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Treatment Options

Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Helping Yourself

Treatment with medications should be supplemented with behavioral modification. The following are ways that parents and teachers can help a child with ADHD:

Communicate regularly with the child's teachers, caregivers, and doctors about the progress of the child. This is especially important when the child begins medication or the child's dose of medication has been changed.
Allow the child to have more time when taking a test.
Give the child less homework so they can better focus.
Take larger tasks and divide them into smaller tasks that are easier to manage. Give the child a reward for each smaller task completed.
Praise behavior that you want to continue by giving rewards to the child.
Giving the child a "time-out" for not completing a task.
Emphasize the importance of appropriate behavior, such as waiting in line, sharing, or asking for help. If needed, a therapist may be able to show you how to do this.
Remind your child that ADHD is not their fault.
Remind your child not to be embarrassed by having to take medications at school. Other children take medications at school also (such as children with asthma).
Join a support group. (Helpful websites to find support groups include: www.chadd.org, www.add.org, www.healthyplace.com )
Join classes that give parents ideas and tools to help manage the child's behavior.
Avoid over-stimulation. This may include allowing only one friend at a time to play with your child.
Make a list of things to do for the day.
Create a routine for yourself or your child. Stick to a routine so that it is easier for tasks to get accomplished.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.