Question
A seven-year-old child has been diagnosed with ADHD for a year and currently exhibits symptoms such as inattention, declining academic performance, and loss of appetite. The medication therapy has not shown any effectiveness. What other treatment options are available?
Answer
The treatment methods for ADHD mainly include psychological therapy, behavioral therapy, and medication therapy. For mild to moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it is recommended to first adopt psychological therapy and behavioral therapy to gradually correct the child’s behavioral problems. While medication therapy can regulate dopamine and norepinephrine levels, helping children to concentrate and reduce impulsive behaviors, its specific effectiveness is still controversial. However, medication therapy may be accompanied by side effects such as reduced appetite, growth delay, seizures, and sleep problems. Therefore, when choosing a treatment plan, it should be considered comprehensively based on the child’s specific situation and treatment outcomes.