Typically, the standard treatment for ADHD involves medication. Not all parents are comfortable with the idea of giving their child a daily dose of drugs. Another helpful option could be the use of something called an Interactive Metronome.
ADHD is frequently treated with the use of medication. There are a couple of different types of medicines that doctors may prescribe for treating the symptoms of ADHD. It can take some “trial and error” to discover exactly which ADHD medication, and which dosage, works the best for a particular child. Once that is discovered, it is generally best to follow the doctor’s directions about how often your child should take the medication.
There is currently a shortage of certain types of ADHD medications. This has led to parents feeling rather desperate about what their child is going to do without his or her prescription medication. Starting over on a new drug isn’t always a recommended solution. Other parents are leery of putting their child on any type of daily medication, for ADHD or otherwise.
A company that is based in Camarillo, California, may have found an alternative option to medication. There is something new called an Interactive Metronome. A metronome, as you may know, is a device that keeps time. Musicians use it to make sure that the whole orchestra or band is following the same beat.
It is the rhythm that is the key. There is some literature that talks about neural timing deficits in the brains of people who have ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, certain reading disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and more.
The Interactive Metronome works by having a person who has ADHD (or other disorders) to do exercises that involve an interaction between themselves and this metronome. The person will hear a tone, and be asked to clap their hands, or tap their foot, to match the beat. The person can get feedback about how well, or how poorly, he or she does at these tasks.
Over time, this sort of practice will improve the child’s coordination. As their coordination improves, so does their ability to concentrate. The Interactive Metronome is a very different approach to coping with the symptoms of ADHD than would be typically prescribed.
Parents interested in trying the Interactive Metronome with their child should probably talk to their child’s doctor about it first. In general, it is not a good idea to suddenly take your child off his or her ADHD medications for any reason, even if that reason is a replacement, or alternative, therapy.
Image by Niki Odolphie on Flickr