What can help with ADHD? 

An ADHD diagnosis bring enormous relief, along with some uncertainty about what happens next.

There are a number of different types of treatment for ADHD, which range from several different sorts of medication, to strategies and techniques people can try. Treatment options can vary by age too, with parent-led behavioural interventions being especially helpful for children and younger people. Treatment should be tailored to the person and their whānau context.

Your ADHD treatment goals

Goals for ADHD treatment can vary a huge amount between people. For some, addressing attention, executive function, and emotional self-regulation issues, is a good place to start. This can be done through psychological therapy, skills training, parent training, or coaching.

Whatever the specific strategy to address ADHD is, it is also important to consider the ways in which lifestyle can help to promote brain health. This can include regular exercise, a balanced diet, and reducing unhealthy habits. 

ADHD treatment for adults and children

​​​​​​​A treatment plan can include:

• a list of accommodations for work (or school) that will help you (or your child) perform well
  
• a plan for support from others - this can include follow-up therapy with a psychologist, therapist, ADHD coach, or another expert
• considering the possibility of using ADHD medication (taking pros and cons into account)

If you do decide to try medication, regular follow ups are important to check how effective it is and make sure it's not causing any problems.

A schedule of follow-up appointments with the prescribing doctor will be made to see how well the treatment plan is working.

If you're seeing a psychologist, regular therapy sessions will be scheduled for you with your therapist.

Some alternatives to medication for ADHD treatment

Tips for you: check out some of our tips for adults with ADHD and young people with ADHD 

Tips if you work in education: check out our information for managing ADHD at school or ADHD in tertiary education.

Support groups: attend groups to share experiences and strategies with others who are in similar situations - support groups 

Educate your whānau: learn from other whānau and share successes with your own - family and whānau living with ADHD

Parent-led behaviour interventions: parenting programmes can introduce strategies to help you manage ADHD in your whānau.

Other disciplines that have helped children and adults with ADHD include:

• acupuncture
• brain gym
• chiropractics
• counselling
• Cranial Osteopathy
• diet, including supplements (especially zinc and essential fatty acids)
• micronutrients
• naturopathy
• sensory modulation and Occupational Therapy input
  

Therapists of all kinds can help if ADHD is clearly understood 

Try multiple strategies

LIke an onion (or a rosebud!) treatment for ADHD can have multiple layers. Strategies you can try include; reflecting on the place of ADHD in your life, educational assessment, nutritional intake, exercise, counselling, medication and various therapies. Find out more below: 

Combining support strategies (adhd.org.nz)