What treatments are available for ADHD?

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​If your child has ADHD, it can sometimes feel as though everyone has an opinion about what you should do next. Medication? Therapy? A special diet involving only beige foods and hope? (I jest — mostly.)

The reality is much calmer, more practical, and far more individual than the internet might suggest. ADHD treatment isn’t about “fixing” a child. It’s about supporting how their brain works, reducing unnecessary struggles, and helping them thrive at home, at school, and in the wider world.

Let’s take a clear, friendly look at the main treatment options available for ADHD — and how they often work best together.

First things first: ADHD doesn’t have a single “best” treatment

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference, not an illness you catch or cure. That means treatment is usually multi-layered, tailored to the child, their age, their strengths, and their environment.

For most children, effective ADHD support combines:

• Understanding and education

• Practical strategies at home and school

• Psychological or behavioural support

• Sometimes, medication

Not all children need all of these — and they rarely arrive in a neat, pre-packed box.

Psychoeducation: understanding ADHD (this bit matters more than people think)

One of the most powerful “treatments” for ADHD is good understanding.

When parents, carers, teachers — and eventually the child themselves — understand how ADHD affects attention, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and executive function, everything changes. Behaviour makes more sense. Expectations become more realistic. Compassion increases.

This is why assessment feedback, follow-up appointments, and ongoing guidance are so important — particularly in a specialist neurodevelopmental clinic setting.

Helpful overview from the NHS

Behavioural and parenting strategies

ADHD brains tend to struggle with:

• Organisation

• Time awareness

• Emotional regulation

• Doing boring things 

Behavioural strategies don’t aim to make children “behave better” through strict discipline. Instead, they adapt the environment to support executive function.

These strategies might include:

• Clear routines and predictable structure

• Visual schedules and reminders

• Breaking tasks into small, manageable steps

• Immediate, consistent feedback

• Emotion coaching rather than punishment

Parent-focused programmes can be especially helpful, giving carers practical tools that actually work in real family life — not just in textbooks.

Psychological therapies

For some children and teenagers, psychological support can be a valuable part of ADHD treatment.

This may include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), particularly for older children or teens

• Support for emotional regulation, anxiety, or low self-esteem

• Coaching approaches focused on planning, organisation, and goal-setting

Therapy doesn’t “treat” ADHD itself, but it can help children manage the impact ADHD has on their thoughts, feelings, and confidence.

Educational support and school adjustments

School is often where ADHD challenges become most obvious — and where the right support can make the biggest difference.

Helpful adjustments may include:

• Seating and classroom environment changes

• Movement breaks

• Reduced task length or extra processing time

• Support with organisation and transitions

In the UK, this may involve SEN support plans or EHCPs, depending on need. Clear communication between families, schools, and clinicians is key.

NICE guidance on ADHD management (UK)

Medication for ADHD (for some children)

Medication is often the most talked-about — and most misunderstood — ADHD treatment.

For some children, stimulant or non-stimulant medication can significantly improve:

• Attention

• Impulse control

• Emotional regulation

• Day-to-day functioning

Medication is never the first or only step, and it isn’t right for every child. When used, it should always be:

• Carefully assessed

• Properly monitored

• Part of a wider support plan

When medication helps, parents often describe it not as changing their child’s personality, but as reducing the background “noise” that makes everyday life harder.

Balanced information from the CDC

What about diet, supplements, and alternative treatments?

Many families ask about diet changes, supplements, or alternative approaches. While a healthy, balanced diet and good sleep are important for all children, there’s limited high-quality evidence that supplements alone treat ADHD.

If something sounds too good to be true — especially if it promises a “cure” — it usually is.

Always discuss alternative approaches with a qualified professional before trying them.

So… what’s the “right” treatment?

The best ADHD treatment plan is:

• Individual

• Flexible

• Strengths-based

• Reviewed over time

And most importantly — it should make life easier, not more stressful.

If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck between opinions, you’re not doing anything wrong. ADHD support is a journey, not a quick decision.

Final thought

ADHD treatment isn’t about controlling children. It’s about supporting developing brains, building confidence, and creating environments where children can succeed as themselves — not as someone else’s idea of “typical”.

And that’s a goal worth taking the time to get right.

​Book an assessment or discuss treatment.