The controversy of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is loaded with implications in the field of medicine. In the past, many children who were disruptive or loud were considered both difficult to discipline and undeserving of attention or they were the products of parents who did not know how to raise a child, and were pitied. Those children who were unable to focus while in school were labeled as slow learners and more often than not, looked down upon by others of the same age.

Today, we have discussed that such behavior is often diagnosed as symptoms of ADHD. ADHD children are generally forgetful, disruptive, impulsive, easily distracted and hyperactive. More adults are being diagnosed with ADHD, since this ever-present condition continues into adulthood, shown by the increasing volume of research conducted in the field of medicine. ADHD is a hereditary disorder, with nearly five percent of the cases being the result of a physical or chemical brain injury endured while in the womb.

The diagnosis of ADHD breeds the controversy surrounding the condition. Since some normal childhood, behavior that can get out of control because of poor upbringing, some psychologists and parents insist that the behavioral patterns materialize as ADHD. As a result, they recommend that children, who have been diagnosed with ADHD, not take medication, rather that they should be controlled and counseled. On the hand, regarding ADHD as a real disorder, it maintains that medication be given and continued as it can temper the symptoms of the disorder.

Those who suffer from it have to take medication all their lives, since there is no real means to treat ADHD permanently. Arrangements such as this calls for many questions, especially when concern with safety. There are different medications for ADHD, as you may know, and some of them were primarily used to treat narcolepsy by directing certain parts of the nervous system.

As we discussed in the previous chapter such medications, which include the popular Concerta and Ritalin , can actually have dreadful side effects, such as arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, increased heart rate or severe palpitations, increased blood pressure as well as increased risk of stroke. The USFDA or United States Food and Drug Administration, has studied the influence of ADHD drugs and have them stamped with a black box warning. To be precise, such drugs are regulated and can be prescribed, however strong caution must be exercised when such drugs are taken. Another advisory panel has evaluated evidence pointing to long-term psychiatric changes and cardiovascular risks in children who take ADHD medication, in addition to the studies of the FDA. The panel found that such drugs might possibly increase the risk of hallucinations, aggressive behavior, psychosis and mania in ADHD children.

Even though psychiatric specialists caution people about making literal interpretations of these findings, there is still a good bit of controversy surrounding the use of these drugs. According to the documents presented to the second evaluating panel, the consequence of psychiatric diseases being deteriorated because of ADHD medication was exceptionally small; and that many of the cardiovascular diseases, such as higher blood pressure, arose because of existing heart-related conditions in persons suffering from ADHD.

Since these medications have proven to be safe so far, despite the risks, doctors and psychiatrists continue to recommend ADHD medications. More than a good number of other medications that have long been approved and are currently being prescribed, in fact there is a great deal of research and literature available concerning ADHD medications. ADHD patients are regularly monitored closely, for safety while these medications are being administered. Some of these medications can stunt the growth pattern of young ADHD children; therefore, they are measured and weighed regularly, while taking their ADHD medications.

Medication for ADHD may induce hallucinations; consequently, some parents are concerned with addiction or long term effects in ADHD children. It is true that stopping the medication can stop the hallucinations. However, it is appointed to the physician to determine when medication should be discontinued, parents of ADHD children are cautioned concerning the making up of their own procedures of changing the medication on their own.

Likewise, ADHD treatment does not end with ADHD medication. A course of therapy treatment such as behavior modification, counseling and special education goes hand in hand with the use of medication. You should consult with your doctor regularly on the medication options, treatments and obligations that are available if you or your children suffer with ADHD. You should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages as well as the side effects associated with the medication procedures and treatments by doing as much research as possible, into those that interest you. You cannot go wrong as long as you are well informed about ADHD in children and adults. Learning all that you can about ADHD and its symptoms as well as the things that might bring some benefits in easing the discomforts of such a disorder are long term, however ADHD can be eased for those who suffer from this condition as well as providing a peace of mind for ADHD parents. Keep in mind however, until there is a cure for ADHD, there will always be controversy surrounding the condition.



By: Gaetane Ross

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As a non-medical treatment approach, behavior therapy ADHD treatment is a well-recognized therapy for children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. The process is also sometimes referred to as behavior management.

Although medications can manage the symptoms of ADHD, they may not be suitable for every child. For some children medication has little or no effect on behaviors, for others the side effects can be just as bad in different ways than the ADHD symptoms. Also for some children the medications may not address all the symptoms and others may just refuse to take it. This can sometimes happen in older children and teenagers.

Behavior therapy for ADHD aims to reduce ADHD behaviors by focusing on three main factors. Children, especially young children, generally want to please their parents and may change behaviors to gain parental approval. Behavior therapy can also work by using positive reward as a motivational tool and also by the avoidance of negative consequences (punishments).

So, the idea is to increase the emphasis on the child achieving parental approval with rewards for positive behavior and discouraging inappropriate behavior with consistent punishments.

Having a child with ADHD can be like living in a war zone with constant tension, arguments and fights due to the frustrations felt on all sides over ADHD behaviors. Parents are constantly having to nag, berate and cajole to get anything done and children get fed up always being in trouble and labeled as ‘bad’ or naughty. The relationship can quickly break down.

So going back to behavioral therapy and focusing on aiming to increase the child’s desire to please their parents there needs to be some time out from all this aggression where parent and child can enjoy an activity together. The best way to increase some goodwill between parent and child is for the child to choose an activity and then work with the parent to complete it. Parents need to ensure that they use motivational language and not try and take over or correct the child. This doesn’t have to go on for hours, about 30 - 40 minutes should to be enough.

By spending quality time together that’s fun, your child will start to enjoy Mom or Dad’s time and will hopefully become more willing to please.

The use of the positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in behavior therapy. ADHD kids generally spend much of their time doing something they shouldn’t and getting reprimanded for their actions. It’s not very often that they get told they’ve done something right. It is generally much easier to criticize than to praise but if you make the effort to thank them or compliment on the behaviors you want to see more of the likelihood is that they’ll be repeated.

As well as verbal rewards you can also use other rewards. For example: for every good behavior your child earns a point that they can then accumulate for either a toy or a special treat of some kind. Try to avoid food treats though as these can encourage bad eating habits.

Negative consequences work in a similar way. Once you have explained to your child what is expected in a certain situation and they have understood you can use predetermined punishments if their behavior is not acceptable.

By punishments I don’t mean physically hitting your child, rather the removal of some privileges. In order for this approach to truly be effective you must be consistent or your child will soon realize that there is a difference between what you say and what you do.

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For behavior therapy treatments to work parents must be very clear about what their expectations are for their child’s behavior. The children need to understand both the actions they are expected to do and also the consequences for not carrying out those actions. Parents must be consistent with both reward and punishments and take care not to over react to situations.

If you are interested in designing a behavior therapy ADHD plan for your child then speak to your doctor who should be able to give you a referral to a qualified professional.



By: Sue Perkins

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Traditionally stimulant medications are the drug of choice prescribed by doctors in order to treat the various symptoms of ADHD. However, these medications often only provide temporary relief and have to be taken for long periods. Besides that, they can also have certain detrimental side effects. Because of this, many people are tempted to seek out relief through the alternative medicines. Alternative medicines ADHD treatment options can be varied. Here are some of the options available to those seeking Alternative medicines for ADHD:

Homeopathic remedies - these alternative medicines for ADHD actually come in the form of various remedies formulated by practitioners based on the symptoms the patient is exhibiting. As with many ailments, each person with ADHD experiences a slightly different set of symptoms.

A homeopathic practitioner will take a detailed medical history and prepares a remedy made up of a combination of various substances chosen specifically for their potency in relieving a specific set of symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are aimed at treating the whole person, and the underlying causes of the condition and not just the symptoms. They claim to be more effective than conventional medications since they aim to rebalance the body, which in turn relieves symptoms.

2) Herbal stimulants - many people are going back to natures own medicine cabinet and are turning to different herbal stimulants for ADHD relief.

Prescription drugs like Ritalin are actually stimulants designed to help balance the chemical reactions in the brain in people with ADHD. However, since these drugs can have some adverse effects there has been a growing trend towards herbal stimulants.

These alternatives for ADHD have been shown to provide help in reducing ADHD behaviors, with a lower risk of side effects. Caution should be taken, however, as herbal stimulants can interact with conventional medication. Before taking any herbal stimulants, you should consult an expert to see whether or not it can be taken with any regular medication.

3) Nutritional supplements - these alternative medicines for ADHD are used to keep a person’s body and mind healthy. A certain level of nutritional intake is essential to maintain certain chemical processes in a person’s body and brain. Although our body does produce may substances it needs for clear and organized thought, certain substances can only be found in the food that we eat. If we don’t get enough through diet then supplementation may be required to help ease ADHD symptoms

4) Neurofeedback - this therapy isn’t really alternative medicines for ADHD. However, it has been devised to help individuals learn to recognize behaviors and adjust them accordingly. Neurofeedback claims to be able to train people to actually control their brain wave patterns. Certain brain wave patterns are associated with common symptoms of ADHD like daydreaming and inattention. By learning how to recognize and control brain wave patterns, people can maintain concentration and actually condition themselves to ignore the symptoms of the disorder.

These are just some of the alternative medicines ADHD options available. If you would like to know more, then sign up for the free recognizing and treating ADHD newsletter below.



By: Sue Perkins

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