Children with ADHD, according to Paul Wender ,M.D. (Professor of Psychiatry, University of Utah) are "difficult to reward and difficult to punish". It is as if they lived in an "emotional raincoat", one which prevented them from fully experiencing emotions directed toward them. While this can keep them from feeling the full effects of their problematic behaviors, it makes modifying these behaviors very difficult. This is one of the reasons many parents report that behavior modification systems work for only a very short time (2-3 weeks at most) with these children.
Among the most effective ways of dealing with ADHD children is Back In Control , a behavioral intervention program based on RULES.