Inattentive ADD / ADHD Treatment for a Child

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As a mother of a daughter with ADD (inattentive type), I have tried many, many things to help her improve her attention deficit issues. I have spent thousands of dollars on supplements and alternative treatments. I have tried medication, which had side effects that were unbearable.

But, through research and experimenting, I have found a few things that are helping. Here are the things I have tried that worked:

Montessori School: I tested out a Montessori school for her, for a day. It was a miracle. She does SO much better with their learning techniques than in public school. In public school she was hardly able to do much work at all, but in the Montessori program she is thriving. She comes home happy every day and is able to complete work during school. She is learning well in math and writing. Whereas in the public school system she was having huge difficulties in those areas. The teachers have told me she has no real major attention issues at school, whereas in the public school, she was almost paralyzed by inattention problems.

Exercise: Exercise has been shown to help with ADD and ADHD because it improves attention and matures the brain. I have seen how 20-30 minutes of exercise for my daughter before school helps her stay more alert and better able to focus. Although, it does take a daily exercise routine for over a week before I start to see results.

A Full Nights Sleep: No matter what I do, if she is short on sleep it’s nearly impossible for her to concentrate on homework or chores. She needs more sleep than my other kids. 11 hours a night is optimal and she is 8 years old.

Good Nutrition: General good nutrition is a must. Sugar makes her distractibility much worse. I have read by Dr. Daniel Amen who specializes in helping kids with ADD, that a high protein diet is best. I haven’t tried that yet though.

Must Be Alone: In order for my daughter to be able to read or do homework or anything else that requires focus, she must be alone in a space with very few distractions. If anyone even comes into the room, her focus is ruined.

Classical Music: I have seen some of the best results from playing classical music both while she’s working and at odd times during the day. I noticed results after 1 or 2 days of playing classical music for her. She really likes it too and I think it helps her to think more clearly. My husband who also has ADD has noticed major improvement from listening to classical music regularly. He says it helps him think more clearly about things he needs to do and helps him focus.