ADHD or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a condition marked by hyperactivity and/or inattention impulses that affect normal functions and development. It often begins in childhood and the symptoms can remain present for life. One of the most effective ways to treat ADHD is through behavioral therapy.

What is Behavioral therapy for ADHD?

Behavioral therapy for ADHD is a form of psychotherapy to help people with the condition to change their behavior patterns. It can involve rewards and help for behavioral monitoring and navigating tasks or emotional events. It includes therapists teaching children social skills and ways to identify people’s moods and behave appropriately. Therapy can be helpful to teach a child to better control impulsive behavior. It can help with managing ADHD symptoms in children and adults.

It is often used along with other treatments. Cognitive behavioral therapy for ADHD affected children also focuses on helping with other issues such as improving focus and awareness. Treatment plans can also include medicines and other forms of therapy. ADHD behavioral therapy for adults is also useful. It is mostly in the form of CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy. In recent years, CBT has been developed for adults with ADHD. The therapy aims to help adults manage their everyday difficulties in an easier manner. It also includes treatments for adults who have other anxiety disorders along with ADHD.

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Strategies

It requires patience and time to treat or manage ADHD disorder with therapy.

For kids 
Behavioral therapy for ADHD may consist of clear instructions for everyday tasks at home, more organization techniques to manage schedule, consistency in routine and use of rewards for good behavior.
It must be administered by parents for the best results. Children respond better to behavioral therapy when it is their parents delivering it. The therapy is not used as a ‘talk therapy’. It consists of steps to help kids learn to cope with their condition. Parents need to work with the teachers to help their kids follow consistent routines in their classrooms also. Therapists work with parents to teach them about behavioral therapy for ADHD and prepare them for the task ahead.

For adults 
Therapists can help adults with ADHD using behavioral therapy. It can include managing routines, organization, coping with attention deficit, completing tasks etc.

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Treatment Outcomes with Behavioral Therapy

Treating behavioral therapy for ADHD is not easy. It is not possible for all parents to utilize behavioral therapy for their kids with ADHD. Behavioral therapy for ADHD won’t work if the treatment hasn’t been planned well. It needs to include a proper reward system to be effective along with an equally good consequence system. It needs proper steps to help child cope with distractions and for parents to minimize sudden changes. The treatment needs to be about teaching kids new behaviors that are desired and thus deserving of rewards. Behavioral therapy for ADHD only works when it has been formulated with long-term planning in mind; with enough scope for modifications based on a child’s needs. Treatment outcomes of behavioral therapy for ADHD can only be successful when teachers also cooperate with parents in providing the right feedback and use it to help kids in school. It can be often a difficult situation.
Many kids with severe ADHD respond well only when behavioral therapy is combined with medications. The target outcomes also need to be realistic and formulated with each child’s ADHD symptoms in mind. Behavioral therapy may not eliminate all ADHD symptoms, but it can definitely improve a patient’s condition.

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