronic condition will generally include the use of medication to modify behavior. However, these do come with side effects are not all children will respond to them, which is why some parents prefer to adopt an alternative method to replace or work alongside medications to minimize the dose.

Most parents would like to see their child drug-free if possible, as some of the side effects of ADHD stimulant medication are decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, withdrawal from social activities and friends and jitteriness.

The treatment options that can be adopted that don’t rely on medication include behavior therapy, neurofeedback therapy, and education intervention. The ultimate goal of all these three approaches is to encourage the frequency of positive behaviors, while minimizing the symptoms of ADHD - inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

However unlike medications, these treatments don’t come out of a bottle, but require work on behalf of parents, teachers, professionals and the child. For example, these ADHD treatments require an experienced educator or therapist to devise an individual program for the child and the techniques will be taught to family members and the child to ensure they follow through at home.

These forms of treatments for ADHD are devised to improve symptoms while increasing the chance of preventing further problems associated with the disorder in the future.

These methods are not like drugs, they are not a ‘quick fixes’ and results won’t be seen overnight. They aim to be long-term solutions that truly make a difference to a child with ADHD, teaching them to recognize their behaviors and learning ways to adjust them. They try to accommodate the child and make it easier for them to conform to accepted behaviors without using drugs to mask behaviors or personality.

And unlike medications, these modes of treatment require patience on behalf of the people administering the therapy and additional assistance from people who are likely to come in contact with the child on a constant basis.

Consistency is key when adopting behavioral therapy otherwise confusion can set in. Once the ground rules have been set and the rewards and punishments are clearly defined they should be followed by all parties with no exceptions.

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Don’t forget to offer emotional support to your child. Children with ADHD get used to hearing how they are always doing things they shouldn’t and being reprimanded for their behavior. They can also struggle to make friends as a result of their behaviors. This can lead to a low self-esteem and in some cases, depression. So it’s important to give praise where you can and encourage them to use any skills they have whether it’s in sports or another creative outlet.

As you have probably realized, ADHD and treatments that don’t rely on medications are not a quick fix alternative. These are long-term treatments that you will have to continue to work with. You should discuss these alternatives with your child’s doctor and teachers. Never stop medication unless it has been discussed with your doctor.



By: Sue Perkins

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ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is commonly diagnosed among children, particularly those in the United States. Drug medications such as Ritalin, Adderall and Trileptal are often prescribed to help alleviate ADHD symptoms. Most of these medications have mild to severe side-effects and can become habit-forming.

A new research study has found that pine bark extract, marketed as Pycnogenol, may be an effective ADHD treatment. Pycnogenol has been shown to reduce hyperactivity in children. It also helped to improve focus and attention span and aided motor skills coordination in the children tested.

Pycnogenol is a natural herbal supplement which has long been used to reduce stress. It is known for its strong antioxidant properties. It actually serves to extend the antioxidant properties that are found in other sources such as vitamin C. It has also been used to help treat inflammation as well as to improve circulation. The latest findings showed that Pycnogenol can be a natural supplement to improve ADHD symptoms.

Pycnogenol has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for children with ADHD. What’s more, the treatment is natural and therefore produces none of the harmful or annoying side effects that other medical treatments often do. This is a tremendous finding for parents who are uncomfortable giving their children traditional prescription medications for ADHD. Many of the current medications are stimulants that can be addictive. For this reason some parents have concerns about giving them to their children for the long term.

The new study which will be published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience, is a continuation of a recent study done by scientists in Slovakia. The new study takes the research even further to measure the hormone levels in children using blood samples. Stress hormone levels dropped in children who took Pycnogenol, which accounted for improved attention span and other ADHD symptoms. Pycnogenol naturally lowers adrenaline levels as well as dopamine levels, thus reducing ADHD symptoms.

Research testing found that children with ADHD have higher levels of stress hormones that can increase heart rate and blood pressure. This can cause irritability, lack of focus and increased excitability. The study shows that children who took Pycnolgenol had decreased levels of the stress hormone and therefore exhibited reduction in ADHD symptoms. The study also shows that the children’s ADHD symptoms returned a month after they stopped taking Pycnolgenol. This confirms the scientific evidence that Pycnolgenol works to actually change hormone levels in the body.

These findings are particularly important for those who have children with ADHD. It gives parents an alternative treatment for ADHD

By: Alvin Toh

About the Author:

There are several alternative treatment options available to the parents of children correctly diagnosed with ADHD or ADD. Attention Deficit Disorder or that with Hyperactive tendencies are a set of mental illnesses that are routinely mis diagnosed.

This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms of ADHD and ADD are considered by many normal characteristics in growing kids. The challenge to develop any treatment options therefore is to accurately determine the degree of hyperactivity that pushes someone over the edge of normalcy and into the realm of a mental disorder.

One thing that you should be aware of is that the medical community is not in full agreement about ADHD in general or the use of some treatment options. There are those that believe that mediation used to treat this disorder have unacceptable risks. Another important factoid is that the treatment of all but the most pronounced mental disorders and diseases is a relatively new frontier.

Not in the sense of age as we’ve been working to find treatment options for all mental disorders for decades. But it’s more a frontier in the sense of understanding the causation and our ability to measure the severity of the problem. This is why jumping to an aggressive treatment option may not be in the best interest of the child that’s been diagnosed with ADHD or the family involved

If you have a child who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD for short, there are another of options open for treatment. The most common ADHD treatments usually involve as their biggest part the use of drugs like Ritalin or Dexedrine. On the street, these are known as Speed or methanphetamines.

Other treatment options for ADHD involve therapy and counseling for not only the one identified as having the ADD problem but also the whole family and especially the parents. Counseling can be used to help better identify emotional disturbances, and can assist with teaching the kid some study skills and organizational skills.

Note that teaching study skills etc. is normal stuff that should be done by parents. For many children however, because of the lack of parenting skills, the kid is diagnosed as having the problem.

The problem is that many ADHD treatments address the physiological part of the condition and ignore every other part. This is a problem, because ADHD children have trouble forming strategies to organize their lives and so they need, in addition to the drugs, some coaching in study skills that other students may be able to learn on their own. It is not enough just to medicate as an ADHD treatment option alone.

There are a number of other options that should also be considered. The most popular one at the moment is to have your child tested for allergies. Food allergies have been known to cause many problems for growing children and could be a root cause of ADHD as well.

Another option is to explore the use of natural remedies. vitamins and minerals may help keep your child off the pharmaceutical industries profitable drugs. Understand if needed, fine, but so many times, there are alternative options that work without the use of expensive drug solutions.

Other people recommend meditation techniques as ADHD treatment options. They say that the best way to treat ADHD is to take advantage of the mind’s natural flexibility and to rework the way it runs through self programming. Through daily meditation, focus, relaxation, and an end to the anxiety that is so common with ADHD sufferers.



By: Abigail Franks

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CelebrateADHD asked:

It’s a common misperception that children with ADHD and creative minds need isolation in order to focus. Actually, research proves that multi-sensory stimulation improves attention and retention. In the video clip, we show teachers and parents two simple interventions that help ALL children learn more effectively. Celebrate ADHD has helped over 22,000 families and teachers by using a proactive approach that meets NEEDS instead of treating behavior. Invite us into your school. Visit www.Celebrate-ADHD.com for a free newsletter.

BryGibson asked:

Employees of LearningRx Severna Park MD share some stories about brain training.