Complementary Treatment

Sometimes, people look for treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that they hope will work together with–or even instead of–their doctor’s treatments. Doctors and other specialists manage ADHD with methods that have been carefully examined, tested and proven efficient. The methods used include medication and behavioural therapy. However, there are many alternatives to treating ADHD that are discussed by friends or read about on the Internet.

Here are two terms you should be aware of to comprehend the treatments for ADHD that are discussed in this article:

1. Alternate treatment. An alternative treatment is employed in place of prescription medication and professional guidance for behaviour issues.
2. Treatment for complementary disorders. It is a complementary and standard therapy to provide more effective treatment for ADHD symptoms.

How do I determine whether alternative or complementary treatments can or will not help?

Be cautious if you read or hear about a different or complementary treatment in a book, magazine, or other non-scientific sources—researchers who severely judge their work against each other in scientific journals. Alternative and complementary therapies typically need to be thoroughly tested or evaluated by a panel of experts. They’re also frequently controversial.

What are the most important questions to ask regarding other therapies?

These questions aid you in evaluating any treatment that you may be thinking about.

• Did clinical trials take place to demonstrate that this treatment works? (A clinical trial is a scientific assessment of a new treatment.)
• Where can I get information on the treatment through a reputable source?
• Are there any reputable national association of those who are practising this therapy?
• Is the person providing the treatment required to be licensed by the state?
• Does my health insurance pay for this procedure? (Insurance generally won’t pay for treatments that have not been proven.)

What is the time to be worried?

If you are evaluating a treatment, take note of the indicators that the treatment is ineffective, not worth the money, or is just not worth it.

• If there is a claim that the treatment works for everyone suffering from ADHD (No One treatment will work for all.)
• If you find that the “proof” is only a few people claiming it is effective. (It is the product of a thorough investigation and many studies.)
• If the medication does not contain instructions on how to use it in a proper manner or the ingredients are not indicated on medication containers.
• If you don’t receive any information on the effects of certain medications
• If you don’t know that “natural” is is not necessarily the equivalent of safe
• When the treatment can be described as “a secret formula,” “astonishing,” “miraculous,” “an amazing breakthrough” or”a “cure”
• If you find out about it from infomercials or books that the book author is trying to sell
• If it’s a mail order, instead of the doctor
• If you’re told that doctors misunderstand the treatment or don’t inform anyone about it

Don’t trust everything you hear or read about the latest medical breakthroughs. Find out where the information originated. Reliable information usually comes from medical institutions, the government, medical associations, and national groups like CHADD. Anyone can say they are an “expert.”

Consult with your doctor.

If you are considering an alternative or complementary treatment, consult your physician. Remember that herbs, vitamins, and other treatments may affect your other medication. Discuss all the things you take to combat ADHD with your physician.

Some Alternative and Complementary Treatments for ADHD

Dietary Treatment/ Nutritional Supplements

A balanced diet is the key to a healthy and happy life. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating a balanced diet can reduce the risk of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease. Exercise and physical activity are suggested as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

 

Interactive Metronome Training

A metronome is a device that records precise timing (it clicks) to help musicians keep their pace. A belief that people who have ADHD can improve their performance by getting used to matching the rhythm of their feet or hands to the beat of a metronome was the basis for this approach. Some studies showed that this training benefits ADHD movements and timing issues, but others didn’t.

Sensory Integration Training

Integration is the process of combining or mixing. When the brain is flooded by too many sensory signals (what is seen, heard, tasted, felt, and smelled), it cannot respond to all of it. Training in sensory integration is one therapy that aims to “teach” the brain how to respond more to various sensory signals it receives. Further research is required before this therapy is believed to alleviate people living with ADHD.

EEG Biofeedback

Doctors use EEGs (electroencephalograms) to see and record a person’s brain waves. Most “pictures” of the brains of those who have ADHD reveal that a particular part of the brain isn’t able to “light up” or become more active than it would typically in brains. The treatment based on this information is called neurofeedback. Patients with ADHD are taught to make the brain’s sections more active. After training, a patient’s behaviours -such as lack of attention and hyperactive/impulsive behaviour- may improve. There isn’t enough research conducted to say that EEG biofeedback is effective. Parents must also be aware that biofeedback therapies could be costly.

Chiropractic

A few chiropractors think that chiropractic therapy (which adjusts the spinal column to treat diseases) is superior to conventional treatment for ADHD. There is a lack of scientific evidence to prove chiropractic can help with symptoms of this brain disorder.

Thyroid Treatment

Some children with thyroid problems also struggle with hyperactivity and attention. The thyroid disorders of children who have ADHD are sporadic. However, children with ADHD need to have their thyroid examined.

Vision Therapy

Some believe that problems with vision, such as insufficient movement of the eyes, sensitivities of the eyes, and even focus problems, can lead to problems with reading. There are a variety of ways to treat eye problems that, include eye exercises, as well as education-related training. Doctors believe this treatment method could be more efficient.

Before deciding whether to utilize any of the abovementioned options, please consult your doctor to determine whether they could aid you.

Individuals who have ADHD require individualized treatment. The treatment and treatments employed should “fit” each individual’s needs. Many health professionals who treat ADHD consider multimodaltreatment the most effective treatment. Multimodal treatment encompasses medication, therapy for behavioural disorders, school programs and accommodations, and the teaching of families and children regarding the disorder. This aids in reducing the undesirable behaviour resulting from ADHD symptoms.