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ADHD
Is Ritalin the Only Way?
By Julia Rosien
Eddy experienced no personality change. However, he's no longer disruptive in class and now has many friends.
As depression often accompanies ADHD, your child may require a combination of stimulants and anti-depressants. The sedative effects of antidepressants and antihypertensives address insomnia, and are considered safe in low doses, Matlen says.
"Most professionals agree that medication should never be used as the sole treatment," says Jerome Schultz, Ph.D., clinical director and neuropsychologist at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. He recommends that parents also explore supportive therapy such as behavior modification.
The method works well in situations where the environment can be controlled, like a classroom or at the dinner table. However, it's more difficult to enforce work on playgrounds where children laugh at and encourage silliness.
"Everyone has the capacity to learn self-control," Schultz says. "Children with this disorder tend to rely on external controllers, because adults don't typically engage children in realistic goal setting."
But you can provide brief opportunities for your child to show self-control, he says. Games where a child must stand still to win helps him to understand the value of controlling himself. The time can gradually be extended once the initial skill has been mastered.
You can help improve your child's social skills by arranging short, structured activities with explicit rules, like a game of bowling or a trip to a favorite restaurant. "Afterwards [you can] discuss the experience, offering praise or suggestions for modifications for the future," Schultz says.