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The newest ADHD therapy is in the form of a video game. Great, another distraction for our kids, right? Actually, no – Interactive Metronome is made specifically for children with ADHD. It can also be used for people with depression, autism and other behavioral problems.
Interactive Metronome Therapy for ADHD – In Interactive Metronome children play interactive games that focus on improving their brain timing and movement coordination. “The program tries to improve that brain timing and rhythm through a computer program. Patients hear a tone and have to clap their hands or tap their foot to match the beat. The screen gives instant feedback on how well they are keeping up. As their coordination improves, so does their concentration”.
Other ADHD Therapies
Behavioral Therapy – Creating a set schedule can also help improve consistency and attention in people with ADHD. Do the same thing and the same time every day – schedule wake up, shower, breakfast, lunch, dinner, play, school, homework, and sleep time at the exact time every day. Organize and keep things in the same place to avoid confusion.
Psychotherapy is effective for the treatment of the symptoms related to ADHD because it addresses behavior modification. Children and adults with ADHD have a difficult time regulating their emotional and behavioral response to situations. In ADHD psychotherapy people learning effective coping strategies to gain control over their symptoms. Therapists also help people design a plan for organization and prioritization, key areas of difficulty for those with ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a problem with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination. ADHD affects about 3 – 5% of school aged children and is diagnosed more often in boys than in girls.
ADHD may run in families, but it is not clear exactly what causes it. Whatever the cause may be, it seems to be set in motion early in life as the brain is developing. Imaging studies suggest that the brains of children with ADHD are different from those of other children. Most children with ADHD also have at least one other developmental or behavioral problem. They may also have a psychiatric problem, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
Depression, lack of sleep, learning disabilities, tic disorders, and behavior problems may be confused with, or appear with, ADHD. Every child suspected of having ADHD should be carefully examined by a doctor to rule out possible other conditions or reasons for the behavior.
ADHD Medications
Adderall, Focalin, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Vyvanse, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana and Ritalin are all different forms of medication commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These psychostimulants stimulate the central nervous system to “calm” someone with ADHD down. Methylphenidate drugs, like Ritalin, are the most commonly used psychostimulants for treating ADHD in both children and adults. As with every medication out there, ADHD has some bad side effects and death has occurred from taking them.
The big problem is that children as young as 4, can be put on ADHD medication. Parents are concerned, and rightfully so, that their child will start to depend on the medication and at some point become hooked. This case has proven true, especially in academia. Adolescents are selling Ritalin and Adderall are on middle school, high school and college campuses to help focus and do well in school. The pressure to succeed and make good grades pushes many good meaning kids to develop a drug habit for prescription pills. Other ADHD therapies must be available to help prevent addiction to prescription pills from developing early on. Luckily, those therapies do exist and parents have options. I’d like to see more variations of therapies available as fast as we see new medications being developed. We need to have a fair amount of different options for higher success rates.
Sources:
http://www.necn.com/09/03/12/Drug-free-ADHD-therapy/landing.html?blockID=767145&feedID=11106
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518/
http://www.goodtherapy.org/therapy-for-ADHD.html
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