ADHD Treatment Options for Children and Adults

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as a neuro-developmental disorder that is found not just in kids, but also in teens and adults. Sufferers have difficulty paying attention or controlling their hyperactivity which greatly interrupts how they function in daily life.

While many kids undergo stages of hyperactivity and inattentiveness, a person is diagnosed with ADHD if they have experienced its defining symptoms persistently for the past 6 months and in a minimum of two different settings (e.g. school, work, home; with relatives or friends; in other social activities).

This is because it is possible that someone simply dislikes a certain situation (e.g. hates their current teacher) so they act negatively there but are generally okay elsewhere. Additionally, someone with ADHD usually manifests the symptoms before the age of 12.

The Symptoms of ADHD

There are basically three defining types of ADHD, although, it is possible that some people display a mixture of the different types.

The first ADHD type is predominantly Inattentive.

Such a person …

• Fails to notice the details (e.g. – careless mistakes, forgetful in daily activities);
• Has difficulty focusing (e.g. – easily distracted, not able to listen, struggles with instructions);
• Is usually very disorganized (e.g. – loses things);
• Lacks persistence (e.g. – gives up easily, hates tasks that require sustained focus).

The second is predominantly Hyperactive.

Such a person …

• Has a feeling of restlessness;
• Moves about constantly (e.g. – excessive fidgeting, squirming, running about, climbing);
• Talks excessively.

The third is predominantly Impulsive.

Such a person …

• Blurts out answers even if the question is not completed;
• Desires instant gratification (e.g. – cannot wait, interrupts or intrudes upon others);
• Makes hasty actions without thinking things through, oftentimes with possibly harmful results either in the short term or long term.

The Effects of ADHD

Sadly, ADHD interferes a great deal with a child’s normal life as they have difficulty paying attention in class or interacting normally with others. As a result, such children often have poor self-esteem due to low grades in school or insults from others; they lack friends due to their “weirdness” or excessive roughness, and they have increased accidents and injuries as they cannot focus normally.

Moreover, kids with ADHD have a higher risk of delinquent behavior (e.g. petty crimes, substance abuse, violent acts) due to the negatives experienced early on in life. It has also been suggested that children with ADHD are more prone to other conditions like anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, learning disabilities, and others.

Possible Causes of ADHD

Despite many scientific studies, the direct causes of ADHD are still unknown. But it has been suggested that factors such as substance usage (e.g. cigarettes, alcohol, drugs) during pregnancy; exposure to toxins while in the womb or even at a young age; excessive sugar intake; or brain injuries may contribute to ADHD. Some studies, however, have shown that ADHD runs in families so there may be a strong genetic link.

Things to Avoid

For kids who do have ADHD, certain stimuli may aggravate their symptoms. It is best to not watch too much TV nor consume too much sugary food. Stress in the family (e.g. poverty, conflict) and traumatic experiences may also intensify their condition.

ADHD Treatment Options

Fortunately, there are treatments to reduce the symptoms of ADHD so a person may be able to function better within society. Treatments are also available to help the family to cope.

Here are some ADHD treatment options:

• Behavior therapy – Guardians and teachers can implement behavior-changing strategies (e.g. – reward systems and timeouts) to deal with tough situations.
• Psychotherapy – Once they are older, children with ADHD can discuss their issues, explore negative behavioral patterns, and learn how to address their condition.
• Parenting skills training – Parents learn how to better understand and guide their child.
• Family therapy – Parents and siblings discuss their stress of ADHD in the family. They may then take steps to heal and forge a closer bond.
• Social skills training – Here, children with ADHD learn appropriate social behaviors.

Alternative treatment methods are also available to reduce these symptoms.

• Exercise – Aside from promoting health, regular exercise may have a positive effect on behavior in children with ADHD.
• Meditation / Yoga – Learning how to relax the mind and discipline the body may help children manage their ADHD symptoms as they will be able to better control themselves.
• Special diets – The recommended diet for people with ADHD is to avoid the food believed to increase hyperactivity such as sugar; common allergens like wheat, milk, and eggs; and most especially caffeine. Some also recommend avoiding too many additives. Should vitamin or mineral supplements be given, these should not exceed the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) – something that people accidentally or intentionally do.

Cautions for Christians

As mentioned above, ADHD remains a challenging disorder for children and families to deal with. It affects the child’s social and academic growth and it places a lot of stress on the families. The true causes of ADHD are not yet clear and the recommended treatments are still not 100% proven. So much about ADHD is still unsure.

The Medicalization of ADHD

Unfortunately, the medicalization of ADHD is in full swing. In the US, kids are being diagnosed with ADHD and the recommendation is frequently for psychiatric care, meaning that medication is given to “rewire their brain” or “combat” this disorder.

There are, however, dissenting voices to this as, not everyone agrees that ADHD is a real brain disease. In fact, at the time of his death, Dr. Leon Eisenberg, the scientific father of ADHD, viewed it as a fictitious diagnosis designed only as a list of behavioral symptoms without any causes.

The other problem with medicalization is that it removes a measure of responsibility from the family. As stated by author Kati Li in an article in The Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, “By diagnosing kids with ADHD, biological factors have come to override what used to be considered moral problems under the jurisdiction of the family.”

Thus, by viewing ADHD as a medical condition solvable by drugs, parents might choose not to deal with their child’s abnormal behavior, believing that any effort to teach and guide is futile. Any deviant behavior could then be considered a “result of the disease” and not a lack of guidance regarding what is morally right and wrong.

This is, of course, an incorrect view since, disease or not, we must still strive to train, teach, and guide our children. It may be difficult, but that is a challenge placed squarely on the shoulders of the Christian family.

The Problem with Medication

Aside from the direct causes of ADHD not being clear, the prescribed medication itself is also a big concern. In the book, ADHD: Beyond the Meds, author Jeremy Martin discusses several possible problems with the prescribed drugs for ADHD treatment. The first concern is that many of the drugs for ADHD are addictive, making them possible gateway drugs. There is a real danger of moving on to other kinds of drugs, legal and illegal.

The second concern is that there is no concluding evidence that the drugs actually work since the children still have major behavioral problems. Lastly, Martin says that such medication may have unnerving side effects like anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and stomach aches.

A Christian Alternative

Since much about ADHD and its solutions are still very unclear, perhaps a better perspective comes from a Christian worldview. In The Pursuit of Godly Seed, Bible principles on child training are mentioned to teach and discipline the child. The book recognizes the consequences of devaluing and neglecting children; and presents the need to provide them with care, protection, discipline, and guidance.

Though the book does not address ADHD directly, it is very applicable to the situation, especially since medicalization of it may be causing some families to forget their moral duty to train their children.

Conclusion

Christians need to think carefully about the ongoing diagnosis and medication of ADHD. With so much unknown, it is difficult to entrust the children into the hands of the so-called experts. Not only that, by turning over the responsibility to medication, the families, themselves, may lose the initiative to step in and do their part in raising a God-fearing child.

Rather than going for something possibly dangerous, Christians are urged instead to consider safer options like a change in diet, exercise, meditation, and counseling to reduce the intensity of the symptoms. In this way, the children have a chance to progress while much more research is done to find the true causes and solutions.

But most importantly, as Christian parents, these impulsive and inattentive children must be taught about God’s love for them and what God expects from them as His children. Families should not simply blame wrong behavior on any medical reasons. The duty of loving, nurturing, disciplining and teaching the child is still in their hands.