Treatment Options

The phrase "ADHD treatment options" typically calls to mind various medications, like Ritalin, Adderall, and others. But there are options for those who don't want to take, or don't want their kids to take, prescription pills.

"Although it is now a routine part of most ADD treatments nowadays, at the time, biofeedback was a pioneering technique. Basically, I would be set up at a laptop computer with a compact disc of my choosing inside. When my brain was acting in a certain way characteristic of concentration, the music would turn on. When my brain stopped acting that way, the music would turn off."

Treatments like biofeedback and other forms of behavioral therapy may not eliminate the need for medication, but they can help make lower doses more effective. Read more at KeepSoundHealth.com.

Boarding schools for children with ADHD can address ADHD kids behaviors in and out of the classroom. Learn more ways they can help at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Dr. Drew Talks About ADHD

He's best known for his radio show Loveline, and his VH-1 television program Celebrity Rehab. But in this interview with LAist, Dr. Drew Pinsky spends a considerable amount of time talking about the realities of ADHD.

"Are alternative treatments for ADD or ADHD, such as changing diet, effective? 'That clearly has been shown to have no effect. Listen, those studies are not neuropsychiatrically tested. Not good stuff. It's very clear if you have a kid with that problem there are two interventions. One is behavioral interventions, which are really quite good, and pharmacological interventions. But once again, these are complicated cases that need to be followed up by skillful people.'"

Dr. Pinsky also stresses the importance of having a child properly diagnosed by a "neuropsychiatric forum" rather than a primary care physician. Read more at LAist.com.

Role of Meds Shrinking?

A recent study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has some pediatricians and professors calling for restraint and caution in the prescription of medication for the treatment of ADHD. The NIMH study has found that children who used psychosocial or behavioral treatment instead of medication had essentially "caught up" with those children who used medication.

"'While results of one study rarely justify drastic changes of practice, the findings underscore the complexity of ADHD, show that stimulant drugs are far from being a silver bullet and that there is much we do not yet know,' Prof [Joseph] Rey wrote in the latest Medical Journal of Australia."

He acknowledges that stimulant medication still plays a role in the treatment of ADHD, but warns that it should not be considered the only, or even the best, form of treatment. Read more at En.EpochTimes.com.

Kids with Social Phobia Benefit from Therapy

Children under age 17 years who have severe social phobias benefit more from behavioral therapy than drug treatments, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Social phobia is not just shyness. It is an extreme fear of social situations that can make children avoid playing with their peers, reading aloud in class, or relating to adults.

Dr. Deborah Beidel took 139 children ages 3 to 17 years who suffer from social phobia and divided them into three groups. Group 1 got behavioral therapy; Group 2 took antidepressants; and Group 3 took placebos (sugar pills). After three months, about 80% of those in Group 1 improved, compared to 30% in Group 2 and only 6% in Group 3. By the end of the study, 53% of those in Group 1 were considered cured.

Talisman Camps offer summer camp programs and year round academic semesters for children with ADHD, Autism, and Asperger's.

Kids with Social Phobia Benefit from Therapy

Children under age 17 years who have severe social phobias benefit more from behavioral therapy than drug treatments, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Social phobia is not just shyness. It is an extreme fear of social situations that can make children avoid playing with their peers, reading aloud in class, or relating to adults.

Dr. Deborah Beidel took 139 children ages 3 to 17 years who suffer from social phobia and divided them into three groups. Group 1 got behavioral therapy; Group 2 took antidepressants; and Group 3 took placebos (sugar pills). After three months, about 80% of those in Group 1 improved, compared to 30% in Group 2 and only 6% in Group 3. By the end of the study, 53% of those in Group 1 were considered cured.

Talisman Camps offer summer camp programs and year round academic semesters for children with ADHD, Autism, and Asperger's.

Prognosis Good for Kids Who get Treatment

When it comes to kids and ADHD, reports and studies abound that document increased risks for substance abuse and decreased academic potential. It's enough to make a parent feel like their kid has no chance at a "normal" life. But a study conducted over the summer shows that most ADHD children who are treated - either with medication, behavior therapy or both - improve over time.

"The roles of specific therapies and educational strategies remain unclear... For now, parents should know that treating ADHD, early and with vigor, can make a difference, says Anne Teeter Ellison, a psychologist and president of an advocacy group called Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder..."

Studies have also found that improvement comes as young brains develop and mature. So while there may be a lot of "doom and gloom" reports out there, there are also valid reasons to believe that a child with ADHD can look forward to a bright, productive future.

Residential treatment centers, like the Aspen Institute, can offer parents struggling with difficult children a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.

PedMed: In Praise of Non-Drug Solutions

Some specialists in pediatric and/or holistic medicine are concerned about the excessive publicity often given to drugs that treat things like ADHD, while other forms of treatment - like behavioral therapy - go almost unnoticed. Pharmaceutical companies sponsor awards, dinners and major lectures. Medical journals are filled with their ads.

"The net result is that even though in its policy statement the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry emphasizes its admonition that 'psychiatric medication should not be used alone,' more often than not, it is. For example, a study of 223 children ages 3 and younger diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder found more than half were prescribed psychotropic medication, yet fewer than a third were receiving psychological services."

William Pelham, Jr., distinguished professor of psychology, pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of New York at Buffalo conducted a study which found that when medication was used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, drug doses could be reduced by as much as 67 percent while still achieving the same results. Read more at ScienceDaily.com.

Military boarding schools rarely offer any programs for kids with special needs or who really need therapy, not being screamed at. Find an alternative at 4-Military-School-Alternatives.com.

New ADHD Patch Being Developed

Noven Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Shire plc, is developing a new transdermal patch for the treatment of ADHD. The two companies previously worked together to develop Daytrana™, which was the first ADHD treatment patch ever approved.

"As previously announced, Noven successfully completed a Phase 1 study of an amphetamine transdermal system (ATS) under development for the treatment of ADHD. Shire has requested modifications to the original patch formulation in order to align ATS with its future direction in ADHD."

Daytrana™ was first released in June 2006. It was the first, and is currently the only, transdermal product approved for ADHD therapy.

The new school year is just around the corner - now's the time to look into finding an ADHD school or Asperger's Schools or a school for children with a non-verbal learning disorder. Cedars Academy is a private school specializing in children with ADD, ADHD, NLD, or Asperger's.

Researchers Studying Mood Disorder Treatments

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are conducting a major new study on adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. This disorder affects about one in 280 Australians, a rate higher than the world average.

Lake-Hui Quek and others are trying to determine why young people with Asperger Syndrome experience high levels of mood disturbances and anxiety. They hope to develop new interventions specifically designed for Asperger Syndrome.
Currently, they are conducting trials of specialized cognitive-behavior therapy among adolescents with the syndrome.

Check out Your Little Professor - a friendly and helpful site - for parents of children with Asperger's or Autism.

Horses as Therapists

Horses as therapists for your differently-abled child? That's true. Equine facilitated learning (EFL) is now being looked upon as a fun-filled therapeutic option for physically, mentally and emotionally challenged people, especially children. Read more online.