According to new research conducted by the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), training for parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a better treatment than medication.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behaviour disorder sufferer by between 8 to 10 percent of school aged children; the disorder consists of periods of hyperactivity and very limited attention.
Currently there are medications including Ritalin and Strattera that are prescribed to address the symptoms of ADHD, they have been found to be effective with few reported side effects when used for up to two years, however the long term mental and physical effects of the drugs is relatively unknown.
The report found that rather than using medication to treat the symptoms of the disorder, parental training had a greater effect on the heath and behaviour of children under the age of 6 who suffered from ADHD.
It was reported that problems only arose with the parent training program as the treatment for the condition when the entire training course was not completed. This fact alone highlights the need for more information to educate parents of children with the disorder on the alternatives to strong medication and the benefits of a more holistic and natural approach to their children’s treatment.
