“I am a big proponent of behavioral training”, he said.
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The researchers said they wanted to see how many of these children received behavioral therapy, now recommended as the first treatment to try for young kids who have the condition.
But new studies are providing strong evidence that not only is behavior therapy effective and that it works without the side effects of medication, it’s the better first step. And experts say that in some areas, therapists are in short supply. But according to USA health officials, behavior therapy for 2 to 5-years-old children with ADHD is better than giving them ADHD medication. But “when parents cannot only learn to deal with their children’s behavior but also be a conduit to improving behavior. that’s the best way to go”, he said.
The CDC is also calling on doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who work with families coping with ADHD to talk with their patients about the benefits of behavior therapy and refer parents to resources. About 2 million of the more than 6 million American children with ADHD were diagnosed before age 6.
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidelines in 2011 recommending behavior therapy as the first-line treatment for young kids with ADHD. Studies have shown that children with the condition have higher rates of dropping out of school or having sustaining injuries that can take them to emergency rooms.
Behavior therapy for ADHD focuses on positive reinforcement, setting up routines and daily schedules, and positive communication. And responding to the child’s behavior the same way each time fosters faster learning. But the long-term effects of those drugs on a young brain and body have not been well studied, and the side effects can be numerous, including poor appetite, sleeplessness, irritability and slowed growth.
For the report, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers looked at annual health care claims starting in 2008 for at least five million young children (2 to 5 years old) insured by Medicaid and another one million young children with employer-sponsored insurance.
For both sets of children, the findings were the same: about 75 percent were receiving medication, and approximately half were getting psychological assistance. However, some centers base their fees on income or offer group sessions, which are less costly than individual sessions, she said.
Dr. Pelham recommends that once a diagnosis of ADHD is made, parents should find a therapist who not only can help the child but also give them learn helpful parenting strategies and tools to treat the disorder in real life settings.
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“By the time a parent comes to meet with me, they are exhausted and anxious”, Dr. Georgina Peacock, a CDC developmental pediatrician who works with ADHD families. Families and health care givers should always discuss behavior modification therapy first before talking about ADHD medication.
