Many people with ADHD have the condition for a long time before they are diagnosed since it has been there all along. In many cases, people have a lot of symptoms in childhood. But the stress it adds to life, and the symptoms can change with age.

That’s just an example; you might still be just as hyperactive as when you were a child. However, your symptoms probably also affect your quality of life now, so managing them is important.

There are difficulties in paying attention, controlling, and staying organized that can interfere with a person’s work, relationships, and self-esteem.

We have some excellent treatments. It treats kids with ADHD, but it also helps adults who have it. It is a combination of medicine, behavioral strategies, life skills training, and therapy for most people. This type of treatment is known as multimodal.

A helpful medicine when you were a child may work differently as an adult due to changes in your brain, body, and symptoms. Additionally, your skills to stay organized and manage your time might change. Finally, you may need treatment for other issues such as depression or anxiety.

To get the most from any treatment, knowing what ADHD affects you is helpful. For example, does it make it difficult to keep up with deadlines at work? If you struggle in relationships with your spouse or child, you should go for care specifically tailored to your needs. When you’ve experienced this phenomenon for a few days, you’ll be able to tell if it’s working.

Treatment for Adults

Drugs are an excellent treatment for ADHD, but what works at first may not be the best solution over time. Aside from many drugs being available for both children and adults with ADHD, clonidine, guanfacine, and modafinil are not heavily researched for adults and are not frequently prescribed for them.

Stimulants

Stimulants are usually the first treatment for ADHD, and they tend to work best. First, you start on a low dose and gradually increase it until you reach a dose that relieves your symptoms without too many side effects.

Many adults find that long-acting stimulants work best. They last for about 10-14 hours, so you only have to remember to take one or two pills each day.

Stimulants work, but they’re not for everyone. Some people don’t like the side effects. You may want to stay clear of stimulants if you have a condition like

Bipolar disorder
Anxiety
Blood pressure of 140 or higher
Severe weight loss due
Drug over use issues
Tourette’s syndrome

Non-stimulant

Non-stimulants are another option when stimulants are unavailable. This was the first non-stimulant drug approved just for ADHD. The full effects don’t occur as quickly as with stimulants, but some people find it quite helpful.

The standard procedure starts with a low dosage and raises it periodically to find the appropriate balance. Side effects are common with stimulants and may include difficulty with sleep, loss of sexual desire, and nausea.

Can Talk Therapy Help?

Talk therapy in Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL at Davenport Psychology | ADHD Treatment

Yes. Getting help from a therapist, you and your family can learn more about how ADHD affects people and the strategies to deal with its many consequences.

Two of the common types of talk therapy for ADHD are:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This teaches you to alter your thoughts and actions to feel more in control of your life. Talk therapy is used to help overcome many obstacles a person faces at school, at work, and in their relationships. It can also be used to address substance abuse and depression.

Marriage counseling and family therapy: You and your family members learn how to communicate better and identify issues that may cause problems. In addition, the counseling may help friends and family understand that it is not simply about being messy or forgetful.

Treatment for Children

The AAP has determined that the best course of treatment for children under six who have ADHD is parent training in behavior management before they’re medicated.

For children six years of age and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics’s new guidelines recommend medications and therapy together — behavior therapy and parent training for kids up to age 12, and various forms of therapy and training for teenagers. Schools can be involved as well.

In a good treatment plan, close monitoring will determine whether the treatment benefits the child’s behavior and if changes need to be made.

Children Who are not Older Than Six Years of Age

For a young child with ADHD, behavior therapy is often the first line of treatment before drug intervention.

Parenting training for behavior management includes providing parents with the skills and strategies to help their children. Training in parenting behaviors can work and medication for children with ADHD.

Children of all ages can experience negative side effects when using ADHD medications, but those of younger children are more frequent. There has been a very little long-term study on the effects of ADHD medications on young children.

School-aged Children and Teens

school aged children with ADHD in Sarasota County Schools

The AAP recommends combining drug treatment with behavior therapy for children age six or older. The following types of behavior therapy are also effective

Specialized workshops on improving parenting in terms of behavior management.
Psychological interventions in the classroom.
Interventions, such as among peers, focus on behavior.
Facilitation and time management training.

Typically, it’s a good idea to try a few different approaches in therapy, as this could depend on the needs of the individual child and their family.

Tips for parents

Following are a few suggestions that may be helpful with your child’s behavior.

Follow a routine. Pick the same schedule each day, from when you wake up to when you go to bed. For example, encourage your child to put school bags, clothing, and toys in the same place every day so that they won’t lose them.

Keep distractions to a minimum. Turn off the TV, minimize noise, and create a tidy space when your child is doing homework. Some children with ADHD may perform better when moving or when the background noise is audible. Try to see what your child does best.

Limit choices. To prevent the child from feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated, offer a few choices instead of many. For example, tell them to pick out this outfit or that one, this meal or that one, or this toy.

Be clear and specific. Please communicate with your child by stating what you think and feel about what they said. As an example, please describe what you understand about the sentiment expressed in their statement.

Contact Davenport Psychology today for help with ADHD

941-702-2457

Sarasota Office: 1608 Oak St. Sarasota, FL 34236

Venice Office: 200 Capri Isles Blvd. Ste 7G, Venice, FL

Author: Charles R. Davenport, Psy. D.

Dr. Charles R. Davenport, Licensed Psychologist in Sarasota and Venice, FLDr. Charles R. Davenport is a highly respected Licensed Psychologist based in Sarasota and Venice, FL. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Davenport specializes in providing comprehensive counseling and therapy services to individuals of all ages. His areas of expertise include career stress, depression, anxiety, communication, and relationship issues. Dr. Davenport has a particular interest in working with gifted and learning-disabled individuals, helping them navigate their unique challenges.Dr. Davenport’s therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic and interpersonal theories, aiming to facilitate meaningful change and relief for his patients. He has been dedicated to supporting at-risk students in Sarasota since 2000, beginning with his work at Sarasota High School’s Drop-out Prevention Program. Additionally, Dr. Davenport has contributed his expertise to the University of South Florida’s counseling centers in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, FL.For more information about Dr. Davenport’s services, visit Davenport Psychology. View all posts by Charles R. Davenport, Psy. D.

Adult and Child ADHD Treatment