Most Common Form Of Treatment For Adhd example essay topic

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is "a condition that is usually found in children characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness". Affecting about 35% of the children in the US, this disorder is most often found in adolescences showing signs of aggression, disruptive ness, and the inability to control themselves; symptoms like these can be shown as early as the age of five. Although several treatments are available for ADHD, the three main types people rely on are medication, Biofeedback, and homeopathic remedies. The most common form of treatment for ADHD is medication, which is most frequently prescribed and is made up of stimulant and non stimulant prescription drugs. Stimulants help increase both mental and motor performance and uplift the mood in depressed persons. The drugs achieve this by allowing a child to have the ability to block out irrelevant thoughts and impulses and to focus their attention on what is important.

In this way, stimulants help children become more aware of their surroundings and more aware of self control, which is the net result. In short, stimulants benefit children in a focusing sense; .".. for about 70% of people with ADHD, stimulant medications improve their symptoms". This form of medication "also increases the ability to problem solve and to learn", as well as helping an individual do a better job at choosing what to say or do. This is accomplished because of "less interruptions, fidgeting, and finger tapping" during the school day. Children are also able to improve "their social skills and relationships, along with their attention during sports and other activities". With stimulants, a child can use their "brake pedal".

In other words, they can slow their mind and thoughts so they can focus on the task at hand. Without stimulants, a child is all "gas pedal"; they cannot focus or organize their thoughts and their mind races from one thing to the next. With the help of stimulant drugs, like Ritalin and Dexedrine, which are both "a form of amphetamine", children are able to focus during certain time periods. Most stimulant medicines are similar to a time release capsule. Once a medicine is ingested, it will start working about thirty minutes later and last for about four to five hours, depending on its type. Ritalin and Dexedrine have these characteristics.

Other capsules, like Concert a, "last for about twelve hours, although they are most effective during a seven to eight hour span". Though caffeine is not prescribed as a medication for ADHD, it is said to help magnify the effects of stimulating drugs. Although stimulants are effective, Strattera, a non stimulant, is said to be more effective than stimulants can be. Strattera is a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved, non stimulant, prescription drug for children and adults alike.

Although it is a non stimulant, Strattera is often compared to Ritalin, a stimulant. A study of both Strattera and Ritalin was done on 228 children with ADHD where the symptoms decreased. The basic tests for and of ADHD were conducted; researchers found that scores on tests ranging from hyperactivity levels to a parental rating, which is the parents' opinion of the child's activity, fell significantly, meaning that Strattera is equivalent to stimulants. Overall, Strattera had a higher impact on the children, showing that non stimulants are capable of having the same effects on children as stimulants do, if not better. While medication is the most sought after form of treatment for ADHD, it is not always the best. The next effective treatment for ADHD is biofeedback therapy.

Biofeedback therapy, or EEG biofeedback, is a treatment that allows patients to learn how to control their muscle tension, heart rate, and brain waves. Dr. Vincent J. Monastra says that "it's like a physical therapy for your brain". The theory of biofeedback is that ADHD patients can be "taught" to bolster activity in their brain areas. Machines are a major part of biofeedback.

They allow patients to see what is going on in their frontal lobe, the location where ADHD activity takes place. "Machines act as a sixth sense, allowing [patients] to 'see' or 'hear' activity inside their bodies". This type of therapy gives children information about their brain activity through electrodes that are attached to the scalp. The information that is gathered from tension in the muscles is then translated into something detectable, like a flashing bulb or beeper, allowing the patient to "see" what is happening in their brain. In order for the therapy to be successful, patients must commit themselves to practicing biofeedback relaxation exercises daily; the key to this therapy is learning to relax. ADHD patients. ".. must also examine their day to day routines to learn if they are adding to their stress".

This type of treatment has several positive possibilities, including the elimination of depression and medication. A study conducted on 100 children, 51 participating in biofeedback therapy, concluded that those children in therapy. ".. were able to cut their medications by at least half -- -and still enjoy the improvements they got from the drugs... 40% were able to discontinue their medications". Monastra also said that "the kids who did not get biofeedback... needed to continue medication to sustain improvements". With the elimination of medication and the help of therapy, patients remained in a positive state of improvement, and are able to concentrate and to focus.

The last source of treatment for ADHD is found in homeopathic remedies, "a complementary disease-treatment system in which a patient is given minute doses of natural substances that in larger doses would produce symptoms of the disease itself". This form of treatment is used in place of medication, like stimulants and non stimulants, such as Ritalin and Strattera. The nigers, which are the natural substances, help create a natural chemical balance in the patient's body, which is similar to the effects of doctor prescribed medicines. These homeopathic medicines that were found to be most helpful for ADHD were Stramonium, Cina, and Hyoscyamus nigers.

Stramonium, the main niger used for ADHD treatments, is for violent children. These children exhibit severely hyperactive characteristics such as constant movement or fidgeting. They are very aggressive; often kicking, biting, hitting and making threats to others. They are easily scared and speak loud and fast, often having incoherent speech. They show feelings of terror and abandonment, since they are afraid of the dark, dogs, being alone, death, and evil. Stramonium is given to children who show symptoms like these or similar to these.

The niger helps control a child's feelings and outburst. Another niger used is Cina. This niger is given to control disobedient children. They also demonstrate signs of not wanting to be touched or looked at; they often turn away when they are approached by anyone. A child like this is often restless and fidgety. They tend to have seizures or facial twitches, along with large stomachs and a high craving for sweets.

One more niger is used, Hyoscyamus. It's used for difficult children as well as for animated ones. They often show signs of poor impulse control and excessive talking with rage and mania, hitting, and screaming. "After an outburst, they are depressed, manipulative, and violent and they tend to lie". This type of child is also unable to think, and they see ghosts and specters; they can seem silly and foolish, often smiling and laughing at everything. While nigers are effective, there are cases where nigers do not help.

When this becomes an issue, Homeopathigans resort to herbal remedies. Herbs are much more diluted than the medicines that are prescribed by pharmacists. In particular, the effects of the plant depends on the part of the plant that is being used -- -root, bark, leaves, or another part. "One part [of the plant] can contain a product that is not found in another part [of the plant]". The most common herb used is St. Johns wort. This herb, like others, has positive and negative sides to it.

While it helps keep serotonin in the body, causing a feeling of well being, it decreases depression; it also increases a person's sensitivity to light and the feeling of being constipated. Another herb, Ginkgo Biloba, known as the "smart herb", helps increase blood flow to the central nervous system. It also helps increase memory in individuals who experience the early stages of Alzheimer's. Although side effects are rare, headaches, stomachaches and skin allergies are common.

Kava-kava, a shrub, has chemicals called kava lactone's that are the active ingredient which help treat patients for insomnia and anxiety. This herb should not be used to treat depression because it can increase the thought of suicide. It also can affect one's vision and cause an equilibrium imbalance, causing a rash and the staining of yellow on the skin. While nigers do not always help patients with ADHD, herbs can help decrease the symptoms and the effects of ADHD. Both herbs and nigers are used to diminish the negative aspects of ADHD. As a result of these treatments, ADHD is slowly being controlled by both doctors and patients alike.

Medications are being reduced, electronic therapy is sweeping doctors' offices, and home made, herbal remedies are becoming more common. Although theses are the most common treatments, they are not the only ones. While other forms and types exist, these are the ones that patients, parents, and doctors have found to be most helpful.