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Non-Hyperactive ADD Treatment

Modern science no longer segregates non-hyperactive attention deficit disorder, or ADD, from hyperactivity. According to the National Resource Center on AD/HD, the term AD/HD now includes all three types of symptoms, inattention (formerly ADD), hyperactivity and the combination of both. While physicians prescribe drugs for many AD/HD patients, non-drug therapies have also shown some indications of effectiveness.

  1. Attention Deficit Disorder

    • ADD stands for attention-deficit disorder. FindCouseling.com describes ADD as a developmental problem. ADD symptoms tend to appear in childhood and may continue into adult life. People with ADD have trouble paying attention, following detailed procedures or remembering things. They may seem sleepy, inattentive or disorganized.
      According to the Mayo Clinic, people with the hyperactive form of AD/HD also suffer from impulsive behaviors such as impatience, fidgeting or are overly chatty or have inappropriate speech habits.

    Drug Treatments

    • The Adult-Child ADD-ADHD website states that both stimulant and non-stimulant drugs can help control ADD symptoms in nine out 20 AD/HD patients. Stimulants such as Ritalin and Dexedrine can improve focus and concentration. Patients may take short-acting dosages or sustained-release medications, depending on their daily needs. Other medications include certain antidepressants and the hypertension drug clonidine.

    Nutritional Therapies

    • Elimination diets have been mentioned as a means of fighting the disorder. These diets prohibit artificial additives or place restrictions on sugars or certain natural foods. While these options can support a healthy lifestyle and may resolve ADD symptoms caused by food or chemical sensitivities, they may prove hard to implement on a daily basis.

    Lifestyle Therapies

    • Some researchers believe that brain stimulation and retraining techniques can help the brain build new concentration strategies. In EEG biofeedback, for instance, patients wear a special helmet with sensors that monitor the patient's brainwaves. With help from a coach and video feedback demonstrating concentration levels, patients can train their brains to focus for longer periods of time. Brain Gym International and other institutions have developed techniques in which balance and coordination exercises supposedly help the brain improve its powers of concentration. Other lifestyle practices such as regular sleep, meditation, yoga and exercise also seem to improve symptoms of the disorder.

    Controversies

    • While many AD/HD treatments have demonstrated good results, some of them lack the scientific data that might confirm them as a principal or sole treatment for the condition. The American Family of Pediatrics warns against vitamin and mineral therapies, inner ear treatments, therapies to treat yeast infections, correction of vision-tracking misalignments, bone realignment procedures for the skull and brain-wave biofeedback techniques as unproven techniques for curing or reducing attention deficit disorder.

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