Treating ADHD Without Medication

Sometimes the side effects of medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be just as unpleasant as the condition itself. Currently available medications, furthermore, can’t completely cure ADHD. If your loved one has ADHD and you would like to try to treat it without medication, behavioral therapy may be effective.

Find a doctor who specializes in behavioral theory, also known as psychosocial treatment. This treatment method teaches specific skills that can help you and your loved one cope with the condition.

Identify the specific subtype of ADHD. Although your loved one’s behavior can provide clues, it is best to discuss this with a physician. Some people with ADHD are primarily inattentive, while others are primarily hyperactive or impulsive. A person with the condition may be forgetful in daily activities, talk excessively or have apparent difficulty listening to others or waiting his turn.

Teach new skills to your loved one to reinforce behavioral changes. For example, use color charts to track progress, practice good behaviors, use a form of “time out” in response to bad behaviors or set up schedules and routines.

Implement a schedule for behavioral therapy. It is most effective when practiced at times when your loved one is more prone to exhibit negative behavior–for example, at school or work. It is important that everyone involved in behavioral therapy–including teachers and siblings–understands the procedure so they can work together to help the patient.