Effective behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms of ADHD. These treatments can assist individuals in doing better at home, school, and in social situations. Each child should undergo a full assessment before starting treatment to determine the diagnosis and treatment strategy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends combining medication and behavior therapy for six and up children (Kaminski & Claussen, 2017). Parent training in behavior management, behavioral interventions in the classroom, peer interventions that focus on conduct, and organizational skills training are successful behavioral therapies (Kaminski & Claussen, 2017). Depending on the needs of the individual kid and family, these treatments are typically most effective when used simultaneously.
When it comes to treating ADHD in teenagers, there are many different perspectives. For teenagers, some specialists believe that behavioral treatment alone may be effective. However, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 80% of people who needed ADHD medication as children continue to do so as teenagers (Spence, et al., 2016). Treatment for ADHD in teenagers usually entails a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Behavior therapy is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to improve behavior difficulties associated with ADHD (Weersing, et al., 2016).
Parents can learn more about ADHD and alter their expectations for the child through family counseling or “parent training” (Weersing, et al., 2016). They can also learn to manage their frustrations and to parent consistently and reasonably (Spence, et al., 2016 Behavioral therapy can teach parents how to handle situations at home and school so that their adolescent understands their expectations and responsibilities.
Family counseling and behavioral therapy, according to some medical practitioners, are sufficient treatments for ADHD. In the Journal of Attention Disorders, Kathleen Holton of American University suggests that a “healthy lifestyle” could be used instead of medication to treat ADHD. Her “prescription” includes (Holton & Nigg, 2020):
- No more than an hour of screen time per day.
- Enough sleep (from 9 to 11 hours).
- 7 to 10 glasses of water per day.
- Exercise for at least an hour each day.
Other specialists recommend utilizing “nature therapy” to alleviate ADHD symptoms, which involves taking the child on hikes in parks and different natural settings (Higa-McMillan, et al., 2016). According to one study, youngsters could concentrate better in the park than on suburban streets (“shockingly better,” as one researcher put it) (Kaminski & Claussen, 2017). Other specialists believe that treating the illness with medicine is the best way to manage it (McCart & Sheidow, 2016). If the child’s treatment plan includes a mixture, parents wIll need to consult with his doctor or psychiatrist to determine the proper dosage.
Though medication treatment for ADHD is still the most effective way to control symptoms throughout adolescence, it is not uncommon for teenagers with ADHD to rebel. It refuses to take its medication during high school (McCart & Sheidow, 2016). This resistance could be a self-destructive attempt to gain independence or a reaction to feeling “managed”(Evans, et al., 2018). Age, weight, or symptom severity have little bearing on the effective dose of stimulant drugs for ADHD. Prescribers must carefully determine the amount and timing that best fits the sensitivity of the individual’s body chemistry and activity schedule. One of the most important lessons parents can teach their children is that when they choose therapy for themselves, they choose treatment for everyone else (Higa-McMillan, et al., 2016). This is especially true when it comes to medicating for diagnosed ADHD properly.
Medication, behavior therapy, and dietary and nutritional supplement adjustments are used to treat ADHD symptoms in teenagers. Regular exercise and adequate sleep are also essential. Physical growth, metabolism, hormones, and frequently changing schedules all affect daily living during the teen years, making treatment programs more complicated.
References
Evans, S. W., Owens, J. S., Wymbs, B. T., & Ray, A. R. (2018). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 47(2), 157-198.
Higa-McMillan, C.K., Francis, S. E., Rith-Najarian, L., & Chopita B. F. (2016). Evidence base update: 50 years of research on treatment for child and adolescent anxiety. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 45:2, 91-113.
Holton, K. F., & Nigg, J. T. (2020). The association of lifestyle factors and ADHD in children. Journal of attention disorders, 24(11), 1511-1520.
Kaminski, J. & Claussen, A. (2017). Evidence base update for psychosocial treatments for disruptive behaviors in children. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 1-23.
McCart, M. R., & Sheidow, A. J. (2016). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for adolescents with disruptive behavior. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 45, 529-563.
Spence, S. H., O’Shea, G., & Donovan, C. L. (2016). Improvements in interpersonal functioning following interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) with adolescents and their association with change in depression. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44(3), 257-272.
Weersing, V.R., Jeffreys, M. Do, M.T. Schwartz, K.T.G., & Bolano, C. (2016). Evidence base update of psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent depression. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 46(1), 11-43.