Effective Therapy Techniques for Young ADHD Patients

Treating young children with ADHD is becoming more commonplace. Many parents, educators and mental health professionals are seeing the importance of catching and treating this disorder early. Intervention in children ages 3 to 6 may give a vital academic foundation considering the important information taught at this level. Experts are learning the most effective treatments for this age group.

Behavior Modification

• Medications normally prescribed for ADHD aren't prescribed to preschoolers. Instead, behavior modification techniques are successful even when the child suffers from severe ADHD symptoms.

  The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) sponsored a study of 5-year-old children with severe ADHD. Their parents learned how to handle these children using praise and time-outs. Parents were told to ignore negative behavior. Of the 300 participating children, 114 responded positively to this behavior modification.

  Maintaining a consistent daily schedule and structure to the child's routine helps young children better cope with ADHD symptoms. If the schedule changes, young children with ADHD respond better if prepared in advance.

  Relaxation techniques are also effective in helping young children with ADHD. Deep breathing and relaxation CDs before bed help the child deal with the inevitable daily frustrations of living with ADHD. Children benefit from learning how to use stress reduction techniques, like deep breathing, when they feel overwhelmed.

Medication Alternatives

• The Federal Drug Administration has not approved Ritalin for young children. The National Institute of Mental Health sponsored a study, however, which showed low doses of the stimulant Ritalin to be effective in treating preschoolers with ADHD. The side effects of stimulant medications in preschoolers is still to be determined. Some evidence has suggested stimulants may slow the growth of young children. Appetite loss and increased anxiety are other causes for concern.

  Alternative treatments like dietary changes have helped some parents deal with the lack of medication for preschoolers. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found protein makes the brain more alert while carbohydrates slow alertness.

  Another study in England found fish oil to be effective in helping ADHD symptoms. In addition, the study suggests a deficiency in certain fatty acids may contribute to specific learning disabilities and attention problems.

  Effective treatments for young children with ADHD are available. Behavior modification, nutritional changes and stress-reduction are just a few of the options available to parents of ADHD preschoolers.