Alternative non-drug treatments for ADHD in children

Alternative Treatment Educational Course for Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Three general conditions that guarantee clear and credible reports in the alternative treatment of ADHD

The customary course of treatment for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in a child is drug treatment, usually through the administration of a stimulant medication such as Adderall. However, alternative and complementary treatments do exist for families who wish to explore additional and alternative forms of addressing their child's impulsivity, anger issues, and hyperactivity. Even for parents who elect to use drug treatment, using stimulants in consort with non-drug therapies may enhance their overall success rate of managing the child's difficulties.

Setting goals

For impulsivity, cognitive or behavioral-modification therapy is often useful. Cognitive therapy is designed to help children 'think first,' and then act, through role-playing and anticipating certain situations. Children are asked about 'what if' scenarios, and asked to evaluate consequences. In generating a report on its efficacy, noting that the child has stopped or mitigated his or her use of certain behaviors, such as showing a lack of respect for others in speech and action or showing a lack of thoughtfulness when completing assignments is possible. Students may be 'graded' upon turning homework assignments, completing chores, or other tasks are set for the upcoming therapy session that the child must complete on a regular, scheduled basis (Non-drug therapies for ADHD, 2005, Mental Health Matters).

Creating a new way of relating to the world for the child

For hyperactive children, behavior modification can be useful. In this therapy, good behaviors, agreed upon by the child, parent, teachers, and therapist, are rewarded and others are punished (Non-drug therapies for ADHD, 2005, Mental Health Matters). These might include sitting still for defined periods of time, not running or fidgeting at inappropriate times, and meeting other physically definite goals. Behavior modification is often deployed for younger children or children who do not yet have the capacity to engage in cognitive behavioral therapy. Including the family in this therapy is especially important as the family can help watch the child and note when he or she behaved well in challenging situations, or poorly despite the dictates of his or contract with the therapist.

All of these alternative therapies encourage defining limits for the child, setting measurable outcomes, and establish new, physical limitations for the child in the world. While there is no 'silver bullet' therapy to deal with the triad of impulsivity, anger, and hyperactivity that afflicts so many ADHD children, these treatments can be effective when applied consistently, and for many children can either mitigate or obviate the need for drug treatment.