Diagnosis and Treatment for ADHD

Does your child leave tasks like painting or homework half-way all the time? Do you get complaints from your son’s teacher often that he makes careless mistakes? Is your daughter restless & unable to sit in one place for a long time or is your child prone to doing risky things without thinking about the consequences, leading to accidents and injuries? If so, there is a possibility that your child is suffering from a disorder called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The ADHD symptoms typically first appear between the ages of three and six.

The three broad symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Take immediate medical consultation and diagnosis if you see these symptoms in your child.

Professional evaluation & diagnosis is needed, as ADHD cannot be confirmed only on basis of the symptoms. The similar symptoms can be seen in many other problems like anxiety, depression, and certain types of learning disabilities. Therefore, the first step is to talk to a doctor to find out if the symptoms fit the diagnosis.  Here, we tell you what you can expect during diagnosis of ADHD in your child.

There is no single test that can diagnose ADHD in children. Instead, doctors take a collective approach by gathering information about the child from parents, caretakers, or teachers, regarding the child’s behavior, and the environmental factors like family history of ADHD, exposure to certain chemicals or maternal drug or alcohol use. They may review ADHD symptoms on the basis of 55-question Vanderbilt Assessment Scale. There are tests like Behaviour Assessment System to rule out the possibility of other problems like hyperactivity, aggression, anxiety, depression, attention and learning problems. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment of ADHD is necessary.

Currently available ADHD treatment aims at reducing the symptoms and improving functioning. It includes medication, various types of psychotherapy, education and training, or a combination of treatments. Brain stimulants are the most common type of medication used in ADHD treatment. However, they come with the host of side-effects such as decreased appetite, sleep troubles, and even clinical depression. Another important thing to keep in mind is that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot be taken for ADHD. What works for one child might not work for another. So, is there any safe & individualized ADHD treatment? Yes, there is!

Homeopathy offers a holistic and safe treatment for ADHD, that too without causing any side-effects. Homeopathy is mind-body medicine and it analyses and treats the many subtle variations of behaviour at emotional, mental and social levels. Homeopathy also helps in correcting a child’s metabolism, which further improves a child’s behavior, learning ability, and brain function.

Also, homeopathy believes in individualized ADHD treatment. It takes into account the unique, distinctive nature and characteristics of each child and prescribes treatment accordingly.

A study in Switzerland evaluated 115 children (92 boys; 23 girls) with an average age of 8.3 years in the diagnosis of ADHD. The children were treated with an individually chosen homeopathic medicine, while some were treated with conventional medicine. After an average treatment time of 3.5 months, 75% children responded favourably to homeopathy, attaining an improvement rating of 73%. Almost 22% children treated with conventional treatment attained an improvement rating of 65%. So, be wise and cautious in selecting the right treatment for ADHD.