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The essay I wrote shows how parent training is a much more effective strategy than direct therapy for a child developing with ADHD. These articles have helped me with finding proof of my theory.

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This was the first article that i found. It inspired my whole essay to be about how kids with ADHD shouldn't be put through direct therapy and held off drugs if possible.

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Opinion | In Praise of A.D.H.D. (Published 2018)

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The disorder can be an asset in our frenetic world.

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In chapter 1, Eagleman talks about how memory gets cluttered and clouded after a while and this made me realize that is exactly how my memory feels. I researched a bit about this and tied it in with how people with ADHD's memory gets clouded and makes their memory really unstable.

Eagleman, David. The Brain: the Story of You. Vintage Books, 2017.

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Read 1,725 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Locked in the silence and darkness of your skull, your brain fashions the rich narrative...

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This article talks about memory with ADHD people and how the brain’s neurons fire in different patterns and sometimes this can mess up and cloud how people remember information.

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What Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Many people have heard of ADHD. It may make you think of kids who have trouble paying attention or who are hyperactive or impulsive. Adults can have ADHD, too. About 4% to 5% of U.S. adults have it. But few adults get diagnosed or treated for it.

Who gets adult ADHD? Every adult who has ADHD had it as a child. Some may have been diagnosed and known it. But some may have not been diagnosed when they were young and only find out later in life.

While many kids with ADHD outgrow it, about 60% still have it as adults. Adult ADHD seems to affect men and women equally.

Adult ADHD Symptoms

If you have adult ADHD, you may find it hard to:

Follow directions

Remember information

Concentrate

Organize tasks

Finish work on time

See More: Foods That Help You Concentrate

This can cause trouble in many parts of life -- at home, at work, or at school. Getting treatment and learning ways to manage ADHD can help. Most people learn to adapt. And adults with ADHD can develop their personal strengths and find success.

Challenges People With Adult ADHD Face

If you have ADHD, you may have trouble with:

Chronic boredom

Chronic lateness and forgetfulness

Depression

Trouble concentrating when reading

Trouble controlling anger

Problems at work

Impulsiveness

Low tolerance for frustration

Low self-esteem

Mood swings

Poor organization skills

Procrastination

Relationship problems

Substance abuse or addiction

Low motivation

These may affect you a lot, or they may not bother you much. They can be problems all of the time or just depend on the situation.

No two people with ADHD are exactly alike. If you have ADHD, you may be able to concentrate if you're interested in or excited about what you're doing. But some people with ADHD have trouble focusing under any circumstances. Some people look for stimulation, but others avoid it. Plus, some people with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial. Others can be very social and go from one relationship to the next.

Continued

Problems at School

Adults With ADHD may have:

A history of not doing well in school and underachieving

Gotten in a lot of trouble

Had to repeat a grade

Dropped out of school

Problems at Work

Adults With ADHD are more likely to:

Change jobs a lot and perform poorly

Be less happy with their jobs and have fewer successes at work

Problems in Life

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

Get more speeding tickets, have their license suspended, or be involved in more crashes

Smoke cigarettes

Use alcohol or drugs more often

Have less money

Say they have psychological trouble like being depressed or have anxiety

Relationship Problems

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

Have more marital problems

Get separated and divorced more often

Have multiple marriages

How Is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?

Look for a psychiatrist who has experience with diagnosing and treating people with ADHD.

The doctor may:

Ask you to get a physical exam to make sure there aren't other medical problems causing your symptoms

Take some blood from you and run tests on it

Recommend psychological testing

Ask you questions about your health history

While experts don't agree on an age that you can first diagnose ADHD, they do agree that people don't suddenly develop it as an adult. That's why when a doctor sees you they will ask about your behavior and any symptoms that you may have had as a child. They may also:

Look at school report cards. They'll look for comments about behavior problems, poor focus, lack of effort, or underachievement compared to your potential.

Talk with your parents to see if you had any symptoms during childhood.

People who have ADHD may have had trouble getting along with others when they were kids or had a hard time in school. Teachers may have had to work with you. For example, maybe you had to sit at the front of the class.

They'll also ask if anyone else in your family has ADHD. This can be helpful information because it does seem like ADHD runs in families.

Continued

How Is Adult ADHD Treated?

If your doctor says you have ADHD, you'll work together to make a treatment plan just for you.

Treatment plans can include medicine, therapy, education or learning more about ADHD, and getting family support.

Together these things can help you find new ways to do things that can make day-to-day life easier. That can make you feel better in general and feel better about yourself.

Making sure you get fully checked by a doctor is important. That's because people with ADHD often face other conditions, too. You may also have a learning disability, anxiety or another mood disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or a dependence on drugs or alcohol. Knowing the whole picture can make sure you get the best plan for you.

Medications to Treat Adult ADHD

Stimulant Medications. Adults with ADHD are often offered stimulant medications. Studies show that about two-thirds of adults with ADHD who take these medications have big improvements in their symptoms.

Examples of stimulant medications include:

But stimulants are not always ideal. Why? They can be:

Addictive. Stimulants are controlled substances. That means they can be misused. Some adults with ADHD have substance abuse problems or had them in the past.

Hard to remember to take. Short-acting types of stimulants (versus long-acting) may wear off quickly. Since people with ADHD can have trouble with forgetfulness, remembering to take them several times a day can be a challenge.

Hard to time. If people choose to stop taking them in the evening, they can have a hard time focusing to do housework, pay bills, help children with homework, or drive. But if they do take them later in the day, they may be tempted to use alcohol or other things "to relax."

Non-Stimulant Medications. Doctors may also recommend a non-stimulant medication for you to take, either on its own or with a stimulant. They are:

Therapy and Other Behavioral Treatments

You may want to ask about making these part of your treatment plan, too:

Cognitive and behavioral therapy. It can help with self-esteem.

Relaxation training and stress management. These can lower anxiety and stress.

Life coaching. It may help you set goals. Plus, it can help you learn new ways to stay organized at home and work.

Job coaching or mentoring. This can help support you at work. It can help you have better working relationships and improve on-the-job performance.

Family education and therapy. This can help you and loved ones understand ADHD better. It can also help you all find ways to lessen how much it affects everyone's life.

Continued

Other Things You Can Do to Manage ADHD

Here are some things you can do on your own to make life with ADHD more manageable:

Take medications as directed. If you are taking any medications for ADHD or any other condition, take them exactly as prescribed. Taking two doses at once to catch up on missed doses can be bad for you and others. If you notice side effects or other problems, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Organize. Make lists of daily tasks (be reasonable!) and work to complete them. Use a daily planner, leave notes for yourself, and set your alarm clock when you need to remember an appointment or other activity.

Breathe slowly. If you have a tendency to do things you later regret, such as interrupt others or get angry at others, manage the impulse by pausing. Count to 10 while you breathe slowly instead of acting out. Usually the impulse will pass as quickly as it appeared.

Cut down on distractions. If you find yourself being distracted by loud music or the television, turn it off or use earplugs. Move yourself to a quieter location, or ask others to help make things less distracting.

Burn off extra energy. You may need a way to get rid of some energy if you're hyperactive or feel restless. Exercise, a hobby, or another pastime can be good choices.

Ask for help. We all need help from time to time, and it's important to not be afraid to ask for it. If you have disruptive thoughts or behaviors, ask a counselor if they have any ideas you can try that could help you control them.

Sources

SOURCES:

Mayo Clinic: "Adult ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)."

Attention Deficit Disorder Association.

FamilyDoctor.org: "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)."

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Many people have heard of ADHD. It may make you think of kids who have trouble paying attention or who are hyperactive or impulsive. Adults can have ADHD, too. About 4% to 5% of U.S. adults have it. But few adults get diagnosed or treated for it. Who gets adult ADHD?

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I used this article a lot in my essay. This article talks about how direct therapy is ineffective and parent training is much more effective. it also talks about medicating the child and how its usually not needed unless its an extreme case. It does a really good job explaining the background of their claims and why parent training helps children more than direct therapy
“Only therapy that focuses on training parents is recommended for young children with ADHD because young children are not mature enough to change their own behavior without their parent’s help”

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This article was doing against my theory and telling patents to medicate and have their kids do direct therapy. All my other sources go against this advice and say that this can actually be detrimental.

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What Is Therapy for ADHD?

Therapy is part of the treatment for most kids and teens diagnosed with ADHD. Kids have meetings with a therapist to help with the problems that ADHD can cause.

In therapy, kids learn skills that don't come naturally because of ADHD, like listening and paying attention better.

Some kids with ADHD also get another type of therapy called occupational therapy. This helps when things like balance or handwriting are difficult because of ADHD or a learning disability.

Treatment for ADHD usually includes medicine. Medicines boost the brain's ability to pay attention, use self-control, and fidget less. Medicine works best when a child also has a therapist to teach how to use these improved abilities.

Why Do Kids Need Therapy for ADHD?

Therapy helps kids with ADHD do better in school and at home. For example, they learn how to:

focus on schoolwork

listen and pay attention better

get along better with others

have fewer behavior problems

Some kids need therapy to help ease difficult emotions caused by ADHD. For example, kids might lose confidence or feel like they're disappointing others. Some kids become depressed, anxious, or frustrated.

When kids learn skills to manage ADHD, they do better. Therapy also helps kids feel happier and more confident.

How Does ADHD Therapy Work?

In ADHD therapy, kids learn by doing. With younger kids, this means drawing, playing, and talking. For older kids and teens, a therapist will share activities and ideas to build skills they need, like good study habits.

In ADHD therapy, a positive relationship with the therapist helps kids feel encouraged and supported as they learn.

Depending on the child's age, a therapist might meet with the child and parent together, or with the child alone. When parents work with kids in therapy sessions, they learn tips and ideas for keeping up the lessons at home.

Parents can help kids use and practice what they learn. Kids build confidence and self-esteem as they master new skills.

What Happens in ADHD Therapy?

At the beginning, your child's therapist will talk with you and ask questions. Listening to your answers helps the therapist learn more about your child. Together you will make goals for what you want to improve.

Parents and kids usually meet with the therapist once a week for a few months.

Therapy sessions include activities like:

Talking and listening. Therapists teach kids to talk about their feelings. This helps kids notice their feelings and express them in words instead of actions. Talking and listening helps kids feel understood and ready to learn. It also helps kids learn to pay attention and listen better.

Playing with a purpose. For young kids, play can teach self-control - like waiting to take a turn. Therapists might use games that teach kids to slow down, follow directions, and try again instead of losing their temper or giving up. Play is also a way for kids to learn how to plan, organize, and put things away.

Doing activities that teach lessons. Therapists might teach lessons about emotions, organizing schoolwork, studying, or understanding others. Activities and worksheets help make these lessons fun.

Practicing new skills. A therapist might teach kids skills like mindfulness and breathing exercises. These skills can train attention and calm the mind and body. Therapy sessions can be a time to practice these skills.

Problem solving. Therapists will ask about ADHD problems in school and at home. They will talk together with kids and parents about how to work out these problems.

How Long Do Kids Do ADHD Therapy?

How long therapy lasts will depend on your goals. Most of the time, a therapist will want to meet with your child once a week for a few months.

How Can Parents Help?

Having ADHD isn't a child's - or a parent's - fault. But there are things that children and parents can learn in therapy to help things get better.

Here's how you can help:

Find a therapist your child feels comfortable with. Ask your child's health care team to help you find one. Or go to the CHADD website to find someone near you.

Take your child to all recommended visits. Learning new skills is a habit that kids need to keep up until they master it.

Work with your child's therapist on how to best respond to ADHD behaviors.

Ask how you can help your child practice at home. Are there games you can play or skills you can help your child learn?

Parent with patience and warmth.

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Therapy is part of the treatment for most kids and teens diagnosed with ADHD. Kids have meetings with a therapist to help with the problems that ADHD can cause. In therapy, kids learn skills that don't come naturally because of ADHD, like listening and paying attention better.

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This Scholarly article was useful for helping explain how medicating and therapy can help, but parent training is extremely effective. Both of them together is usually not necessary, but in extreme cases them together is the best resolution.

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For my individual source, I conducted an interview of a few friends and random people with ADHD. I asked them if they had ADHD, how they were treated, and how they think it affected themSix said they struggled a bit, but were able to make it through school without having many problems and don't know if therapy would have helped or not. Five said they struggled through elementary school, but were able to find their own ways to ease the struggle and with the help of their parents and experimenting with different methods of staying focused. Four had a really hard time with school and went to therapy. Two of those four said they thought the therapy helped them learn how to work with their issues and find ways to manage their focus. The other two of the four said the therapy didn't work very well, so they ended up trying different things until they found what worked best for them. Pictured is two of the People I interviewed, they are a good friend of mine and his wife who both have ADHD.