Non-Drug Treatment for ADD

There are several non-drug treatment approaches for ADD (attention deficit disorder). This is an condition that is common among young children, but is also problematic for adults. The onset of ADD can happen after age 5 in children and be sudden onset for adults due to an illness or head injury. ADD can cause severe social deficiencies in children because of their inability to act appropriately with peers. Additionally, children with ADD can suffer academically.

• ADD has many different faces

Counseling

• One of the approaches to treating ADD without drugs is through counseling. Counseling allows both children and adults to wrestle with the stigma and problems that accompany a diagnosis of ADD. According to psychologist Ben Martin of PsychCentral, counseling also allows individuals to role play different ways to react when they feel the impulses come over them to act out. Since a large part of ADD is about impulse control, children and adults with the disorder can be educated about social interactions and the appropriate ways to interact with others.

Behavioral Training

• Another method of non-drug treatment for ADD is behavioral training. Similar to educating a client about how ADD affects a person, Martin states that behavioral training involves several different methods for teaching appropriate behaviors. These methods include education, role playing and self-evaluation. Behavioral counselors also teach clients how to self-monitor and track episodes of poor impulse control, which is a central feature of ADD.

Diet

• According to WebMD there are several changes that can be made to a child's diet as a form of non-drug treatment for ADD. These changes include eating a high protein diet of foods such as meats, nuts, beans and cheese. Including protein in both morning meals and afternoon snacks is also suggested. WebMD also suggests lowering the amount of simple carbohydrates that are found in foods such as soda pop and candy. Simple carbs should be replaced with complex carbohydrates which can be found in fruits such as kiwi, pears and apples along with many vegetables. WebMD also suggests including more Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Omega-3s are found in foods such as fish, canola oil and walnuts.

Parents and Teachers

• If a parent or teacher believes that a child has ADD or its variation ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), a referral should be made to a professional counselor who is qualified to make a diagnosis -- many schools districts have counselors available for the purpose. Martin states that parents and teachers can learn how to create an environment that reduces distractions and how to rein in impulses until the child learns to self-monitor.

Token Economies

• Parents and teachers may want to set up a token economy that rewards children for appropriate behaviors, Martin suggests. Many parents are familiar with the token economy concept -- an age-appropriate reward system is developed based on points or tokens that are earned by the child. Token economies work very well for young children and for classrooms and can be applied to all children in the home. It is important that the goals of the token economy be reachable and includes a variety of both easy and more difficult desired behaviors and age appropriate rewards.

Support Groups

• According to Martin, support groups can be helpful for individuals with ADD. This can be particularly true for teens and adults, who are better able to self-monitor their behaviors than younger children. Effective support groups for individuals with ADD should be facilitated by a professional counselor or therapist who has training in working with ADD issues. Support groups can be helpful in allowing individuals to recognize that they are not alone in their struggles, role play new behaviors and develop friendships with individuals who understand the condition.