by Alexis Stone

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2008

Attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) affects the whole family. The demands of a child with ADD can be overwhelming. The disorder and disruption of a child with AD/HD may lead siblings to experience jealously because of the extra attention that is given to the needier sibling. For this reason it is very important for a parent to not only know how to respond, but also coping techniques. Some families dealing with ADD fall apart because they lack the much needed guidance and support that can be found right in their own community. This support can be a foundation that builds an even stronger family unit.

Parents often experience feelings of guilt and anger because they don't know how to help control their own child. Many families may have tried several alternative methods to help reduce the negative effects of the behaviors associated with AD/HD, like a change of diet. Still, there are several myths associated with the causes of AD/HD, so the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has conducted several studies to dispel some of the following myths. AD/HD is not caused by; too much sugar, aspartame (NutraSweet), food allergies, food additives or colorings, lack of vitamins, too much TV and video games or bad parenting (so you can stop beating yourself up). This is not to say that these things don't negatively influence the behavior, they just are not the root of the problem.

The pressure becomes so overwhelming that parents often voluntarily seek professional advice. According to the National Institute of Mental Health AD/HD occurs in three to five percent of school age children, subsequently leaving the parents of this population seeking support and advice. The American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry reports that there are three major symptoms of AD/HD. They are difficulty paying attention, hyper activeness and acting out on impulse. This behavior can be embarrassing and leave parents feeling helpless. So what types of help are out there? Where do you go? Who should you seek professional advice from?

The American Academy of Pediatrics places treatment for attention deficit disorder into two major categories; pharmacological treatments like stimulant drugs and alternative treatments which include behavioral therapy and family group psychotherapy. Dr. Oscar Bukstein, a Psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburg firmly believes that the best results occur when a combination of both treatments are used simultaneously.

The best professional for both

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