Despite persistent skepticism, the most common childhood psychiatric disorder is increasingly understood to be a brain malfunction. Different forms of the disorder may have different biological roots.
Discoveries in neuroscience are reinforcing a growing consensus that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as it is officially known, is not just a set of behavior problems but a biologically based disorder of brain function. The symptoms of impulsiveness, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity arise, this research suggests, because misfiring of the brain's executive function - its management system - make it difficult to stay still, concentrate, and exercise forethought and self-control.
ADHD is known to have a strong genetic component - one of the highest among psychiatric disorders - and several genetic markers are known. Similar symptoms have also been found in children with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome and even those exposed to nicotine in the womb. In two studies, ADHD-like symptoms appeared in 15 of 29 children who had strokes, and in 16% of children admitted to trauma centers after a head injury. In most children diagnosed with ADHD, signs and symptoms appear before the age of 7, although they sometimes may occur even earlier.
Inattention
Signs and symptoms of inattention may include:
" Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
" Often has trouble sustaining attention during tasks or play
" Seems not to listen even when spoken to directly
" Has difficulty following through on instructions and often fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks
" Often has problems organizing tasks or activities
" Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork or homework
" Frequently loses needed items, such as books, pencils, toys or tools
" Can be easily distracted
" Forgetful often
Hyperactivity-impulsiveness
Signs and symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsive behavior may include:
" Fidgets or squirms frequently
" Often leaves his or her seat in the classroom or in other situations when remaining seated is expected
" Often runs or climbs excessively when it's not appropriate or, if an adolescent, might constantly feel restless
" Frequently has difficulty playing quietly
" Always seems on the go
" Talks excessively
" Blurts out the answers before questions have been completely asked
" Frequently has difficulty waiting for his or her turn
" Often interrupts or intrudes on others' conversations or games
Most healthy children exhibit many of these behaviors at one time or another. For instance, parents may worry that a 3-year-old who can't listen to a story from beginning to end or finish a drawing may have ADHD. But preschoolers normally have a short attention span and aren't able to stick with one activity for long. This doesn't mean they're inattentive - it simply means they're normal preschoolers.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults
ADHD always begins in childhood, but it may persist into adult life. The core signs and symptoms of distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior are the same for adults as for children, but they often manifest themselves differently and far more subtly in adults. Hyperactivity, in particular, is generally less overt in adults. Children may race around madly; adults are more likely to be restless and to have trouble relaxing.
On the other hand, problems with organization and concentration often increase as people get older when their lives become more complicated and demanding. Adults diagnosed with ADHD often say that their biggest frustration is their inability to focus and to prioritize, leading not only to missed deadlines but also to forgotten meetings and social engagements.
We have seen many patients helped over the years with a combination of chiropractic adjustments to improve neurological function, neurological exercise and Eyelights when indicated and diet and nutritional therapy including detoxification and food avoidance as necessary. Also the lack of proper sleep habits can be a big factor sometimes. Each patient is evaluated and treated individually. Patience and persistence are the key to treatment success. Below is the suggested first two weeks dietary changes to help identify offending foods.
First, what NOT to eat for TWO WEEKS:
1) NO DAIRY PRODUCTS, especially cow's milk. This is the single most important restriction. Instead try Almond milk, Rice milk, or Better Than Milk. Drink water instead of milk. In fact, drink lots of water. The brain is about 80% water, and increasing your water intake to 7 to 10 glasses per day might be helpful all by itself. Sodas, Gatorade, teas, icees, etc., do not count as water. Water counts as water.
2) NO YELLOW FOODS. Especially Corn or Squash. Bananas are white. Don't eat the peel.
3) NO JUNK FOODS. If it comes in a cellophane wrapper, don't eat it.
4) NO FRUIT JUICES. Too much sugar content. One small glass of apple juice has the sugar content of eight apples. Later on you can have juice, but dilute it with water 50/50.
5) CUT SUGAR INTAKE BY 90%. If you can, cut it down to zero. Sugar is in just about everything, but give it a try. Do your best without going crazy. Ask about Steva.
6) CUT CHOCOLATE BY 90%. No more than a single piece, once a week.
7) NO NUTRASWEET. None. Period.
8) NO PROCESSED MEATS and NO MSG. Only get meats with labels that say, "Turkey and Water," etc. If the meat has chemicals listed that you can't pronounce, don't buy it.
9) CUT FRIED FOODS BY 90%.
10) AVOID FOOD COLORINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. See if your child is sensitive to any particular colors, such as Reds, Yellows, etc. For now, though, avoid all if possible.
SUMMARY: Just eat foods that God made for a while. Eat like people did in the 1940's. Go to a used book store and get a Betty Crocker's Cook Book for recipe ideas. There really are about 10,000 meals that you CAN eat. Just not much in the way of "fast foods" or "convenience" foods.
AFTER TWO WEEKS begin adding these foods back into your diet, one food every other day. Eat A LOT of that food every day for four days. If you have a problem with one of the foods, you will see some kind of a "reaction" within four days. The reaction can vary from big red splotches on the body to ears turning bright red to explosive temper outbursts. If there's a problem, you'll know. If there's no problem, enjoy the food.