Introduction

When you picked up this book what were you thinking?  Is this just another book on attention deficit disorder and attention deficient hyperactivity disorder? Although countless books and articles have been written on ADD and ADHD, this book takes a unique approach by providing vital information on a wide-range of treatment options.

This book is intended as a guidebook for parents who are looking for possible alternatives and/or additions to medication. The information given in this book has but one purpose:  to educate you on the various ADD/ADHD treatments that are presently available.  Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive inventory of these options. No one knows your child better than you do. Therefore, we have researched numerous treatments and our intent is to help you wade through the confusion so you can form your own opinions and make your own treatment choices for your child.

The reality, however, is that although we have made every effort to present this information as simply and objectively as possible, there is no absolute truth to which everyone will agree. Various researchers will come to different conclusions looking at the same research data. Physicians will differ in treatment recommendations while looking at the same test results. Dietitians cannot come to an agreement as to which, if any, vitamins someone should be taking on a daily basis in order to stay healthy.

To make matters even more difficult, not all treatments work equally well for everyone. Just as one medication may be the miracle cure for one person, that same medication may not be helpful at all for another. In fact, it may make the situation worse. Therefore, it becomes a matter of probabilities. You ask: Which ADD/ADHD treatments will have the best chance of working for my child?  Ultimately, you will have to make your own choices. The good news is that this book should be a valuable resource for you in that process.

As you read this book, keep in mind that it is focused on giving you information about approaches used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD for children. While treating adults is not the focus, these treatment options are definitely not limited to children. Indeed, most of these treatments may very well be as effective with adults.

This book was designed to answer the many other questions we all have when looking at treating ADD/ADHD. In an effort to gain answers, most of the chapters have been formatted around the following questions: 

·        What is this treatment option?

·        How does the treatment work?

·        Who provides this kind of treatment?

·        What cost is involved?

·        What research has been conducted?

·        What is the timeframe or when can results be anticipated?

·        What are the pros and cons of its use?

·        Where can I get more information? (recommended books, websites, and other resources for more in-depth study)

·        What contact information is available?

While reviewing the various treatment approaches, keep in mind that the best solution for your child may not come in the form of any one single treatment modality. Our experience has been that a combination of several treatments appears to be more effective than using only one. The American Medical Association (AMA) now acknowledges that medication and behavioral therapy are often more effective than using medication alone. Here are some things to consider:

 ·        One treatment modality may very well affect another. It may enhance the effect of the other or work adversely against it. Just as in the case of combining medications and supplements, thought should be given to utilizing any variation of multiple treatments.

·         If you start using more than one treatment at the same time, it will be difficult to tell which one is being the most effective. If money, time, or your child’s resistance is an issue, then taking it slowly and adding only one treatment at a time may be wise.

·        Starting or adding several treatment modalities at once may bring quicker results and perhaps even be more effective in the long run. There are times when getting fast results is much more important than knowing which treatment is working best. You can always decrease the treatments later after the desired improvements are achieved.

·        We advise you to talk to your treatment provider regarding other therapies you may be using, or considering, so that you can make well-informed decisions. Please remember your child’s physician should always be kept informed

Before considering any treatment option, it is vitally important for parents to seek the best in evaluation.  A single checklist or brief 10-minute discussion is not adequate to diagnose your child. Even for a qualified specialist, ADD/ADHD is not always easy to diagnose. Symptoms such as inattention, restlessness, impulsiveness, and academic difficulties can reflect a variety of childhood disorders. These symptoms may also be caused by any number of other factors such as depression, learning disabilities, receptive and expressive language problems, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, allergies, poor parenting skills, and abuse or neglect. It should also be remembered that there have always been children who learn at different rates and have different learning styles which could be misinterpreted. Therefore, a thorough evaluation by a trained clinician is a critical first step. There are several types of specialists qualified to diagnose ADD/ADHD.  Among these professionals are child psychiatrists, child psychologists, neurologists, developmental/behavioral pediatricians, and clinical social workers.

ADD or ADHD

ADD? ADHD?  What is the right name for the disorder? While this condition has been known for over 100 years, it has not always been called the same thing.

As a result of studies conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, researchers began to recognize the existence of different types of attention deficit.  Even though the different types have major differences, they are more alike than different. Consequently, doctors began to see that the different types are all part of the same major condition.

The American Psychiatric Association publishes the official guidelines for naming and diagnosing mental disorders.  This book, which is called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is updated regularly as more scientific knowledge is learned.  In 1994, when the DSM-IV was published, the name ADD (attention deficit disorder) was “officially” changed to ADHD because of the advances in research.

ADHD is the most common behavioral disorder in children.  Professionals who diagnose ADHD use the criteria of the DSM.  The DSM-IV-TR, which is the most recent version, classifies the disorder into the following three subtypes:

·        Predominantly inattentive

·        Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive

·        Combined

 Some doctors and mental health professionals, however, still continue to use the term ADD.  If this is your child’s diagnosis, most likely your child has the inattentive type of ADHD.  Such an individual is easily distracted and just can’t seem to pay attention. Additionally, this child may be forgetful and disorganized, as well as often appearing to be daydreaming.  This is definitely not the individual described as “bouncing off the walls” or being “incapable of sitting still.

We acknowledge that ADHD is the term currently being used in diagnosing all subtypes of this disorder. However, we also recognize that many parents, as well as the general public, may be just as comfortable using the term ADD, now considered as outdated in the most recent DSM publication. Therefore, whether your child is primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive/impulsive, or a combination of the two, for simplification we will use the term ADHD when referring to this disorder throughout the remainder of the book.

 “Alternative” Treatment

 The term “alternative” is used in the title as well as throughout the book to describe the various techniques, modalities, and products which are presented as treatment options.  Most people tend to use “alternative” when talking about any treatment other than what has traditionally been used.   However, you may see other terms, such as complementary, integrative, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), associated with these treatment options as you read the literature. Although we call these alternative treatments, we do not see them replacing the more traditional treatments. Rather, we view them as “complementing or being integrated with” traditional treatments.

Final Thoughts

As you read our book, remember that none of the options described are the answer for every child diagnosed with ADHD.  No one treatment works equally well for everyone. There is no definite cure for ADHD.  However, we believe it is vitally important for parents to educate themselves on the possible treatment options. This resource book provides a starting point for concerned parents to investigate what is available and to make informed decisions.

Remember that you, like many other parents, are searching for information in order to help your child. We support your efforts in seeking to learn about everything you can which might possibly help your ADHD child. The more information you have, the better off both you and your child will be. Our desire is for this book to positively impact the lives of both ADHD children and their families.

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