Looking back on our childhood years, many of us may have had friends who fidgeted in their seats, had trouble controlling their words, or even got in trouble for constant talking or hollering. Some of us may even remember classmates who had difficulty waiting their turn, made careless mistakes or acted out in ways that displayed poor judgment.

From medical treatments that involve the prescription of a psycho-stimulant to natural methods that call for changes in diet and exercise, area experts offer various ways to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a mental affliction that affects the brain and can lead to hyperactivity, inability to pay attention or difficulty concentrating, and impulsive behavior.

More commonly known as ADHD, “it consists of a variety of symptoms in the areas of hyperactivity (motor movement), impulsivity and inattention,” said Michelle Earnest-Rahman, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Canyon Country. “The symptoms usually occur before the age of seven and in more than one environment, such as at home and at school.”

Working with children and families in the mental health field for about 19 years, Earnest-Rahman has conducted several psychological assessments to determine if an individual fits the diagnosis of ADHD.

“I feel a myth about ADHD is that it is inherent in the individual,” she said. “I believe that the symptoms of ADHD can be directly influenced by the person’s environment rather than seen as a deficit within the individual. It goes back to the age old debate of Nature vs. Nurture.”

With that, she recommends capitalizing on the strengths of an individual when it comes to treating ADHD.

“For example, in children, I would recommend a Montessori or Waldorf style of learning, which is a more hands-on approach, rather than traditional approaches where students are required to be still for long periods of time,” Earnest-Rahman said. “For adults, careers or jobs that require multi-tasking may be helpful for their particular set of skills.”

At Peak Performance Chiropractic in Canyon Country, “we use natural treatment methods in our practice, which include changes in diet, exercise programs, and chiropractic adjustments to balance nerve function, and detoxifying the body,” said Ron Bittle, a board certified licensed chiropractor who specializes in neurological conditions, including ADHD. “We strive to maximize natural treatment to help correct the underlying cause instead of the symptoms. We also focus on minimizing prescription drug use if possible.”

He believes the biggest myths about ADHD are that it’s not a real mental disorder, and that it’s most often outgrown after adolescence.

“The reality is that ADHD is an imbalance of chemical messengers or neurotransmitters in the brain. This alters mental thought and impulses,” Bittle said. Additionally, “if ADHD is not treated properly or dealt with, symptoms can last a lifetime.” 

ADHD is a syndrome characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention (being easily distracted) as well as frequent behaviors that cannot be easily suppressed, also referred to as hyperactivity-impulsivity, according to Reginald Veurink, M.Div., Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in Santa Clarita.

“Inattention may be seen as a failure to pay close attention to details, making careless mistakes, an inability to sustain interest in activities, not listening when spoken to, inability to follow instructions (especially if they involve multiple steps), failure to finish projects, difficulty organizing tasks, avoidance of tasks that require prolonged effort, easily distracted by things happening in the surrounding environment, forgetfulness, frequently misplacing or losing things, sloppiness,” Veurink said.

Hyperactivity may be displayed as fidgeting, being in constant motion and interruption of seat work with frequent walk-abouts, he said, as well as excessive activity such as age-inappropriate climbing, running, constant talking or hollering, reported feelings of restlessness, and being always on the go.

“Impulsivity may be manifest as blurting out before questions have been completed, difficulty in waiting one’s turn, impatience, inappropriately intruding into others’ relationships or activities, and acting out in ways that display poor judgment due to the fact that actions have not been thought through carefully,” Veurink explained.

In his practice, “the most common medical treatments involve the prescription of a psycho-stimulant such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine, (Dexedrine) or amphetamine, (Adderall),” Veurink said. “These drugs increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters – dopamine and norepinephrine – in the brain. This has the effect of increasing the mental activity in the parts of the brain that control alertness.” 

These medications do have side effects, he noted, such as a possible delay in the growth of the long bones. “However, this can be accommodated with medically supervised discontinuation of the medical regime during the summer or over the weekends, when the child is not in school.”

The services of a clinical or child psychologist can also be of great help to the student who has ADHD and the family of such a student, Veurink further emphasized.

“Behavioral strategies, such as behavior-modification to diminish maladaptive behaviors and encourage desired behaviors in the child, can be very effective,” he said. “Psycho-educational training is also useful to the family in learning to cope with the difficult behaviors that a child with ADHD can present.”

When it comes to helping a child with academic performance, educational and environmental interventions are often necessary.

“For example, it can be very helpful to establish a surrounding with minimal distraction in the classroom – setting up a study carrel or moving the desk to the front of the room nearest the teacher – or establishing a quiet, well supervised corner for the student to study at home,” Veurink said. “Teachers and parents can also use a timer to slowly lengthen the period of time the student must stay on task before a break in studies is allowed.”

When it comes to seeking the best treatment for ADHD, an individual needs to be evaluated by a professional – a mental health professional or a pediatrician, said Canyon Country therapist Muhammad Rahman, MSW, LCSW.

“Interventions can be multi-faceted with a combination of both medical and therapeutic interventions to promote increased attention and focus,” said Rahman, who has worked with children and adults diagnosed with ADHD for the past 15 years. “Positive and reward based feedback and directives from caregivers and teachers, to a child with ADHD, would be highly effective in getting a task completed.”

Ultimately, “the success of dealing with ADHD becomes a matter of resiliency,” Rahman continued. “With effective self management skills and a positive yet consistent learning environment, one could be successful in living with ADHD. Exposure to a fun and recreational outlet, such as engaging in a sport – soccer, basketball, martial arts – could also promote a healthy way to deal with high energy and attention issues.”