Tips for managing at home with ADHD
Most children with ADHD have mild symptoms and do not need medication, says Michael L. Goldstein, M.D., a child neurologist in Salt Lake City and a former vice president of the American Academy of Neurology. "Many children and families have developed good strategies on their own so that symptoms do not cause distress to the child," he says.
When implementing a nonmedication strategy, he says, "Parents should remember that ADHD is a disorder that decreases the child's ability to do what they want to do. Increasing punishment doesn't work for ADHD symptoms. Some behaviors may be deliberate misbehaviors that may require discipline, but most ADHD impulsiveness and inattention is not intentional and will not improve with discipline." What does work is "understanding what the child can do and changing the adults' expectations to closer align with the child's abilities. 'Now' is always the best time to initiate nonmedication strategies."
Following are nonmedication strategies from child neurologist Kutscher that you can use anywhere to help you and your child cope with ADHD:
Tips for coping without medication
- Keep it positive. Because people with ADHD cannot put brakes on distractions, they will always attend to whatever is most appealing in their environment. Like moths, they are attracted to the brightest light and will stay there until something else becomes more interesting. Positive re-enforcers will get their attention. Constant criticism rarely improves a person's attitude.
- Keep it calm. No one (child or parent) can think clearly when stressed.
- Keep it organized. Kids with ADHD often do their work and forget to hand it in the next morning. They need organizational support from parents and the school.
- Keep doing all of the above. People with ADHD are born with a neurologically different brain that has difficulty executing a plan. Constantly provide a safety net: Continually monitor the situation from the sidelines, but step forward to help when needed.
