What treatments for ADHD are effective?

  The results of a large number of studies on the effectiveness and safety of medications used to treat ADHD indicate one thing: medication plays a very important role in ADHD intervention, whether for children, adolescents or adults with ADHD. When medication is included in a child’s treatment plan, it is much more effective in improving ADHD symptoms than psycho-behavioral treatment alone. This is especially true when the dosage of medication is closely monitored and adjusted by a medical professional.  Although medication can reduce the symptoms of ADHD, children with ADHD lack the skills to cope with the problems associated with ADHD symptoms in school life, home life and self-management of behavior. Therefore, medication combined with psycho-behavioral therapy can help children function better and thus achieve better remission. In addition, psycho-behavioral therapy may help the child achieve better and longer-lasting results with fewer doses of medication.  The following three types of psycho-behavioral treatment are currently suggested to be effective: parent training: to help parents better understand ADHD and learn the proper ways to manage their child’s ADHD behavior; child training: to help children develop appropriate social, learning, and problem-solving skills to cope with the difficulties and troubles caused by ADHD; school intervention: to help teachers understand the needs of children with ADHD, as well as to appropriately ways to manage the behavior of children with ADHD in the classroom.  In addition to medication and effective psycho-behavioral treatment, there are a number of training methods that may be useful for ADHD, including EEG biofeedback, sensory integration training, balance training, and computerized versions of cognitive task training. Some of these training methods are also offered by social agencies, so if parents find it difficult to determine the authenticity of the training content, they can ask their child’s treating physician. It is important to note that these non-pharmacological treatments are less effective and take longer than pharmacological treatments.