Navigating Strategies for Improved Quality of Life
Somebody searching for ADHD and Autism interventions or treatment options might feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available but it is possible to find great support for neurodevelopmental disorders. This could be cognitive behavioural therapy or medication options for ADHD and Autism. Personal choice and support from a professional can help you determine the best treatment approaches for you.
Discovering effective ADHD and Autism Interventions: A comprehensive guide.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make people seem restless, impulsive, and struggle to concentrate. There are three types of ADHD – Inattentive, Hyperactive/Impulsive and Combined – with the majority of people experiencing the Combined ADHD type.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and some characteristics of ADHD overlap with Autism.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability, and it can affect how people communicate and interact in the world.
Both conditions can have an impact on people, whether it’s focus, organisation and impulsivity more commonly associated with ADHD or social interaction, communication and sensory sensitivities with autism. People with ADHD and autism often have challenges with school, work, home life and relationships.
Managing ADHD and Autism
People who are neurodiverse, such as ADHD or Autistic, will find certain aspects of life challenging. For people with Autism, they may find the following difficult:
Social communication
- Interpreting verbal and non-verbal language such as gestures or tone.
- Not having enough time to process information.
- Understanding an abstract concept.
Social interaction
- Reading people to understand their feelings and intentions.
- Expressing their own emotions.
- Appearing to be socially inappropriate.
Sensory processing
- Over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, colours, temperatures or pain.
- Discomfort when hugging others, which they may try to avoid.
- Avoiding social situations that cause overwhelm and anxiety due to sensory overload.
Hyper-focus
- Intense and highly focused interests which can be a brilliant opportunity to excel in a career path, but may lead them to neglect other aspects of their life.
Anxiety
- Social situations might cause intense anxiety, which can impact their relationships and opportunities in all aspects of their life.
- If anxiety triggers aren’t managed, this can lead to a meltdown where they become so overwhelmed by the situation they temporarily lose control of their behaviour.
For people with ADHD, they may also find some of the same challenges as those with autism. Someone with ADHD might be inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or a combination of both (most people are combined).
Inattentive ADHD might look like a short attention span or easily distracted. People might have difficulty organising a task or appear forgetful.
If they are hyperactive/impulsive then they would struggle to sit still and move and fidget a lot. They may also struggle to wait their turn, act without thinking, talk excessively or interrupt conversations.
Managing ADHD and Autism: The importance of early diagnosis
An early diagnosis for autism is helpful because the individual (which could be either a child or adult) can look into the most effective Autism treatment options. This could be therapy and interventions that improve their developmental outcomes, whether that’s support for school or in the workplace.
Undiagnosed autism or ADHD can put pressure on families and relationships, so a diagnosis can help everyone put the right therapeutic strategies for Autism in place to help an individual thrive.
The sooner the diagnoses is realised, the sooner ADHD and Autism interventions and treatments can take place.
Behavioural ADHD Interventions
There is no cure for ADHD or Autism (and be very careful of any professionals who say that there is).
However, there are a number of evidence-based behavioural interventions for ADHD that might be helpful for helping somebody to manage everyday life:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be slightly longer for someone with neurodiversity. CBT can help with inattention and the impact on everyday tasks. This can help people whether they choose to medicate or not.
ADHD Coaching
This is a relatively new field, but ADHD coaching can complement ADHD medication and CBT. An ADHD coach might help somebody with planning, time management and organisation.
Therapeutic strategies for Autism
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
PBS is person-centred and can identify someone’s needs. A qualified practitioner will follow the PBS Framework and help establish the reasons why an individual is distressed, the impact their environment has on them and the best ways for them to be kept safe and happy.
Occupational Therapy (OT) as an Autism treatment option
Depending on the individual’s challenges, an occupational therapist could be one of many effective Autism treatment options. It might be able to help with fine motor skills, self-care and risk-assessments, such as the home or school environment.
Therapeutic strategies for Autism might involve new equipment or modifications to their environment, and an OT would be able to make a professional recommendation for this.
Medication options for ADHD and Autism
There are no treatments or cures for autism, and any information that you see that professes to act as a ‘cure’ should be avoided. You can find out more about some of the myths here.
However, there might be some medication options for ADHD and Autism that would support an individual with autism who is experiencing symptoms including anxiety, hyperactivity or inattention. It can minimise impulsivity and promote overall feelings of calm. Medication options for ADHD and Autism will vary for adults and children and will depend on the individual’s symptoms.
These options for ADHD and Autism is best discussed with a psychiatrist as the diagnosis is confirmed. Medications can be prescribed via the NHS (and the usual prescription charges will apply).
If you were to seek a private diagnosis for ADHD or Autism, a trained psychiatrist can explain the best medication options for ADHD and Autism and issue a private prescription, which can be a costly option.
This blog post provides an overview of private ADHD clinic fees.
Support for ADHD and Autism
Family support can play a crucial role in providing support for ADHD and Autism. Understanding the world from their perspective is very important, so having clear communication can help you to put some solutions in place to minimise any challenges.
- Learn about what somebody with ADHD or autism needs and what their strengths are (don’t just focus on the challenges).
- Make sure they are accepted at home and feel safe and understood.
- Develop routines and structure to help them with organisation and transition from one task to the next.
- Look at ways to help the person to become independent.
Family members must make sure they seek support for themselves. Support for ADHD and autism can put a strain on family members, so make sure you use the support systems available.
Effective Strategies for ADHD and Autism
Although people with neurodiverse conditions such as Autism and ADHD find certain aspects of life challenging, there are also an incredible number of positives, including a range of treatment approaches for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Putting in the right support for ADHD and Autism and understanding how they see the world is the key to making everything easier – triggers and risks can be minimised to make sure the individual and their family are thriving and not just surviving in life.
The first step should always be a diagnosis before discussing ADHD interventions and Autism treatment options. From there, highly trained medical professionals and therapists can put the right interventions in place.
Ready to explore effective strategies for ADHD and Autism?
Our team at The ADHD & Autism Clinic can schedule an initial consultation for you today.
Our experienced team is dedicated to managing ADHD and Autism for individuals of all ages. Get the support for ADHD and Autism that you need and take the first step towards a better quality of life.