ADHD Treatments

• How well are they sleeping?
• Do they have any breathing issues?
• How is their digestive system working?
• Do they have any physical ailments such as allergies or headaches?
• How are they interacting with their peers and/or adults?
• How are their fine and gross motor skills?
• What are their academic challenges?
• How is their speech developing?
• Do they behave differently at home, school, or with different people/situations?
• Are there times when behaviour is much worse or much better?
• What is their mood like?
• Are they sensitive to sounds, smells, touch, etc.?

1. Biochemical & Environment

• Medical
• Gut
• Diet
• Biochemistry
• Environment
• Sleep

2. Structural & Senses

• Auditory & Visual Processing
• Proprioception & Sensory Integration
• Reflexes – Primitive Integration
• Postural Emergence

3. Functional

• Motor Co-ordination
• Vestibular
• Auditory & Visual Function & Integration
• Brain Function & Integration

4. Developmental – Skill Teaching

• Occupational Therapy
• Spatial & Sequential Therapies
• Vision Therapy
• Auditory & Speech Therapy
• Emotional & Behavioural – Psychological
• Social & Life Skills Training

5. Academic

• Remediation
• Coaching
• Teaching – e.g. reading, comprehension, spelling, writing, maths

That’s ok and entirely up to you, as long as you can pinpoint your child’s challenges, help them appropriately and understand that, unfortunately in our current system, sometimes a ‘label’ equals funding for treatment or services.

ADHD Treatment Overview

The most commonly used form of treatment for ADHD is stimulant medication, though there are also a couple of non-stimulants available.

ADHD Support Australia aims to offer information on all treatments for ADHD.

Which treatment you decide on is a personal choice, and ADHD Support Australia supports you, without judgment, whichever course you choose.

To make informed decisions, weigh up the pros and cons of each intervention or treatment, arm yourself with all the relevant information, and assess all the facts before deciding on what best reflects your personal values.

Most parents don’t take the decision to medicate their child lightly and are often conflicted. For some, medication may be necessary in the short term; for others, it might be a longer-term strategy.

Treatment Options

• Stimulant / Non-stimulant medications
• Biomedical Treatment
• Neurofeedback
• Psychology
• Parent Training
• Coaching

Biomedical Treatment for ADHD

If you’re looking for a holistic approach, and consider it important to explore all possible causes for your child’s current behaviour challenges or health issues, you may like to follow a biomedical pathway, which focuses on treating the root cause of problems rather than only treating symptoms.

The advantage of this is the focus is not only on improving cognitive function, but on supporting and improving the health of the entire body.

Biomedical treatment uses testing such as blood, urine, stool and hair to discover underlying causes of symptoms such as inattention, behavioural problems, moodiness, anxiety, depression, indigestion, skin irritation, headaches, joint pain, and more — rather than merely treating the symptoms. Those underlying causes are often found to be nutrient deficiencies, toxin overloads, food intolerances, and gut dysbiosis.

This checklist is a useful guide to what a qualified practitioner will explore in order to ensure optimum healthy foundations in your child, to see whether this resolves current issues:

• Are there food sensitivities and/or allergies?
• Are there any digestive issues?
• Does neurotransmitter function need support?
• Are there adequate fat-soluble nutrients for brain structure and function?
• Is there toxicity and heavy metal accumulation?
• Are there bacteria, yeast, viruses, or parasites present?
• Are there nutritional deficiencies?
• Is blood glucose balanced?
• Is the diet healthy for this individual?

To understand how various ADHD treatments work, you need to know a few brain chemistry basics:

• Our brain is an extensive communication network.
• Millions of messages are sent from one brain cell (neuron) to the next.
• Between each neuron is a gap (synapse).
• The synapse is filled with chemical messengers (neurotransmitters).
• Each neurotransmitter is responsible for a different function.
• There must be enough neurotransmitters in the synapse for messages to be sent efficiently.
• Dopamine and norepinephrine are responsible for executive functioning.
• In ADHD, dopamine and norepinephrine are not working as they should.
• Other mental health conditions rely on neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
• Neurotransmitters are constantly created within our brain and our gut.
• Neurotransmitters are synthesised from nutrients — amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
• Deficiencies in the building blocks for neurotransmitters cause cognitive problems.
• Advances in neuroscience and epigenetics have made us aware of the impact of nutrients on gene expression.
• Biochemical treatments to correct brain chemistry are becoming better defined.

Appropriate levels of certain micronutrients are required for cognitive function and good mental health.

Because of genetic differences in the way each of us processes foods, even with a perfect diet, many of us are deficient in certain nutrients and overloaded in others.

Here are a few common examples:

• High copper – changes in dopamine/norepinephrine levels – aggression, anger, and other mood disorders
• Low B6 – co-factor for serotonin synthesis – prone to depression, low mood
• Low zinc and B6 – explosive temper, emotional mood swings, poor short-term memory
• Low magnesium – co-factor for serotonin – anxiety and depression
• Low vitamin D – common in children with ADHD – depression/mood disorders
• Low iron – common in children with ADHD – fatigue, brain fog, irritability
• Essential fatty acids – neuroprotective – ADHD symptoms, depression

Nutrient deficiencies can occur because of malabsorption, which can happen for a variety of reasons, mainly to do with gut problems, and can be fairly common.

Much evidence and research now suggests ADHD symptoms are linked to issues originating from the micro biome (gut).

This is an in-depth topic and an emerging area of science, but when you understand that approximately 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine are produced by the bacteria in your gut, it makes perfect sense that if this system is disrupted in some way then neurotransmitter production, and therefore brain function, mood and behaviour, will be impacted as a result.

A healthy gut micro biome is full of beneficial bacteria that break down, absorb, and assimilate nutrients from the foods you eat, which fuel every process in your body.

While a healthy micro biome contributes to good brain function, an unhealthy one full of ‘bad’ bacteria or yeast, and all the toxins associated with it, may contribute to poor brain function. The presence of yeast, for example, alters the ability to absorb nutrients and the toxic by-products cause reactions, which cause inflammation in the body, which in turn greatly contributes to depression, anxiety and poor mental function.

Some individuals are more sensitive to toxic metals and their health and brain function is affected by heavy-metal overload or toxic levels of pesticides or other organic chemicals.

A significant number of patients with behavioural challenges have chronic low blood glucose levels.

This doesn’t cause behaviour disorders but can be an aggravating factor causing irritability, anxiety and intermittent poor focus and concentration.

Mindfulness meditation is a useful strategy to strengthen your ability to control your attention.

By teaching you how to observe yourself and to focus on something it trains you to bring your wandering mind back into the moment when you get distracted.

Meditation is thought to help ADHD as it thickens the pre-frontal cortex and raises your brain’s level of dopamine. Several studies have demonstrated that mindfulness meditation helps increase focus and decrease anxiety and depression.

Similarly, yoga has been shown to have similar benefits by increasing dopamine and strengthening the pre-frontal cortex.

Exercise increases the concentration of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, as well as other brain chemicals.

As these are believed to be drivers of the attention system a dose of exercise is similar to taking a small amount of medication. Exercise helps to increase the quantity of neurotransmitters as well as increasing the number of receptors that respond to the neurotransmitters. It also activates the pre-frontal cortex, responsible for executive functioning.

People with ADHD could benefit from an exercise break of 10-15 minutes every hour or so.

Getting Enough Sleep

Everybody, regardless of whether they have ADHD, will find it more difficult to focus, manage stress, stay productive and keep on top of their responsibilities if they are over-tired.

For those with ADHD who already have problems in these areas, it makes sense to always get a good night’s sleep of at least 8 hours.

Whilst medication can provide relief from some of the symptoms of ADHD it should never be the only form treatment.

Most experts agree that taking a multimodal approach to treating ADHD is vital because:

• Medication only works while it is in your system
• When it wears off in the afternoon/evening you are not covered by it
• It does not teach skills and strategies required for lifelong management
• It does not treat all symptoms of ADHD
• It is not effective for everyone at all times
• Side effects may preclude some people from taking it
• There may be times in life when you are unable to take medication

The main focus should be on skilling your child with the strategies needed to help them across their lifetime.

How Do ADHD Medications Work?

Stimulant medications work by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters in the synapse by blocking their re-uptake so there are more available.

They do not increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the synapse, but recycle what is already there.

The increase in neurotransmitters helps brain cells to communicate better with one another.

Positive Effects of Medications

Medications can have a positive outcome for some ADHD symptoms as follows:

• Increases capacity to attend and learn
• Decreases impulsiveness
• Reduces hyperactivity
• Reduces distractibility
• Improves short-term memory
• Improves emotional regulation
• Improved behaviour with parents and peers
• Increased self-esteem due to the above benefits

Medication Side Effects

The aim is to find maximum benefit with minimum side effects.

Common side effects include:

• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss / reduced growth rate
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Stomach ache
• Anxiety
• Irritability or emotional as drug wears off (less likely with modified release)

Less common side effects include (but are not limited to):

• Increases in heart rate
• Increases in blood pressure
• Tics
• Mood swings
• Anger
• Depression
• Worsening of symptoms
• Suicidal ideation

Sometimes negative side effects are only noticeable for the first few days and then disappear. If they do not, they may be reduced by lowering the dose or changing the type of medication in consultation with your doctor.

If your child is taking ADHD or other prescription medications, including ironically anti-depressants, you should be aware that side effects can sometimes include anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation.

It is therefore crucial that you keep a careful eye on them and be alert to any changes in their mood when first taking medication or over the longer term. Any new symptoms should be reported to your prescribing doctor immediately.

You can find a comprehensive and up-to-date source of peer-reviewed, accurate, and independent data on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and natural products, including all possible side effects and drug interactions at drugs.com.

Getting Medication Right

Different people respond differently to stimulant medications, with some experiencing a benefit while others find no improvement in symptoms or too many side effects.

Your doctor can alter the medication or the dose in order to find the most effective treatment for you.

It may take some time for your doctor to establish the correct medication and dosage and will do this by titrating the dose up or down.

Your doctor will start you on either Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Dexamphetamine (usually Ritalin) on a small dose to see the results.

They will gradually titrate the dose to reach an optimum dosage for your child where there is a balance between good results and no side effects.

Once the dosage is stabilised and effective, they will then recommend a modified release medication of the same type, which releases over time, giving a smoother effect over a greater time period.

Common ADHD Medications

Gluten & Lactose Content in ADHD Medications

Useful Notes on ADHD Medication Prescriptions

Once you have a diagnosis of ADHD you will be eligible to receive a prescription for ADHD medications.

There are extremely strict rules around the prescribing of ADHD medications and you need to be organised in ensuring you have an appointment booked with your paediatrician or psychiatrist in time to receive your next prescription.

You cannot collect a prescription before a certain time has elapsed since collecting the last one.

There is an app called Med Advisor that helps you remember when you need a new script.

Be aware that there are some countries where you cannot travel with these medications or need a doctor’s letter, so please check before travelling overseas.

Parent Training for ADHD

It is universally accepted that a multi‑modal treatment protocol is best practice for supporting children with ADHD. It is of fundamental importance that parents are also included in this process.

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, but it is widely recognised that parent training specifically aimed at parenting children with ADHD can help improve symptoms for the child, reduce parental stress, and improve family life overall.

Behavioural Parent Training (BPT)

BPT holds a high value in an ADHD treatment protocol. The aim is to inform and educate parents about the symptoms and associated co‑morbidities of ADHD. This helps parents reframe their view of their child’s challenging behaviour and adopt a positive attitude, which is important for building a strong parent‑child relationship.

What Parent Training Should Help With

• Setting realistic expectations for their child
• Establishing a positive parent‑child relationship by recognising and supporting the child’s strengths and talents
• Understanding the most effective ways to communicate with their child
• Gaining strategies and tools that address the specific challenges of raising a child with ADHD

Evidence for BPT

BPT is one of the empirically supported psychosocial treatments for ADHD. Over many years and studies it has been shown to improve both child and adult behaviour, decrease parenting stress, and improve classroom behaviour.

For example, one study found that parents who took a nine‑session parent training program showed significant improvements in both child and parent functioning that were maintained two months after treatment. The program reduced parenting stress, increased parenting self‑esteem, and improved the overall severity of their child’s ADHD symptoms.

Next Steps

Head over to our section on Parenting Help to find out more about our Parenting Children with ADHD 6‑week course.

Other therapeutic interventions are critical in order to address the long-term issues that often go hand-in-hand with ADHD. Whether for a child or an adult, some psychological help is usually needed to cope with the effects of living with ADHD, at least for a period of time.

Psychological therapy for a child and/or the family group can offer strategies to manage the consequences of ADHD and provide solutions that benefit the whole family. There is extensive research demonstrating the effectiveness of a wide range of psychotherapies for the treatment of ADHD in both children and adults.

Below are two of the most common psychological therapies:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Here the therapist helps by:

• Talking through upsetting thoughts and/or feelings
• Exploring self-defeating patterns of behaviour
• Learning alternative ways of handling emotions
• Helping the client feel better about themselves despite the ADHD
• Identifying and building on strengths
• Combatting unhealthy or irrational thoughts
• Coping with day-to-day problems
• Controlling attention and/or aggressive behaviours

Such therapy can also help a family to:

• Handle disruptive behaviours
• Promote change
• Develop coping techniques to improve their child’s behaviour

Behavioural Therapy

This is a specific type of psychotherapy focusing on ways to deal with immediate issues, such as thinking and coping patterns, without necessarily exploring their origins. The aim is behaviour change, such as:

• Organising tasks or schoolwork
• Dealing with emotionally charged events

Additional Benefits of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can help a person with ADHD boost self-esteem through improved self-awareness and compassion, and can help limit any destructive consequences of ADHD.

Use our ADHD Directory to find a suitable practitioner.

In a neurofeedback session, a monitoring device along with electronic sensors provides feedback about specific brain waves. The brain produces measurable electrical signals, or waves, which can be detected using an electroencephalograph (EEG).

This feedback allows practitioners to map out the brain and identify specific regions that are not working properly, such as areas that are overactive, underactive, or dysregulated. It can also provide information on how your brain compares to others of the same gender and age.

Once an assessment locates the cause of the symptoms, various methods and equipment can be chosen based on specific needs and neurological issues. The frontal lobe, linked with personality, behaviour, and learning, may display characteristic patterns in people with ADHD.

The functioning of the brain and a person’s behaviour are connected — changes in behaviour can change the brain, and changes in the brain can change behaviour. Neurofeedback aims to change a person’s behaviour by changing their brain.

Brain Waves and ADHD

There are five types of brain wave: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta. Each has a different frequency, measurable by EEG. Some research suggests that people with ADHD have more theta waves and fewer beta waves than people without the disorder. In theory, neurofeedback aims to correct this difference.

What to Expect in a Session

The number of electrodes used varies depending on the practitioner and the session. The electrodes do not hurt, and they do not deliver electrical current — they only measure the brain’s activity.

Proponents claim that neurofeedback can slowly alter brain wave patterns, which may in turn affect a person’s behaviour and ADHD-related symptoms.

Eat Healthy

• Avoid additives such as colourings, preservatives, and flavourings
• Avoid highly processed food and opt for fresh produce
• Avoid sugary foods and refined carbohydrates to regulate blood sugar levels
• Eat plenty of fresh vegetables but limit fruit (organic where possible)
• Buy organic, grass-fed meat, dairy, and eggs
• Eat plenty of good fats
• Avoid excessive alcohol and recreational drugs

Health Tips

• Check your gut health
• Identify food sensitivities or allergies
• Correct nutritional deficiencies
• Check for environmental toxins
• Balance hormones
• Ensure optimal thyroid function

Diet Tips

• Reduce sugar and carbohydrates
• Balance blood sugar by eating small, regular low GI meals
• Consider dietary interventions e.g. gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free
• Eat adequate protein
• Consume high-magnesium foods such as green vegetables, nuts, and seeds
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Eat wild oily fish 2–3 times per week and supplement with high-quality Omega-3
• Consume flax and linseeds
• Avoid known food allergens

Lifestyle Tips

• Epsom salt baths
• Massage
• Essential oils
• Optimise your sleep
• Acupuncture
• Regular exercise
• Spend time with friends and family
• Yoga, Tai Chi, or other relaxing activities
• Practice deep breathing techniques
• Meditation
• Spend time in nature – preferably barefoot
• Get adequate sunlight
• Avoid overuse of screens and excessive exposure to artificial/blue light
• Avoid recreational drugs
• Kinesiology or neuro-emotional techniques
• Keep a gratitude diary

It is recommended that you read Conditions that Mimic ADHD and then Co-Morbid Conditions.

Finding a practitioner that fits your criteria requires research, but you can view various practitioners in the ADHD Directory. It is recommended you make further enquiries of several before making your selection.

If you live in and around Sydney’s Northern Beaches please come along to one of our monthly ADHD speaker evenings to increase your knowledge. You can find more information or book one of our events here.

• Last Child in the Woods
• Nutrient Power
• Additive Alert
• The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution
• A Mind of Your Own
• Dirty Genes
• Gut & Psychology Syndrome
• Gratitude Diary
• Complete Gut Health Cookbook
• Gutalicious Cook Book
• Kultured Wellness – Gut Health Programme
• Life Changing Food
• ADHD: The Facts
• The Explosive Child
• Raising Difficult Children
• Managing Your ADD Child
• Healing ADD
• Late, Lost & Unprepared
• Finally Focused
• Getting Ahead of ADHD

• Integrative Approaches to ADHD [https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/1/2/186]
• Gut Microbiome in ADHD [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5581161/]
• Behavioural Parent Training (BPT) [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00916320]