In our society, we are unfortunately overmedicated. Some doctors prescribe medication without researching alternatives, while others believe that treating symptoms with pills is the easiest solution. Medication is great when administered correctly. When medication is good, it’s a great thing.
It is particularly true of ADHD, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. This is a controversial diagnosis. Some people believe that ADHD does not exist and that the parents of children who take ADHD medication do not care about their child’s bad behavior. The truth couldn’t be further from the reality. In the United States, nearly every major medical, psychological, educational, and educational organization has concluded for years that ADHD is brain-based and that children and adults can benefit from treatment. Parents who believe their child has ADHD should speak to their pediatrician and a Newport Beach psychiatrist.
Some questions have been raised about the dosage of medications such as Ritalin and methylphenidate. This raises concerns about the effectiveness and safety of ADHD medications in treating ADHD.
Some people can manage their ADHD without medication. Many professionals use only behavior therapy if a child is diagnosed with ADHD before the age of six. Adults can educate themselves about the disorder and manage it on their own. Each person is unique, and medication may be the best way to treat ADHD.
What is the best medication for your child? You and your child’s medical team determine the best medication. MTA, the longest-running ADHD study, concluded that medication has lasting effects. Comparing it to behavioral therapy, the medication was superior. Try medication if the behavioral modification doesn’t work. You can adjust the dosage as needed.
Even if you choose to medicate, ADHD treatment will always be multi-faceted. Teachers and parents can implement behavioral interventions effectively. Teachers can implement contingency management. Students can receive daily feedback on how they’re doing with their goals. For example, if they remember to do their homework or refrain from interrupting others. When they reach their goals, they receive a reward.
Summer camps and similar settings offer therapeutic recreational programs for children with ADHD. These programs can include sports and traditional camp activities. They may also involve behavior interventions by trained staff. The program helps children with ADHD to develop social skills. They are constantly coached to ensure the behaviors they have learned.
People with ADHD can benefit from a healthy lifestyle, regardless of their age. Children with ADHD may benefit from daily exercise, even if it is only a small amount. Exercise is not used as a therapy but is always recommended. All school-age children must take P.E. Children must have recess and P.E. Classes.
Sleep is essential. Sleep-deprived children may be easily irritable or distracted. Lack of sleep is detrimental to a child who has ADHD. To help your child establish good sleeping habits, you can set an early bedtime for them and remove T.V.s and tablets.
There haven’t yet been many studies that look at the effect of diet on ADHD. However, certain foods may exacerbate symptoms or impact behavior. Even frozen fruit and vegetables can contain artificial colorings, which worsen hyperactivity. Although banning these foods completely is impossible, you should ensure your child understands how they affect their moods and behaviors.
If behavioral and natural approaches do not work, don’t let the stigma of medication stop you from getting help for your child. If one of your children had diabetes, no one would make fun of you. ADHD is a serious condition, and behavioral therapies alone may not help.
It is important to note that medication does not treat ADHD. Many people with ADHD can benefit from medication. Correctly used, medication can help them receive other types of treatment, including behavioral, educational, and psychological treatments. They also enjoy a higher quality of life. Correctly diagnosing children can mean the difference between success and failure in their schoolwork and social lives.
More than any other condition I treat, the issue of medication for ADHD or ADD children is controversial and murky. The question of whether to add medication to a child’s treatment is a very important one for parents. Parents research the pros, cons, and benefits of ADHD medication but are influenced by guilt and fear. Most caregivers do not decide in black and white.
It is well-documented that stimulants and non-stimulants have positive and negative side effects. It’s crucial to inform parents how the medication works and why it might be prescribed. However, clinicians must also support parents in their decision-making by being aware of concerns, even if they are not expressed.
Common Medication concerns
ADHD Medication: Will my child become a zombie?
Parents are most concerned that ADHD medication may change their child’s character. Parents may want to intervene in some of their children’s challenging behaviors but are worried that medication will make their child a “zombie.”
Clinicians must assure parents that a medication that seems to silence the positive aspects of a child and their core personality indicates a failed medical trial. A different medication should be tested.
Parents should also be aware that not all personality shifts caused by medication are bad. It could be the medication inhibiting a child’s sense of humor. It’s not the child’s fault that he’s less funny but more funny when appropriate.
ADHD Medication: Will my child become dependent?
It is not the case that medication for ADHD can be helpful and useful, but it does not mean you will become dependent on it. Clinicians must remind parents about this distinction.
A child who finds medication useful will become dependent on it, just as a person with broken legs is dependent on crutches and a wheelchair ramp. A child’s medication should be useful only if it allows them to accomplish what they should.
Another helpful analogy is that sleep is important for our health and keeps us functioning. We would feel the difference if we didn’t sleep and would want to sleep. But that doesn’t make us addicted. Our brain and body require it. The medication is designed to buffer the neurology of an individual that’s not working in a way that’s ultimately helpful.
