ADHD Treatment: Choosing the Right Approach
ADHD in children and adults responds to a combination of behavioural strategies, environmental adjustments, and, often, medication. Our team, led by Dr. Pavan Sonar — MBBS, DPM, DNB Psychiatry, helps families and adults across Mumbai and Maharashtra build the right plan, with 22+ years of experience and 50,000+ patients treated.
Behavioural Strategies, Medication, or Both?
For Children: Behavioural Therapy First, Often Alongside Medication
For children, parent-training behavioural programmes and classroom accommodations are foundational, and are often combined with stimulant or non-stimulant medication for moderate-to-severe presentations. Evidence strongly favours combined treatment over either approach alone for significant impairment, while behavioural strategies alone can be sufficient for milder cases.
For Adults: Medication Often First, With Coaching Support
Adult ADHD often responds well to stimulant medication as a first step, since it can produce noticeable improvement in focus within days, making subsequent organisational and coaching strategies easier to implement and sustain. CBT adapted for ADHD is also effective for building executive-function skills long-term.
Getting the Diagnosis Right First
ADHD symptoms overlap with anxiety, learning difficulties, and in adults, sometimes with the after-effects of chronic stress. A thorough diagnostic evaluation — not a quick checklist — is essential before starting treatment, since the right treatment depends heavily on getting the diagnosis right.
Recognising ADHD
In children: difficulty sustaining attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, disorganisation, and academic struggles despite adequate ability. In adults: chronic disorganisation, procrastination, difficulty completing tasks, restlessness, and impulsivity affecting work and relationships — often present since childhood even if undiagnosed until adulthood.
Access Across Maharashtra
In-person diagnostic evaluation at our Mumbai clinic locations (Borivali West, Malad West, Malad East, Andheri West) or via online video consultation for patients across Maharashtra, with ongoing medication monitoring and follow-up.
Looking for child-specific support? See our Child & Adolescent Therapy page for family-centred approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need medication, or will behavioural therapy be enough?
It depends on severity. Mild ADHD often responds well to behavioural strategies and classroom accommodations alone. Moderate-to-severe ADHD generally shows the best outcomes with combined behavioural therapy and medication.
Is adult ADHD medication safe long-term?
Stimulant medications for ADHD have a well-established long-term safety profile when properly prescribed and monitored. Regular follow-up tracks response and manages any side effects.
Can adult ADHD really be diagnosed for the first time later in life?
Yes — many adults are diagnosed for the first time after years of unexplained struggles with organisation and focus. A proper evaluation looks for a childhood-onset pattern, even if it went unrecognised at the time.
Can ADHD evaluation be done online?
Initial screening and follow-up medication management work well online. A comprehensive first evaluation, especially for children, is often more effective in person.
Book Your ADHD Evaluation
A treatment plan matched to age, severity, and specific presentation — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
📞 Call / WhatsApp: +91 85918 40141
📧 Email: drpavansonar@gmail.com
Clinic Locations: Borivali West | Malad West | Andheri West | Malad East — and online across Maharashtra