The Drake Institute now offers remote treatment for ADHD, autism, and other brain-based disorders. With the help of our trained clinicians, you can get the help you need from the comfort of your home.
Learn More >>The Drake Institute now offers remote treatment for ADHD, autism, and other brain-based disorders. With the help of our trained clinicians, you can get the help you need from the comfort of your home.
Learn More >>Parenting an ADHD child presents extra challenges for the already complex job of raising a child. ADHD parents often report difficulty with their child completing homework independently, needing frequent reminders to complete tasks, and exhibiting low frustration tolerance and/or emotional over-reactivity. Parents may unfairly blame themselves that their parenting is the problem, where in our experience most of the time the difficulties are not due to parenting. Even the best parenting cannot overcome the neurophysical limitations of ADHD, and due to those neurophysical limitations, the child is not able to be fully receptive to the best parenting.
In fact, children with ADHD can sometimes be several years behind their peers in terms of maturity and other developmental markers.[i] It’s important to set realistic expectations while parenting an ADHD child because there can be a mismatch between what the child is expected to do and neurophysically what they are able to do.
To improve the ADHD child’s capabilities, we recommend seeking clinical treatment through brain map-guided neurofeedback. At the Drake Institute, one of the most consistent treatment improvements that parents report is that their children begin to catch up with their age-appropriate maturity rather quickly. In addition to directly treating the neurophysical disorder, we recommend the following ADHD parenting tips. We’ve organized the following ADHD parenting strategies by age groups as there are different needs during different developmental periods.
For decades, the Drake Institute has used advanced treatment technologies to create customized treatment protocols for patients with ADHD and other brain-based conditions. Brain map-guided neurofeedback and neurostimulation help our ADHD patients reduce their symptoms and lead better lives.
For more information about how the Drake Institute treats ADHD and several other brain-based conditions, please fill out the consultation form or call us at 800-700-4233.
Because young children with ADHD are developmentally behind their neurotypical peers, they may face extra challenges engaging with others, such as playing cooperatively or following rules at home or school. Tasks that may be simple for most children, like getting dressed in the morning or packing a backpack for school, may be more daunting for ADHD children. Breaking activities into smaller parts, setting explicit boundaries, and positive reinforcement will help make parenting a young ADHD child easier.[ii]
If you have a young ADHD child, try these tips:
Children with ADHD may need extra explanations when learning the rules. When these children do something inappropriate, they may need more repetition and positive reinforcement.
As children develop language skills, they first understand the concept of “me” or “I.” Younger ADHD children may not yet understand that “we” includes them as well. If you say, “We don’t color on the walls,” they may not understand it as a rule they must follow at home. Instructions and expectations should be clear and explicit.
Compliments and words of encouragement can be particularly incentivizing for kids with ADHD. As soon as you notice your child doing the appropriate and expected action, offer praise. You don’t have to wait until the task or action is finished. Positive encouragement will help incentivize the child to continue and overcome feelings of frustration, boredom, or being overwhelmed.
Communicating rules is critical for behavioral success with ADHD children. Too many rules can be overwhelming, so select a few to prioritize.
Use a clear visual separation between areas in the home or school that require different mindsets. This will help your child more easily switch modes between work and play.
The transitional pre-teen years can be challenging for any child as they navigate new social dynamics. The presence of ADHD can add further complexities for parents and pre-teens, even with improved behavioral regulation skills compared to childhood.[iii]
The following tips can help you and your ADHD child persevere through the challenges brought on by the disorder.
Work with your child to identify triggers for inattention or impulsivity. Taking short breaks, using fidget toys, or using positive self-talk to manage frustration can be useful strategies in dealing with ADHD symptoms.
Understanding why your child behaves as they do is crucial in learning to help them and not overreact as a result of frustration. For instance, if your child doesn’t turn in their homework, is it because they are forgetful, unorganized, or they need supportive strategies to compensate for their ADHD deficits?
Activities that allow your child to express themselves and feel competent can boost their confidence and self-esteem. Encouraging these interests provides a healthy outlet for their energy and creates a sense of accomplishment.
While supervision is still important, gradually increasing independence is necessary for pre-teens with ADHD. Start small by giving them age-appropriate chores or letting them manage their daily planner. As they demonstrate responsibility, gradually increase their autonomy to foster a sense of self-reliance.
Open communication and trust are essential for a positive parent-child relationship. Listen to your child’s concerns and frustrations. Acknowledge their feelings and work together to find solutions. Positive reinforcement for desired behaviors goes a long way in building trust and encouraging cooperation.
ADHD can impact areas like organization, time management, and social skills. Fortunately, you can help your child improve these skills with consistent encouragement and practice. Work with your child on strategies to fill in the gaps.
The teenage years come with a host of parenting challenges which can be more intense in a child with ADHD. As their needs change and the drive for independence increases, it is essential to be flexible in finding new strategies that work. Below are several tips that can help you modify existing routines and interventions to help your teenager with ADHD succeed[iv]:
Teenagers with ADHD are struggling with brain dysregulation, so it’s important to maintain realistic expectations as they deal with new routines, rules, and responsibilities.
Mistakes are natural learning opportunities. Help your child learn from the consequences of their actions or decisions so that they are encouraged to make better choices in the future.
Children with ADHD often benefit from closer supervision due to developmental differences that impact focus and self-control. This supervision should be tailored to their needs. Too little supervision can impose significant risks, while too much supervision can create conflict with the child feeling over-controlled.
As your child demonstrates responsible behavior, gradually loosen restrictions on their freedoms. Rewarding your child with access to further privileges could motivate them to continue making good decisions.
As your child shows progress, try to support their self-esteem. Developing self-confidence in their own capacity to succeed with challenges is important for teens with ADHD.
Prioritize your focus on the most important rules which can have the most impact. While setting boundaries is crucial when parenting an ADHD teen, constant conflict isn’t helpful.
Some individuals do outgrow ADHD, but many will continue to have ADHD symptoms and experience struggles in their adult life. ADHD symptoms are caused by an underlying dysregulation of the brain. Clinical intervention is likely to produce a better clinical outcome in the child’s future.[v]
While symptoms may change with age, they don’t necessarily get worse. Instead, the presentation of ADHD symptoms may evolve over time.[vi] Over time, ADHD individuals may be more vulnerable to developing anxiety, depression, and even substance use as they get older. Some may find that symptoms related to hyperactivity and impulsivity lessen over time, but symptoms of inattention persist.
Stimulant medication is typically the first course of action for ADHD treatment.[vii] These medications can help in some circumstances, but improvements may diminish once medications are discontinued. In addition, there are always risks of unwanted side effects. Additionally, stimulants only address the symptoms of ADHD and do not teach the brain to regulate more normally.
In addition to treating the neurologic ADHD, psychological counseling and accommodation at work and school can be supportive adjunctively.
Over the last 40 years, the Drake Institute has clinically pioneered the use of advanced treatment technologies to treat a variety of brain-based medical disorders such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, insomnia, and more. Using a combination of brain map-guided neurofeedback and sometimes neurostimulation, our Medical Director creates customized treatment protocols to address each patient's needs.
To develop our individualized treatment plans, we first complete a qEEG brain map analysis for each patient. Brain mapping helps us identify which specific regions or networks of the brain are dysregulated linked to symptoms.
To collect this data, 19 sensors are placed around the scalp in areas of the brain responsible for language, focus, memory, executive functioning, social/emotional understanding and behavioral/emotional regulation. The 19 sensors measure and record brainwave activity that is processed through a normative database of neurotypical individuals.
When we compare the patient's results with those of neurotypical individuals, we can identify regions or networks of the brain that are dysregulated and causing symptoms. This information also allows us to determine how these areas are dysregulated so that we can develop specific treatment protocols that help improve brain functioning and reduce symptoms.
During neurofeedback training/treatment, sensors are once again placed on the scalp. The sensors record and display instantaneous brainwave activity visually in real-time on a computer screen with simultaneous auditory feedback as well.
During neurofeedback sessions, the patient is seeing the results of how their brain is working and with this information, they learn to improve their brainwave activity by guiding it toward healthier, more appropriately functional brainwave patterns.
We do not administer any drugs or perform invasive procedures during this process. Instead, the patient is improving their own brain functioning, guided by visual and auditory feedback.
As an adjunct to neurofeedback, we may also use neurostimulation guided by qEEG brain map findings to gently stimulate the brain into healthier functional patterns. In our experience, some patients may benefit even more from neurofeedback if we also use neurostimulation. We have found this particularly helpful for lower-functioning children on the Autism Spectrum.
In the last forty years, Drake has helped thousands of patients with various disorders such as autism, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, insomnia, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypertension reduce or resolve their symptoms and thereby achieve a better quality of life. Call us at 1-800-700-4233 or fill out the free consultation form to get started.
[i] https://www.additudemag.com/the-truth-will-set-parents-free/
[ii] https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-children-preschool-parent-teacher-help/
[iii] https://www.additudemag.com/adolescent-adhd-tween-teen-advice-for-parents/
[iv] https://www.additudemag.com/help-teen-manage-adhd/
[v] https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/growing-out-of-adhd
[vi] https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/can-adhd-get-worse
[vii] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350883
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Interview with Dr. David Velkoff
Seth's Story
Interview with Dr. David Velkoff
Spanish News Feature
“David F. Velkoff, M.D., our Medical Director and co-founder, supervises all evaluation procedures and treatment programs. He is recognized as a physician pioneer in using biofeedback, qEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback, and neuromodulation in the treatment of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and stress related illnesses including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Dr. David Velkoff earned his Master’s degree in Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles in 1975, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1976. This was followed by Dr. Velkoff completing his internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology with an elective in Neurology at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine. He then shifted his specialty to Neurophysical Medicine and received his initial training in biofeedback/neurofeedback in Neurophysical Medicine from the leading doctors in the world in biofeedback at the renown Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. In 1980, he co-founded the Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine. Seeking to better understand the link between illness and the mind, Dr. Velkoff served as the clinical director of an international research study on psychoneuroimmunology with the UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. This was a follow-up study to an earlier clinical collaborative effort with UCLA School of Medicine demonstrating how the Drake Institute's stress treatment resulted in improved immune functioning of natural killer cell activity. Dr. Velkoff served as one of the founding associate editors of the scientific publication, Journal of Neurotherapy. He has been an invited guest lecturer at Los Angeles Children's Hospital, UCLA, Cedars Sinai Medical Center-Thalians Mental Health Center, St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, and CHADD. He has been a medical consultant in Neurophysical Medicine to CNN, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Univision, and PBS.”
