What are the different types of ADHD treatment for children?

While medication is appropriate for some children with ADHD, addiction specialist Mike Dow, PsyD, says there are several non-drug treatments that can be just as effective. Learn about natural treatments for ADHD.

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Trodes are actually placed on your brain. And with a neurofeedback therapist, you are actually training your brainwaves

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to be more focused and calm. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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As a parent who has a child with ADD or ADHD, you may be wondering, are there other effective treatment

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options available? And the answer is yes. First, you're right to be concerned because there are rising rates of kids abusing these drugs

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either on- or off-label. There are more kids than ever selling these drugs to their friends, taking it recreationally.

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And especially, in children and teens, these have long-lasting and very detrimental effects.

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The first effective treatment alternative is cognitive behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy helps kids, and sometimes parents and kids

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together, to set up strategies that are going to help to manage symptoms. The second effective strategy that

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has been shown to treat this disorder is what we call neurofeedback, or EEG biofeedback. This is a non-invasive procedure where electrodes are actually

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placed on your brain. And with a neurofeedback therapist, you are actually training your brainwaves

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to be more focused and calm. The third effective treatment alternative is make sure you talk to your doctor or your nutritionist

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about getting proper nutrition because things like omega-3 oils, which are so good for the brain,

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have been shown to be really good for kids. And if your kid or you are not getting the omega-3s that

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your brain needs to really thrive, that can sometimes manifest itself in ADD/ADHD-like

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symptoms. The fourth and final treatment option that is very effective is mindful meditation.

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In studies with teens at UCLA, this has been shown to be almost as effective as Adderall

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in treating this disorder. So look for a mindful meditation practitioner on websites such as John Kabat-Zinn's

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website at the University of Massachusetts. You can find a practitioner to teach your child. This releases dopamine in the brain

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and, again, is an effective and non-addictive treatment alternative. [AUDIO LOGO]