ADHD Treatment
Treatment of ADHD is often done through behavior management, parent training, psychiatric treatment, educational intervention, and psychostimulant medications.The combination of medication and psychosocial intervention is called multimodality treatment. 70-80% of children treated with ADHD respond positively to psychostimulants.
Medications primarily used in treatment include Ritalin (methylphenidate), which is the most commonly prescribed, Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), and Cylert (pemoline).
Side Effects
The most common side effects of these are loss of appetite, loss of weight, and problems with falling asleep. The loss of appetite typically lasts while the drug is working, and after it has worn off, the patient's hunger returns, often stronger. Weight loss occurs rarely, and after research, growth is not revealed to be affected. Insomnia and sleeping problems are mainly credited to doses taken too late in the day. It is common practice to give the last dose no later than 4:00 p.m.Ritalin, which is a stimulant, confuses many people on why it is used to treat ADHD patients. The reasoning is that ADHD patients have a chemical imbalance within their brains, which causes Amphetamines, such as Ritalin, to have a reverse, typically calming effect. These effects allow the patient to concentrate more and interact better with others.
ADHD and Education
Schools are developing better programs to aid children with attention deficit disorders. IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ensure that students with all types of disabilities, including ADHD, receive a free and appropriate education.ADHD students have an IEP (Individualized Educational Program) which can result in placement in resource or SDC (Special Day) classes. IEPs involve the child’s parent(s), teacher(s), school psychologist, and even a school administrator. The IEPs provide the student’s current level of performance, a plan of educational goals, both long and short term, and how these goals will be implemented.
The prognosis with children affected by ADHD is encouraging, especially for those whose symptoms are identified early and treated accordingly. Many children can cope with their disorder and become productive members of society. Untreated cases of ADHD can lead to failure in school and emotional and social difficulties, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to their peers.
Numerous studies are underway and will hopefully produce more answers and a better understanding of the disorder.