Medication Isn’t the Only Answer for ADHD Treatment: 6 Alternatives to Consider

Looking at the ADHD treatment landscape, it can be easy to feel frustrated. Medication may be the typical ADHD treatment strategy, but ADHD medications treat the symptoms, not the root causes, of ADHD. Moreover, research shows that while ADHD medications offer a short-term academic boost, their long-term benefit is basically zero. Plus, most pharmaceutical approaches to ADHD treatment can cause side effects ranging from insomnia to heart palpitations. ADHD Treatment Alternatives Before defaulting to medication as an ADHD treatment for you or your children, talk to your doctor. Decide together whether any of the following non-pharmaceutical treatments might work: 1. Curricula that addresses ADHD’s causes Two individuals with the same ADHD symptoms might be struggling with the disorder for different reasons. For one, it could be an issue with processing auditory information. For another, it might be cognitive processing challenges. A third might simply be overly sensitive to light and sound. All three people may appear to have the same issues, but each has unique strengths and challenges stemming from separate causes. Programs that work to address sensory-motor integration and cognitive processing speed have been shown to be particularly effective for ADHD treatment. Axiom Learning, an education service founded by Harvard University alumni, uses gamified exercises as part of its LEAP 3.0 program to accelerate cognitive processing and improve sensory-motor integration. Because it’s a cause-oriented ADHD treatment, many sufferers find they no longer have the condition at the program’s end. 2. Executive function coaching Do you have trouble starting tasks or remembering important information? Is time management your Achilles’ heel? If so, your executive functioning skills might need some attention. Think of executive functioning skills as your brain’s CEO: Without an effective leader, you’ll struggle with self-management, learning, and decision-making tasks. Just like CEOs hire coaches to hone their […]

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