A Plan For Treating ADHD: What To Discuss With Your Doctor
As with many things in life, treating ADHD works better with a well-defined treatment plan that encompasses all the necessary elements, includes all the stakeholders and provides both long and short term objectives and goals. Such a treatment plan provides for a path to successfully managing you or your child’s ADHD. Treatment plans work for both children and adults and it gives you and your doctor the necessary information to ensure that you or your child’s plan is working at the level expected. ADHD can be managed with a customized treatment plan in order to improve your quality of life and helping you or your child get the most out of the ADHD treatment.
The Stakeholders
A key aspect of any treatment plan is that all stakeholders are informed of and are included in the treatment plan. Stakeholders include the person who suffers from ADHD, parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and of course, the treatment team. The treatment team can include the natural medicine doctor/practitioner, as well as the medical and the psychological doctors, the school nurse and school counselors to name a few. Importantly, stakeholders are those who have a stake in the overall success of the treatment plan and who can help provide the consistency required for an ADHD treatment plan.
Structured Treatment Plan
Treating ADHD typically requires a structured plan. A structured treatment plan for ADHD includes;
- Specific Objectives
- Measurable goals
- Instructions or plans to meet the goals
- Timelines for each goal and objective
- Follow-ups upon achievement of said goals
Within this list of elements, there are also specific treatments that can or will be utilized at each level of the plan. For example, various treatment options may be explored at the start of the treatment program but as the best treatment is found and goals are reached, treatment becomes more personalized. Conventional and alternative treatments can be included in the treatment plan and used throughout the structure or only at certain points as required.
Talking To The Doctor
The single most important aspect at every step of the plan is discussing both the plan, levels, and expectations at each point or junction in the plan. In simple terms, no treatment plan will succeed without quality two-way communication between the provider and patient and also among the various stakeholders. At each level, you will want to discuss with the doctor or provider;
- Where in the plan you are currently
- Any problems encountered in achieving your last or current goal
- Expectations for the next level in the treatment plan
- Any side effects from any element included in the plan
- Any alterations that occurred
- Any accommodations that might be required in the future
Naturally, this list is not an all encompassing list as there are other things that might be necessary to convey to your provider. However, before any visit to your doctor or provider, it is generally a good idea to sit down and write down any questions that you or your child might have instead of trying to recall them by memory. This makes it easier for the provider or doctor to answer your questions and provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices.
Your Role In The Treatment Plan
It is crucial for either you or your child to understand that as the one who is suffering from ADHD and receiving treatment, you play the most critical role in the treatment plan. In other words, without you, there is no treatment plan. Working hard to meet the goals and objectives, working with your parents, stakeholders and treatment team to help you with your treatment plan and communicating your problems and concerns are all important in treating your ADHD and helping you achieve your goals.
Having a treatment plan and following the plan, making adjustments as necessary, puts you or your child on the path to successfully managing ADHD. If you or someone you know is suffering from ADHD, now is a good time to review your treatment plan or if you don’t have one, start one, with a treatment provider so you can get on the road to a better quality of life.
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