Can you answer The Golden Child’s question about ADHD?:

I have a chronic attention deficit problem. I cannot concentrate for more than a few seconds. I cannot remember what I did a few hours ago. Today I day dreamed through my train station and ended up further than I intended to go. If I drive somewhere I cannot remember how I got there. I forget everything. I walk out of meetings and I cannot remember what was said. It’s beginning to seriously impede my career. Is there anything that can be done about this?

ADHD Tips

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the newest name that has been given to a group of disorders of the central nervous system. With the long list of names this disorder has been given over the years, it is often confusing as to which criteria are for a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children in the United States have ADHD, meaning that at least one child in a classroom of twenty-five to thirty children will have ADHD. There are three times as many boys diagnosed with ADHD, but the condition is increasingly being diagnosed in girls as well.

Although ADHD was primarily thought of as a childhood disorder, it can be found in adults as well. Experts have estimated that as many as 8 million adults may be affected, but 80 percent of them do not realize it. Some studies show that there is significant decline in ADHD symptoms as a person ages, while others estimate that between 30 and 70 percent of children with ADHD will carry some symptoms into adulthood. ADHD is a more complex disorder in adults, but it manifests itself into a problem with self-regulation. Without this self-control, an adult’s ability to do tasks is impaired. This condition can lead to marital conflicts, substance abuse, and financial problems. Infidelity is common because ADHD adults easily become bored with things, including spouses.

Factors that have been linked to the development of ADHD include heredity, anxiety, allergies, smoking during pregnancy, hyperinsulinemia, oxygen deprivation at birth, environmental stress or pollutants, artificial food additives, injury, infection, lead poisoning, and prenatal trauma. More emphasis has been placed on the role of diet in ADHD in recent years. Many people with these conditions react to certain preservatives, dyes, and salicylates in foods. These problems can cause the balance of chemistry in the brain to be thrown off, which produces undesirable changes in behavior. A low-protein diet may also be a contributing factor. Although a hotly debated topic for decades, studies have definitely shown that food additives do play a major role in hyperactivity.

Many researchers feel that ADHD is being over-diagnosed nowadays. It is difficult to accurately diagnose this condition because many of the symptoms appear in the normal, healthy children at many times during childhood. In fact, more than 60 percent of parents suspect that their child has ADHD at some point in their upbringing. What may merely be creativity or a high energy level can be diagnosed as ADHD. A diagnosis of ADHD should be made by a team of specialists who are experts in the disorder and it is wise to get a second opinion.

One should considered nutritional deficiencies and dietary measures for treating ADHD. The following nutrients are recommended: calcium, magnesium, GABA, a multivitamin and mineral complex, Omega-3 fish oil, Pycnogenol, Quercetin, SAMe, acetylcholine, DMAE, l-cysteine, phosphatidyl serine, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and zinc. Additionally, the following herbs may be beneficial: ginkgo biloba, ginseng, mullein oil, valerian root, catnip, chamomile, gotu kola, hops, kava kava, lemon balm, licorice, lobelia, oats, passionflower, skullcap, St. John’s wort, thyme, and wood betony.

Creating a nutritionally sound diet for children and adults can go a long way to controlling ADHD and ADD in general. Reducing sugar intake and adding good quality food that hasn’t been over processed which removes the needed vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients we all need to live healthy lives. The above vitamins, minerals and herbs are suggested to be helpful for those suffering as well as those who aren’t, but always consult your health care provider before adding dietary supplements to ones diet while on prescription drugs. Quality vitamins can be found at your local or internet health food store.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Vitamins, minerals, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.



Thanks to Darrell Miller for contributing this article to our ADHD blog:

Treating Adhd Without Medication

Can you answer doulasc’s question about ADHD?:

One person answered me in another posting just
because they are promoted does not mean they passed. Why promote them? It is time to stop making excuses for kids with LD and try to find
a way to teach the same high standards to them
but present the high standards in a different way.
I am not talking about mentally retarded or slow learners,but kids with moderated learning disabilities. In my time I gave up on school because school gave up on me.There was no
help in my time. I fell through the cracks and
society still holds me accountable for something
I had no control over. Do you all think I am uneducable and beyond help. Why is it my fault?
I use to be told it was my fault for not trying harder?

Does My Child Have Adhd

Bringing home your tiny bundle of joy, many parents never think about the possibility of dealing with ADHD. But for parents and children diagnosed with this problem, the challenges of ADHD can frustrate and overwhelm. As questions arise about the best treatment from doctors, many quickly assume that parents will want the easy way, with a prescription. Many parents are concerned about the long-term affects, however, and have found that there are alternative therapies through ADHD diet therapy and herbal supplements.

DIET and ADHD

Diet and behavior has been studied as a possible factor in ADHD in children, as well as the cause for other behavior problems, since the early 1970’s. Some parents have found that by keeping the diet remedies for ADHD children through an additive free diet that the results have been nearly as good or better than drug treatment. Modifying diet is a good first step to take before resorting to medication.

Since some children’s behavior is triggered by different dietary factors, finding the culprit can be tricky. Keeping a food journal and eliminating certain trigger foods through the “elimination diet” is the most effective way to find out what foods are causing problems and finding diet remedies for ADHD for your child. ADHD is not the only problem from food triggers; behavior problems - including autism - as well as sleep problems and irritability - have also shown improvement from the elimination diet.

ELIMINATION DIET HOW TO

When searching for diet remedies for ADHD, read up on the common triggers. Make your child’s meal plans for a week while withholding the suspected trigger. Chart behavior changes and attention over the course of the week, since it often takes time for the allergen or trigger to work itself out of the child’s system. Teachers and care providers are going to have to be on board to get accurate results!

Common triggers include food dyes - this includes dyes found in medicines, drinks, food products, candy - dyes are a non-essential part of the child’s dietary needs. Other common foods that can trigger reactions are dairy products, particularly cow’s milk, sugar and artificial sweeteners, processed meats and fried foods.

Once you are ready to add the foods back into the diet, add one type of food every two days, and watch for behavior changes. After it is determined that the food is not a cause, it can be added back into the regular diet.

HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

ADHD diet therapy can be used in conjunction with herbal supplements to maximize results. Both children and adults have seen positive response when using herbal treatments. These are common items, easy to find.

Ginkgo Biloba is known to improve blood flow to the brain, thus improving memory and concentration. Combining this with American Ginseng has been shown to help symptoms of ADHD in children in several studies. St. John’s Wort is another popular treatment. It has been used for years as an anti-depressant, by increasing serotonin (which affects mood).

Grape Seed Extract is another popular treatment, becoming more common as a first line of defense by doctors. Grape Seed Extract is believed to inhibit the faster than normal breakdown of dopamine in the brain for ADHD patients.

Pine Bark, also called Pycnogenol, is a complex of flavanoids that increases circulation and lowers free radicals. This is a potentially good treatment up and coming in the herbal remedies available for treating children with ADHD.

Finding the right ADHD diet therapy for your child is not an overnight magic pill. It takes time and persistence, but many parents and teachers will testify that diet remedies for ADHD combined with alternative therapies such as herbal remedies and extended behavior modification, that there is hope! Your child can be the focused and attentive child you want - well, as much as any child can be! By using ADHD diet therapy, you are keeping your child from the risks of associated drug risks.



Thanks to Diana Ketchen for contributing this article to our ADHD blog:

Adhd Teaching Methods