How is AD/HD treated?

Children and Teens
Effective treatment of AD/HD in children and teens requires a comprehensive approach that professionals call multimodal. This means that the best outcomes are achieved when multiple interventions work together as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. The elements of a multimodal treatment approach include:

• Parent training
• Behavioral intervention strategies
• An appropriate educational program
• Education regarding AD/HD
• Medication, when necessary

Positive behavior intervention can be critical. The most important techniques are consistency and positive reinforcement, in which the child is rewarded for desired behavior. Classroom success may require a range of interventions, from making minor adjustments in the regular classroom to requiring special education programs. For many children with AD/HD, medication may be an integral part of treatment. Both stimulant and nonstimulant medications are now available to physicians and parents.

Adults
Treatment for adults with AD/HD also involves a comprehensive approach. This usually means a team approach works best. The team includes not only the adult with AD/HD, but also healthcare professionals, a spouse/significant other, and others in the adult’s immediate family. Adults can benefit from learning to structure their environment as well as from vocational counseling. Short or long-term psychotherapy can also help. Medication may also be part of the treatment to improve the symptoms of AD/HD, as many adults report that this helps them gain more control and organization in their lives.

Read more about Diagnosis and Treatment by visiting CHADD’s National Resource Center on AD/HD.