What Are the Different Types of ADHD Treatment for Children?

While medication is appropriate for some children with ADHD, addiction specialist Dr. Mike Dow says there are several non-drug treatments that can be just as effective. To learn about natural treatments for ADHD, watch the video.

Transcript

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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 called neurofeedback or EEG biofeedback. This is a noninvasive procedure where electrodes are actually

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

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to be more focused and calm. This has been shown to be very effective in treating this disorder with no side effects

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and no potential for addiction. 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

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

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The fourth and final treatment option that is very effective is mindful meditation. In studies with teens at UCLA, this

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has been shown to be almost as effective as Adderall in treating this disorder. So look for a mindful meditation practitioner on websites,

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such as Jon Kabat-Zinn's website at the University of Massachusetts. You can find a practitioner to teach your child.

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This releases dopamine in the brain, and again, is an effective and nonaddictive treatment alternative.