Child with ADD/ADHD

Hi A.,
http://www.klamathbluegreen.com/

This is something that we were told about but haven't tried. I have read up on it and there are many success stories from those that have tried it.

Best Wishes.

HI...I'm C....please try( www.webmd.com/add/adhd )on google and you'll get about 140,000 responses....hopefully at least one will help her. They seem to have some great ideas. Good Luck
C. M. Hamlin

I use to nanny for a family of 4 children all of whom were challenged by ADHD/ADD. They never received medication. There were several things that I discovered helped those los a great deal. The first is control sugar as much as possible, but do NOT use sugar substitutes. Whole grains, veggies, and fruit are also helpful, because they help the body regulate itself. Instead of using store bought juices make fresh juice with a juicer combining both fruits and veggies and then add the pulp to breads, pies, and cakes. Activity does help too. We use to do spelling and math on a trampoline by keeping their bodies busy their minds could focus better and they were better able to rest at night.

I have ADHD, and I must say that this child's guardian sounds as though he/she is not well educated on the topic. I would recommend a book called Healing ADD by Daniel G. Amen MD. Dr. Amen describes the 6 types of ADD in this book, includes a quiz that the guardian can use to determine which type her child has, and it has specific recommendations on holistic care for each type.

Many people (even those of us how have this LD) are not aware of how many types there are and that each type requires specific treatment. What workes for one person with ADHD may or may not work for another based on these types. If this child is a different type than myself, than things that work for me could actually be distructive to her. This book cost me $15 at Barnes and Noble and that is the best $15 I have ever spent in my life.

I will say that one universal truth for ADD/ADHD is that excersise is huge! One person suggested swimming, which is only become popularized due to the recent olympic games. Any excersise that this child gets really passionate about will work. If it engages her mind and her body at the same time, then it will be effective. For me, it is horseback riding (I do 3 day eventing which many parents would deem to unsafe for their children), I have a friend who swears by running - the sport doesn't matter, as long as the child is passionate about it.

THe other thing I will tell you is that I never took medication until my senior year of my undergrad degree, and I only took it then during midterms and finals when I was truely overwhelmed. It made my childhood a bit harder, but my grades were good enough to receive and acedemic full scholarship to college. It can be done and the added benifit os that I have a vast amount of coping methods that my medicated peers do not have. This means I don't have to rely on medications - my parents never allowed my to make excuses due to my LD, and they held me to the same standard as my brothers (who are"normal"). I am so thankful for this. Again, it wasn't easy for me or them, but I am better off as an adult. Now that I am pregnant and can't take adderal even if I wanted to, my MD was conserned that I wouldn't beable to hold down a job without meds. But I am doing well - just had my annual review and my boss can't tell any difference. I do have an Rx now, as an adult, but I only take it occasionally, when I am truely at my wits end.

Don't take away this child's self confidence and self dignity by letting her be classified by her LD. Don't give her the message that she will only succeed with drugs. Send her the message that she has amazing talents that the other children will never possess (because she does)and give her the resources to flourish. Teachers are not well educated on this topic, (I am a former middle grades teacher with a BS in Education - they do not cover this topic sufficiently or accurately in colleges) so do your research and find a MD that has experience with this. What she needs most is a well educated guardian who can teach her to set herself up for success.

Not sure where you are located, but I am on the kitsap penninsula in WA. I would be glad to meet up with you or help you an any way that I can.

When my son was diagnosed with ADHD, Ritalin was first suggested. I asked what Ritalin was and how it worked, I was told it was a stimulant similar to high doses of caffeine that calmed the ADHD mind. I thought gee, why not just do that...we kept the harmful stuff out of his diet, but we would have him drink caffeine (coffee, Mt. Dew) throughout the day...it worked like a charm for years. Of course he had to brush his teeth a lot, but he's always been obsessed with cleanliness. The caffeine did the same thing as the Ritalin without the side effects. When he became a teen he did get worse, and we gave him his first meds at age 14...since Strattera is non-stimulant, there were less side effects...the only one really was a little too much of a weight loss. But the moral of the story is, later he weaned off the medications, he is now a healthy 18 year old and even though still a very high energy person and does have a hard time focusing in a calm kinda structured (school) environment, he's going to make a great adult. There's hope for that girl...as long as those who care never give up.

i don't know much about medication, but i know my little sister was diagnosed with adhd and a few years later found out she had a wheat allergy that was causing the behavior proplems, i've heard alot of other stories ware the condition was controlled by diet, i personaly wouldn't say anything without knowing a little bit more, as not everyone belivies that medication is the answer, and she may be really offended or feel like you are insulting her ability as a gaurdian

I have a girlfriend that's daughter was diagnosed with adhd. They choose to go med free and do allergy test with food to find an underlying problem. They are a gluten free family now. the differance in behavior is amazing. when you met their daughter before. She wouldn't even look at you let alone speak to you. Now she's just like everyother child. Communicated fine and learns and behaves just like a non adhd child. Diet is key with anything. It can affect any of us is so many ways. Always eat as naturally as you can. Whole foods are best. No proceed foods or very limited.

I put in another vote for the gluten free diet...it really helps!

My stepdaughter has been diagnosed with ADD (not the same as ADHD, basically she is missing the hyperactivity component of this disorder). She is distractable and unable to focus on her schoolwork much of the time.

We took her to a naturopath (the same Dr. Wendy Weber at Bastyr) to avoid the medication route hopefully. The naturopath recommended that she eat some protein every day at breakfast which she was not getting. So, that would mean peanut butter (or another nut butter) on toast or PB sandwich, string cheese, hardboiled eggs. These are all easy to pack or take with options, and can be made the night before, for a fast/easy departure from the house in the mornings.

The naturopath also told us to have her take it easy on the sugar...which is in everything nowadays. I have found it in canned tomato sauce, even! It is an ongoing struggle, but we do the best we can to limit the sugar for the entire family.

She also now takes dietary supplements, specifically:
- GB24. This is made by Thorne Research, 1 capsule two times per day.
- DHA Junior arctic cod liver oil capsules, 250 mg, 2 capsules two times a day. This is made by Nordic Naturals and is a chewable form in strawberry flavor (I think they have other flavors). Basically it's fish oil which they have people take to lower their cholesterol. You can also get regular fish oil tabs and freeze them to avoid the fishy burp taste problem that some people have!

She is 12 and has been on this since age 10 at least. I have not noticed a great difference, but slight difference except that she has worked up to reading at grade level finally! This was a major concern for many years.

I have had a hard time finding these, but have searched on the internet. We order by mail from our naturopath. I would imagine you could go to a diet supplement or natural foods store and perhaps locate them there.

Finally - just a thought - to limit TV. I recently read an theoretical article about the input we get from our TV in today's world, which trains us and our children to constantly want fast action. The TV cameras and angles are constantly changing, second to second - even on the daily news programs (they called this "flicker"). I didn't quite understand what this meant, but they said to go take a look at an old Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood show and compare it to an average child's program from the past 10 years. Mr. Rogers is very slow-paced, and the camera does not cut in and out. The camera follows him without the constant stop-start you see nowadays. I ABSOLUTELY understood and agreed that this could be contributing to our entire population's sudden surgence of ADD/ADHD. And I am now limiting my children's exposure to TV even more as a result.

Best of luck with this situation!

I can sympathize with this child's guardian. I have a 10 year old girl that has ADD. We have had a lot of success with karate. It teaches an otherwise easily distracted child how to maintain inner focus and self control. (At least a center that is worth its beans does) I even tried it with my bipolar teen after seeing how well it was working for his little sister and it helped him learn how to stem his rages a bit. It also gives them a positive safe outlet for their frustration. My sons teacher gave him an open invitation to go beat up on the mannequin when he was having a bad day. It sure saved alot of destruction on my house!

Also children like these ones respond well to whats called a token economy system. They NEED instant gratification and by 'paying' them for jobs well done they can have that. Also by charting their progress they can have a visual reminder of how far they have come. My son is in a special school for kids that have behavioral issues and was in residential treatment for a year and a half when he was 9 years old. In both settings they used some sort of token reward system.

I found a book at Barnes and Noble called "Parents Survival Strategies For Your ADHD Kid" that was also very helpful. I can't remember who the author was but they do have one for bipolar kids too.

Raising three children all with behavioral/emotional issues has been a challenge on a day to day basis. Most of their lives I have been a single mom. I hope that I can help this mom with what I have learned

I believe there are support groups for parents/guardians of chilcren who have ADD/ADHD tendencies. Try Children's for starters. It could be that this guardian/child combo could benefit from some counseling, as well as members of her class, learning to accept others who are different, different on many levels. Kids can be cruel and it may have been one occasion that something occured and no one is willing to play or interact with her since. Parents also foster that behavior in their kids, so talk with yours about going above and beyond to include her and work around her minor indiscretions. I have heard that caffeine helps kids with ADD/ADHD. She might try giving her coffee or tea in the morning. I would try this on a weekend to see if it has any effect without a bad reaction. There are many misdiagnosis of ADD and ADHD. Often it could/can be a lack of discipline and boundaries with consequences, good and bad ones. It takes hard work and self-discipline to be a good parent. Often more time and energy than what we have at the end of a very busy work day, couple that with being a single parent or a guardian of child that you didn't give birth to.... lots of challenges.
This child could be exceptionally smart and talented, no one is looking beyond her behavior to see those traits. So don't make assumptions that you don't know to be fact. Making all your foods from scratch doesn't negate food allegies, like dairy or gluten or maybe an environmental allergy to dust and molds. And the state doesn't limit what drug protocols are used when treating illness. If the child's dr believes that something else is needed/required, then the doc writes the prescription with a do not substitute and they will get what is needed. Not all drug therapies work the same on all people. Insurance companies as a whole will do their best to restrict your pharmaceuticals to the least costly treatment, not necessarily the most effective which in the long run could end up costing less.

Bottom line, teach your child tolerance and acceptance. That's the best thing you can do for this little girl.

Hi A.,
I can relate to your need to want to help. As a substitute teacher and volunteer in my daughter's school, I've come across several delightful, yet challenging students that do not want to get into trouble, but just have difficulty focusing and staying on task so inevitably they get into trouble.

I have been doing some reading into what vitamin supplements may be beneficial to children that need the extra help to focus in school. It sounds like your friend is already trying to modify her child nutrition to help with sugar intake and such. I have several testimonies adressing families that have added natural supplements to their child's daily nutrition to help balance their attention span throughout the day. If your friend would like to read these I can email them to her. There are too many to place on this response.

I've been learning about the biochemistry of the metabolic pathways that take place within our cells. Some individuals may be missing or overproducing specific substances within the body that regulate their ability to concentrate. There are Naturopathis Doctors out there that will recommend types of nutritional supplements to guide your friend. From what I've read and what I'm giving my daughter to help her concentrate in school is OPC-3 for children in the Isotonix line of powdered supplements that when mixed with water, she takes like juice. The OPC-3 is made of 4 types of powerful antioxidants, along with vitamin B and other natural substances that help people to concentrate. Here is link so she can read about the benefits, ingredients, FAQ's and the science behind the supplements. This link takes her right to the supplement and the Scientific studies, several which focused on children with ADD and ADHD. https://www.marketamerica.com/kimkalin/index.cfm?action=s... There are many articles out there on how vitamins and antioxidants help children with ADD and ADHD as well as those with Autism. She should ask her doctor about these supplements or what vitamins may be beneficial, each child is different.

The last thing I want is my child to be labeled in school in a negative way. I want to help her while she is young so school can be a successful experience for her.

I wish you the best.
Kimberly

Two natural things that work well. My boss, his son and my oldest son have ADD/ADHD. My boss and his son are ADHD, there is quite a difference!
The things that work best for all of them are taking fish oil capsules. Fish oil helps the brain function and it really helps with continuing a thought. Exercise, if my son doesn't run daily his attitude sucks and he can't focus. I "run" him and things work much better. Both of the kids have been on medication and that does help but, you can't take all your life. Learning to deal is better. She has an added disadvantage in that there are far fewer girls than boys with the problem, and most teachers are less helpful with girls than boys. Boys will be boys, you know.
My boss is ADHD, he wears me out, but, he went to pre-med then to Chiropractic College. He's one of the best Chiropractors around. So success is achievable.
It's great that you want to help, and it takes more people with understanding to help these people.
A famous person with ADHD is Ty Pennington. I read his story in Guidposts recently.

Hello A.,

My youngest son, 13 years, is ADHD also and he refuses to take medication and I'm not forcing him to. But when it comes to being around other children his own age and in a learning environment, he is a 'terror' so to speak. He ended up having to go into a behavioral residential health center for 3 months because of it along with having anxiety and ODD( Oppositional Defiance Disorder). It helped straighten him up to a point, but if I would've left him there just a little longer, he'd be even better than he is now. However, he has come a long long way WITHOUT MEDICATION! This was in 2007 from May 1st to August 9th! Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to put him in there in the first place and I'm not saying you should tell the child's guardian that she should put the child in one of those at all. But what I am saying is that they do help get the kids focused on what is important and makes them realize more about themselves.
Also, I found that also separating my son from the other kids when doing school work helps a great deal cause they aren't distracted and more focused. Another words, having a one on one tutor is a good idea or even trying home schooling (that's what I'm doing this year) helps a great deal as well. Having a routine and boundaries also is a great structural direction for them.I'm just making suggestions and letting you know what works for me and my son. Maybe these ideas will work for the child you are concerned about and her guardian as well or at least a couple of them. Hope it helps. Good luck!!!!

Where do you live? If you can make it to the Wallingford area of Seattle, the Bastyr Center for Natural Health has a special once/week shift (I think it's Monday evening) that focuses on treating ADD/ADHD. The way that clinic works is that you see a team involving a senior naturopathic medical student, sometimes another student observing him/her, and a supervising naturopathic physician. The ADD/ADHD shift is supervised by Dr. Wendy Weber, who in addition to being a naturopathic doctor, also has a doctorate in Public Health. She has long experience with both research and clinical treatment of ADD/ADHD, especially in children. The Bastyr Center for Natural Health will work with the family on a sliding scale that takes family income into account. They can be reached at ###-###-####. Feel free to share this information with the family of your child's schoolmate.

This child CAN receive medical care and medicine that nevertheless does not have to be a pharmaceutical. Natural support exists and can make a big difference. Having a doctor individualize the treatment to the particular patient's issues can make a big difference to quality of life and relationships.

With all due respect to the mom who made the analogy to asthma and albuterol... Asthma can be life-threatening, and for many patients, having a potentially life-saving pharmaceutical medication available can be an important part of their health-management program. As a naturopathic doctor, I would certainly not counsel one of these types of patients to forego an emergency inhaler. Having said that, there are a dozen or more other treatments that can be brought into a comprehensive health program, that would support an asthmatic to cool the inflammatory response, improve their overall health, and improve the functioning of their lungs, such that they would need to use their inhaler much less frequently. A similar story can be told for an ADD/ADHD patient, which of course is typically less life-threatening - although each paitent must be evaluated individually and I am making no comment on the specific child mentioned in this request.

How old is this child? School aged children can be so cruel to anyone who is in the least bit different, especially with behavior. Yes, ADHD type behaviors are EXTREMELY annoying and she WILL be treated with hostility by teachers and kids alike as long as the annoying behavior continues. The teachers are trying to do "crowd control" with 20+ students and have no time for this type of behavior. You are right to be concerned as this little girl will take a heavy esteem hit very soon if not already. Homeschooling could be part of the success equation as well as a professional evaluation from an alternative health organization not funded by drugs like the HANDLE institute here in Seattle. She might also be eligible for physical, occupational therapy through the school if she has other measurable deficits, especially academic. I would also have the guardian look into sensory issues as well as looking into the cause of the various annoying behaviors. Would taking the child out of the environment that doesn't suit her curb the symptoms? My oldest daughter was born with Sensory Integration Disorder and would have had untold problems if she had been forced intot he public school mold. Now she fits well in the "homeschool world" with friends in our GS troop, ballet classes, coop classes, etc. We just observed and put her into environments that helped her thrive while keeping her out of toxic ones that required her to fit where she couldn't.

H.

I am an first grade teacher and worked with many ADD students not on Ritilin.

I suggest swimming--that is what helped Michael Phelps. He was learning disabled and still has trouble reading. Swimming requires concentrating the entire body rather than just reading.

It also makes the person think about right left, right left.

It will exhaust the child if you are lucky. And two or more sports if you only do swimming twice a week.

In the class, ask the teacher if the child can be put in in the front of the class where she won't be distracted by other children, and not in a grouping of desks.

The work may need to be repeated for the girl--put that is normal.

Alot of her problems will decrease as she swims more and more. The right left, right left will help with reading.

Dr. Tanya Hudson is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in treating ADD/ADHD. A lot of times, it's as simple as an allergy to a food (gluten, dairy, eggs, etc.). She is familiar with natural treatments, and I would highly recommend a consultation. Her email is ____@____.com>, and her phone number is ###-###-####. Good luck!

Kudos to you! This kiddo needs some intervention. Not only academically but socially because it all ties together.

Before my son's official diagnosis early in his kindergarten year, he was already getting labeled as the "bad kid" because of his impulsivity and was having a hard time period. Medication really was a blessing as well as a pediatrician that cares to give the proper one and correct dose. He has changed twice btw to find what is best for him.

I too am most concerned about her self-esteem and what will probably happen in the years to come if something doesn't change. Ritalin usually isn't the best.....too short duration so it leads to ups and downs but can be appropriate sometimes. I have no idea the cost of other ADHD meds without insurance but I would suggest her talking with her daughter's pediatrician to figure something out. It really is about her entire future.

In the mean time, caffeine may tide her over. There are a lot of cons to self-medicating but it may help curb her behavior some. Again, it won't last the whole school day but may be something inexpensive to try until it gets sorted out.

Best wishes!

I can't say that I have a success story from it myself but I have started giving my son the Omegalicous kid vitamins (packed with Omega-3's and all natural). I got them at teh Natural Food section of Fred Meyers. I am giving them to him because I am hoping to help reduce the inflammation associated with his asthma, and beacuse they are supposed to help with ADHD symptoms. We just started last Monday so it is too early to say any results. My son has very mild ADHD but I have read some good stuff on the interent about the correlation between the two. Good luck.

I don't really have any solutions to the medical condition, but I think the best way to approach this would be through the school nurse or counselor. You can talk to the nurse or counselor about about your concerns that the mother doesn't know what to do, and even make suggestions about what solution ideas you have. It will probably be better received if a school official calls the mom in and talks about giving her help or solutions instead of you. If you do it yourself, it may come off as you sounding like you could do a better job and you think she isn't a good mom.

Would you like me to send you testimonials of how XanGo has helped children with ADD?

I am so surprised that no one at the school has suggested any type of special classes for this child. I am sending this to my daughter who has a son with ADD/ADHD and has had a lot of help from the school since day 1 and other sources as well. I will let her explain her situation with him.

In the meantime you asked if there was something the guardian could give the child other than medication. I work with Shaklee products and they have several supplements that help children with ADD & ADHD. These products help with calmness, focus, depression, nervous tension, etc.
If you would like some more information on these products or testimonials regarding these...call or email me at ###-###-#### or ____@____.com or you can go to www.shaklee.net/healthybodyandhome and look up the information there.
Hope this helps,
I. Lockhart

Get the book "The ADD Answer" by Dr. Frank Lawless. The library has it. It has many alternatives to this. We use N.A.E.T. for a natural cure. Go to www.naet.com
to learn more. Click on "Find a practitioner near you" and put in your zip code.
I have a friend with a child with Tourettes and the other has ADD. They both eat well, take their supplements and now have NO symptoms of either. They have never taken Ritalin.

I have a couple of things to share.
1. Grapeseed Extract 1 mg per 1 lb of child is what my friend used to help her daughter with this. It seamed to work. You can get it at GNC, Vitamin World, Vitamin shop, or most health food stores.
2. I have seen children put on meds thank their parents for making them "normal".
3. Try some meditation, and self reflection.

I am an adult with ADD and I know it is hard to try and control your brain. I have learned to live with it, but it still effects the type of work I can do. A couple of my kids have it also. And we have used medication for school. On the weekend or over the summer I would take them off of it.
Good luck

A., Kid's Now which is a product manufactured by Reliv International has helped many to address these ADD and ADHD issues with complex,, well researched yet simple to take and good tasting nutrition. We distribute it and love hearing all the amazing health results people are getting via these products. I will give you a link to the Kids NOW as that is the most helpful with these issues. However the best information is to be able to talk to someone who has been there and seen the results of these products with their child. This is the primary way we educate so that questions can be answered first hand such as exactly how much and how long it took. We as distributors work together to help each other so I know many people who have seen life changing results with their children in these area who would be willing to talk to the guardian and let her learn more. You or her can email if you want more information. ____@____.com
http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/KidsHealth-NowforKidsCoolPunch...

Check out cranio sacral therapy. It is amazing what can be solved by gently manipulating the human body...no meds needed! My favorite place is Kwan Yin Healing Center www.kwanyinhealingarts.com

A.,

You have already received some very good resources. I just wanted to commend your understanding and empathy towards this child and her family. I work in a child development center that has ADD/ADHD children as part of the class. I am also an Early Childhood Education Major and observe other schools as part of my curriculum. It sounds like the teachers at this school are not trained in how to work with this child, or how to role model for the other children. I would speak to the Director of the facility about your concerns. I would print your request and the responses for a visual tool to express your concerns. You could suggest that her staff receive training on working with ADD children. There are all sorts of grants everywhere to fund this. The director may or may not address your concerns. Your friend may be better off to find a program that has teachers that have some kind of education or professional training. Sad fact is, Oregon's standards for teachers in the centers is very low. You don't need a degree to be a daycare or preschool teacher. But not all the centers stay at that low level. I would recommend finding a center that is NAEYC(National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited. The standards for the staff and continuing education are much higher than regular licensing.
The true solution is all the adults being on the same page, including the teachers. I am disappointed to hear of a teacher basically being the leader of unkind treatment. Tempers do not belong in the classroom. Patience, guidance and respect of individual values belong in the classroom.
I would suggest for your friend to have the diagnosing doctor give her a referral to a therapist that specializes in ADD so that she can have a professional advocate to help her communicate with the school and chart out ways for the teachers and the guardian to work with this child on a daily level.
Thank you for being part of this family's village:)

Hurray!!!

I for one am thrilled the girls guardian isn't putting her on meds.

The thing about ADHD is that it isn't like schizophrenia, or diabetes, or autism, or, or, or....It's probably best described as a different way of THINKING...coupled with ENORMOUS observation.

(Ahem, hence, the "distraction". If you were aware of your heartbeat and the feel of rythmic pressure in your major arteries and veins; ... the expansion of your ribs each time you took a breath; ...the blinking of your eyelids, and the way they felt as the glided over the warm smooth feeling of your cornea and eyeball, and how your eyelashes move as they contract and expand in each blink;... the way the material of your clothes felt on your skin, and how it differed in feeling both in texture, placement, weight, heat retention, etc.;... the temperature and feel of the air on your skin; ... what the weather was doing outside the window;... light patterns, winds, rains, raindrops coalescing into little rivulets;... the contrasting colors of the stone and grass and sky; the sounds of people breathing, moving; ... the sounds of the heating system and the high pitched whirring buzz of electronics and of tantalizing voices some 50 feet away in the hallway;...the way any people nearby looked, smelled, moved, sounded...ALL THE TIME - AND THEN ...you were thinking about 2 or 3 things that were truly EXCITING ((imagine the level of excitement that you had in say, planning your wedding, or anticipating the birth of your first child))...You'd have an idea of a person with ADHD's general state of being. And YOU'D probably be distracted, too. They wake up and are aware of EVERYTHING, and then the damndest things keep occuring to them because they're thinking so much and getting excited about all the things that they are observing.

<<Laughing>> If you don't believe me about the level of excitation/anxiety about those 2 or 3 random thoughts, btw, you've never seen one of us go off on some obscure point in history, or science, or whether or not birds have eyebrows and what that might mean to the world, to the birds, to evolution...what if WE hadn't developed eyebrows??? Would we understand each other as well? How would that have change the way we communicate with people? Would we use more shoulder motions like birds, or is that a facet of wings? What would it be like to have wings? How, for example would one deal with air currents?...Umm...I think you may see my point.

Then you have to get something done. Like say, the exciting world putting dishes in the sink, and figuring out where you took your shoes off the night before when you were thinking about how to power your house using a watermill? )

It takes years to learn to cope with the pitfalls, and a big part of that is learning how to filter, and how to utilize what seems like a "problem". Purely for example...thinking about 5 or 6 totally seemingly unrelated things can be a problem, but it's an enourmous asset to a Doctor diagnosing a disease, an author writing a book, a professor keeping their students engaged, an events coordinator, a politician, an artist...nearly by definition ADHD is being able to synthesize many pieces of information into a working whole and being able to multitask at the same time. ADHD is a HUGE benefit to an adult if they're pursuing their PASSION.

Putting kids on medication takes years away of that time to learn. Many if not most parents are unwilling to take the time...they want their kids to be like other kids NOW...and it's frustrating to have to teach creating external systems of structure (Like ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS putting your shoes/cellphone/backpack/hairbrush/pick an object, in the exact same place, so you don't have to think about it while you're thinking about something else.) Since most people have that naturally and don't even have to think about it (which can make it difficult to explain) and most people with ADHD have NO internal sense of structure, it tends to drive people without ADHD crazy. "How can you be so smart and not know something so SIMPLE????" seems to be the rallying cry.

The payoffs are worth it though. Many brilliant and successful people have ADHD, they've just learned to use it to their best advantage.

Sports actually are an extremely effective way to mitigate ADHD, especially in children, although it's useful for adults too. Because we're SO aware of our bodies, sports become all consuming. You literally CAN'T think of anything else (unless you're playing baseball, or something else where you're sitting around waiting) when you're in motion. It is incredibly incredibly RELAXING. And if you do enough of it during the day your body is too tired to stay awake, no matter how many interesting things you're thinking about at bedtime. Sports in no way "cure" ADHD, they just provide a physical release & relaxation that's nearly equivalent to sex & afterglow. Makes us MUCH easier to be around.

Another thing, especially for kids, is to see if they're being taught at the right level. People with unmedicated ADHD tend to learn VERY quickly. Putting children in Honors/AP classes, or enrolling them in college courses can provide some AMAZING results.

Anyhow. I've gone on. I don't know how much of this will be helpful to you...there are tons and tons of resources out there. Some of the best are ones that highlight coping mechanisms. A very good book to read would be "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?".

If you search my responses you'll find several lists where I've posted some of them, or as always, we're all personal message-able on this board.

Good Luck.

Hi A.! Yes, there is hope and help for this child! If you are willing to share with the guardian. Sounds like the guardian is on the right track with no meds. and controlling the diet however there is one thing that is missing. Please, please e-mail or call me or have she can so I can go over what has helped so many. Below is a discription of a discovery made about 14 years ago thru nutrition that is called Miracle Sugars. This feeds our cells so that what we lack in our modern day diets we can supplement with this and see many benefits from it. - Let me know - W.

The New Class of Missing Nutrients

Scientists have recently discovered that our modern diet is missing some very vital nutrients, and surprisingly enough, these missing nutrients are sugars. After years of research, author Rita Elkins has come to the conclusion that the lack of these invaluable sugars in our diet is a major reason for most of today's diseases; even cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Today, six out of the top ten causes of death are diet related, and chronic degenerative diseases afflict over 120 million Americans. Miracle Sugars provides valuable information on the recent breakthrough discovery of glyconutrients, which have amazing abilities to maintain and balance your immune system, helping you to achieve optimum health and prevent even the most insidious of today's killer diseases.

Excerpts:

Page 12: Can the Human Body Make Glyconutrients:

Yes, we do have the ability to manufacture some glyconutrients, but to do so requires complex chemical pathways. The harmful effects of stress, toxins, poor nutrition, and genetic abnormalities in our metabolism can inhibit this conversion. Consequently, the number and structure of our glyco-proteins may be impaired, which can lead to a number of serious health conditions common to our day.

Could these conditions be our modern-day scurvy or beri beri? Could the increase in disease state we see today actually be nothing more than nutritional deficiencies? Consider this... what if those deficiencies involved a class of nutrients that remained unknown until only ten years ago? If our assumptions are true, then it only stands to reason that these conditions could be dramatically treated with the missing nutrients!

Page 14: A Diet Deficiency Today is a Clinical Event Tomorrow

Cancer has moved from the tenth leading cause of death to number two, even after Richard Nixon's "War on Cancer" spent thirty billion dollars attempting to find a cure. Diabetes has increased 700 percent since 1959. Nearly fifteen million American adults suffer from asthma and the Environmental Health Commission predicts that number will increase to twenty-nine million by 2020. Twenty-one million Americans suffer from arthritis, and approximately fifty million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases, with 75 percent of these being female. Many of these autoimmune conditions were practically non-existent thirty years ago.

Look at the average diet of children today--soft drinks, processed cereal, pizza, candy, fast food and their favorite and often only source of vegetables: French fries. Could this be why we are seeing a dramatic rise in ADHD, to the point where eight million American children need to be drugged daily? Autism has gone from 1 in 10,000 children to 1 in 150 in just ten years. Further, adult-onset diabetes is occurring at epidemic rates in children as young as eight.

Page 18: The Consequences of Glyconutrition

Complete Glyconutrition provides immune balance, fortification, and maintenance. Glyconutritionals are very unique because they are immune system modulators. This means Glyconutrient supplementation can help to correct an overactive immune system (auto-immune diseases), boost an under active immune system (chronic or recurring infections), and keep immune armies in tip-top shape for exceptional disease prevention.

Page 20: Scientific Research Backing Glyconutrition

There are over 20,000 studies conducted annually on glycoforms alone. Researchers from universitiesOxford and John Hopkinsand major pharmaceutical companies realize the importance of this new discovery. Pharmaceutical companies are spending millions to try and synthesize these sugars and produce drugs that will mimic the effect they have in nature. (In the meanwhile, we just use them in their natural form and see wonderful results. READ ON!)

Studies confirm that the eight essential biologically active sugars can accomplish amazing results. The following are just a few examples of the exciting possibilities of Glyconutrition:

* Dramatically raises natural killer cell and macrophage count against infectious organisms.

* Activates immune T-cell activity only when invaders or antigens are present.

* Decreases cell death in chronic fatigue syndrome.

* Dramatically elevates disease resistance in weakened individuals.

* Acts as antioxidant compounds, which boost the collection of dangerous free radicals.

* Protects the body against toxin and pollutant exposure.

* Slows premature aging.

* Decreases inflammation in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

* Helps immune cells recognize invaders due to a mutual "sugar exchange" of information.

* Enables cellular components to stick to each other initiating the right reactions.

Woodland Publishing, who has sold millions of books found in health food stores across North America, publishes miracle Sugars.

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SUGARS THAT HEAL - The New Healing Science of Glyconutrients:

The New Healing Science of GLYCONUTRIENTS

Emil I. Mondoa, M.D. and Mindy Kitei

"In the past twenty years, the amount of information garnered about these sugars has increased dramatically. Of the more than two hundred sugars, eight are essential to optimal body functioning. Far more than just a ready source of fuel for the cells, these eight essential sugars have potent antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and of course anti-tumor effects. ...........They accelerate the healing of burns and wounds and help heal skin conditions' from poison ivy to psoriasis."

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The Healing Power of 8 Sugars - An Amazing Breakthrough in Nutrition, Science and Medicine

What Doctors want YOU to know about Glyconutrients... The 8 Sugars Vital to Your health

Compiled and Edited by Allan C. Somersall, Ph.D., M.D.

Forward by H. Reg McDaniel, M.D.

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THIS NEW SCIENCE IS CLEAR...

NOT HAVING THESE ESSENTIAL GLYCONUTRIENTS IN YOUR DIET

INCREASES YOUR PROPENSITY TOWARD DISEASE AND ACCELERATED AGING.

Scientific Validation

NEWS in 2003 - Technology Review: MIT's Magazine of Innovation: The first innovation is Glycomics - the study of sugars for cellular communication. Article Title: 10 Emerging Technologies That Will Change the World. - Click Here

Nobel Prizes for "Glyco Science": Four of the last eight Nobel Prizes for medicine have dealt with the cellular communication process and its importance to our wellness. The 1999 Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Dr. Gunter Blobel for his work in this new field of Science-Medicine called Glycobiology.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN - July, 2002

SWEET MEDICINE Building Better Drugs From Sugars

Sugars modify many proteins and fats on cell surfaces and participate in such biological processes as immunity and cell-to-cell communication. They also play a part in a range of diseases, from viral infections to cancer.

Recognizing the importance of sugars in health and disease, increasing numbers of researchers in academia and the biotechnology industry have recently stepped up efforts to learn the details of their structures and activities and to translate those findings into new therapeutic agents. Scientists are finally overcoming the obstacles impeding efforts to decipher the structures of complex sugars, and to synthesize sugars for use in research and as drugs. Advances are leading to new medicines for a variety of ills.

The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) is used by 99% of all doctors and healthcare professionals before recommending solutions to their patients. Glyconutrients are listed for compromised immune systems.

Harpers Biochemistry, a medical textbook that has been educating healthcare professionals about Glyconutrients and their role in health and healing since 1996.

Science Magazine, the premier journal for researchers and scientists recently dedicated an entire issue to educating the science and medical community about Glyconutrients, Glycobiology and Glycoscience. March 23 2001 Special Issue: Carbohydrates & Glycobiology

Acta Anatomica

Glycosciences - issue 161/1-4/98

International Journal of Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology:

Glycosylation is the most common form of protein and lipid modification but its biological significance has long been underestimated. The last decade, however, has witnessed the rapid emergence of the concept of the sugar code of biological information: indeed, monosaccharides represent an alphabet of biological information similar to amino acids and nucleic acids but with unsurpassed coding capacity.

Technology Review (MIT)

Sugars could be biology's next sweet spot:

The 1990s may well be remembered in biology as the decade of the gene, culminating in the completion of the Human Genome Project's working draft. And the next big thing in medicine may be the study of the proteins coded for by all those genes. But even as doctors and drug companies struggle to interpret and exploit the recent explosion of data on genes and proteins, yet another field of biology is waiting to break out: glycomics. This emerging discipline seeks to do for sugars and carbohydrates what genomics and proteomics have done for genes and proteins-move them into the mainstream of biomedical research and drug discovery.

Scientific American - MEDICINE

Changing Cancer Cells' "Surface Sugars" can Inhibit Tumor Growth

Jan. 22, 2002:

The key to halting cancer cells may lie in their sugary coats, scientists say. Carbohydrate molecules surround all cells and help them to identify and interact with one another. Now new research, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that altering some of the surface sugars associated with cancer cells can control tumor growth. The findings suggest that the sugars could one day serve as targets for new anti-cancer therapies.

The Eight Essential Monosaccarides

In addition to improving cell-to-cell communication, research shows that these sugars work in the body in the following ways:

MANNOSE

* Prevents bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections

* Eases inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

* Lupus patients are deficient in this saccharide

* Lowers blood sugar and triglyceride levels in diabetic patients

FUCOSE

* Influences brain development

* Improves brain's ability to create long-termmemories

* Inhibits tumor growth

* Metabolism of this saccharide is abnormal in cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer

and during episodes of shingles, which is caused by the herpes virus

* Active against other herpes viruses, including herpes I and cytomegalovirus

* Guards against respiratory infections

* Inhibits allergic reactions

GALACTOSE

* Enhances wound healing

* Increases calcium absorption

* Triggers long-term memory formation

GLUCOSE

* Potent fast-energy source

* Enhances memory

* Stimulates calcium absorption

* Too much or too little can be problematic

* Elderly Alzheimer's patients register much lower levels of this saccharide than those

with organic brain disease from stroke or other vascular diseases

* Glucose metabolism disturbed in depression, manic-depression, anorexia and bulimia

N-ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE

* Heart disease patients have lower-than-normal levels of this saccharide

* Inhibits spread of tumor

N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE

* Immune modulator with anti tumor properties and activity against HIV

* Vital to learning

* Glucosamine, a metabolic product of this saccharide

* Helps repair cartilage

* Decreases pain and inflammation

* Increases range of motion

* May also help repair mucosal-lining defensive barrier implicated inCrohn's disease,

ulcerative colitis and interstitial cystitis

N-ACETYLNEUROMINIC ACID

* Important for brain development and learning

* Abundant in breast milk

* Repels bacteria, virus and other pathogens

XYLOSE

* Antibacterial and antifungal

* May help prevent cancer of the digestive tract

hi A..

We watch a little boy after school that has ADHD and he has recently gone on an even stronger drug than ritalin. Ritalin isn't the answer to everything but it can be a stepping stone. There are more mild drugs like Cylert (if its still available) That isn't quite as extreme as Ritalin. However, in the right circumstances, Ritalin can be useful..especially for those still learning to cope with having ADHD. I have been on Cylert myself. I was on it for almost a full school year..and it did wonders for me. I was able to concentrate and learn how to concentrate. When I didn't have the meds anymore it was okay because while on the meds I did learn coping skills. The little boy we watch is the same way..he's only 6 so he is learning coping skills but if he doesn't have his meds it is very obvious that no matter how he tries he will not be able to concentrate on the task at hand as normal. I suggest when dealing with her break tasks down into steps. "Get ready for school" changes to "Put your socks, shoes and coat on". Concrete is better than descriptive. School is difficult so she probably drags her feet about going. Most ADHD kids have a lot going on upstairs and are actually above average intellectually. Some of the work may simply be not challenging her enough. Her mom can look into things like ginseng and other herbs for the brain. St. John's Wort is another that people take to help memory and concentration.

To help her, simply gently pushing her in the right direction, encouraging others to get to know her better outside school perhaps will help as school is hard on her emotionally and psychologically. If she is good at a particular activity perhaps she can show others how it is done. These are good esteem builders. Help your kids understand that she's not mean, or absent minded, that she really does not mean to not pay attention. Its a good lesson in patience when dealing with ADD kids. You have to simply SLOW down a whole lot and take things in steps. However, if things are getting really out of hand I believe she should bite the bullet, try the meds for a couple of months and see what happens. Yes, Ritalin is hard on a person, but ADHD is harder in the long run. She will be entering into Junior High before you know it and that entails more homework, more activities, more teachers...etc. Its important for her to learn coping skills while she is young. I had to do it in High School and the meds made it possible. I am not sure I would have graduated without them. That's my feeling on the issue. Meds don't have to be a permanent fixture in her life. She will have to take them for more than a year perhaps. But as they begin to work she can be pushed to cope a little more and a little more, and to handle more responsibility until she's managing her own life again mostly. (Of course for as seven yr old its different than a Junior in high school as I was when this happened). But its the same idea and same steps...just more elementary geared.
Good luck..and I think its great you are trying to help her. She needs good friends :) I do suggest though kids hate when you force friends on them that this might be a good time to offer to "babysit" so her mom can do some things or something. that would give you time to get to know her on your terms in your house for a bit too..and see some of what perhaps the teachers and kids see at school. One of the big deals with ADHD kids is that you must get them to take responsibility. They must do their homework. If they don't, then they don't get to watch tv at 5pm, or whatever is scheduled. Small doses of discipline along with patience works wonders. She may throw a fit or two..simply tell her choosing to throw a fit makes you choose (or mom choose) to not let her do something else. Consistent consequences are EXTREMELY important. Usually they should be geared towards the ADD kids' free time, privaleges etc. Change what she did to a "choice she made" and it puts it on her to make it better..and she has to think about how to deal with it rather than just stop doing homework because she doesn't want to to do it, she can choose to do her homework and get to do something she WANTS to do afterward. Setting timers helps too. Give her a half hour per task that needs it. (Lunch, Dinner..homework) After a half hour she needs to be done. If she hasn't paid attention to her food enough she won't eat enough to get dessert, or whatever. Always consequences. Time outs don't work with ADHD kids from my experience as it just gives them time to think about other things and they don't remember why you put them there when they are done. SO best to deal immediately with them instead of after the fact.

HI A.-
Wow, this is a sticky situation and good for you to help out with this. :) Although the guardian has researched, it seems as if she is not educated regarding childhood ADD/ADHD. I am an MSW and have worked in a therapeutic school for children with severe mental health who cannot focus and participate in a traditional school setting due to their mental health diagnoses. Now, I understand that this may not be the severity of this kiddo, however if it's not addressed appropriately, the worst case scenario may not be pretty either. Many times we do not want to medicate our children because it seems like we are just putting something into their bodies that could potentially be harmful - however with something like ADD/ADHD where it's often times difficult to focus on a task for very long or even function with daily activities without the help of some type of medication. There are other alternatives to Ritalin, which the insurance company may be open to which don't necessarily have the negative stigma that is associated with Ritalin. In my experience, the sad part often times is that parents/guardians do not want to place their children on medications because they do not feel it's in the best interest of their child or that their child isn't like the other kiddos who need medications, but what ends up happening is that the child struggles and has a very difficult time in school because the kids don't like them and they can't focus on any particular task for very long without frustrating themselves.

There should be a school social worker (SSW) who can help out with this situation. I would see if the school or school district has this availability and even if it's just to talk with the guardian and explain the risks vs. benefits of medication or no medication as well as the child's current abilities/areas for improvements in the classroom and with peers. The SSW should also be able to refer to a good doctor - I always say to go straight to a psychiatrist to deal with any mental health issues, but in this situation it may be better to go to the PCP if they'll order psychotropic medications so that it doesn't scare the guardian about the medications.

When I first started to work at this therapeutic school (in Iowa) I was completely against medications and "labeling" the young kids with a mental health diagnoses, however I came to realize that without medications these children would not be able to function. Many of them will never be like a "normal" child due to the severity of their mental health, however with medications these children have potential and have additional skills/resources that they wouldn't have had without them.

I wish you the best of luck in this situation and I hope that even if medication is not the answer for this kiddo ,that somewhere she can get some assistance to help her out with her attention span as well as her peers.

M.

The little girl you are talking about sounds a lot like my son. We waiting until he was 10 to put him on meds. As much as I hated the idea of him taking meds it has made a world of difference. He is now 14 and very social, in the "in" crowd, does very well in school and his self esteem has improved dramatically. I wish I would have done the meds sooner because his self esteem suffered so much in the early years. We did counseling before we started the meds and gave him a low dose and saw the results early on. He still takes a low dose of Adderall, and we can definately tell when he doesn't take it. Also before we tried meds the doc told us to keep him away from red foods (licorace etc) something in the red dye affects kids he said. Good luck!!

If her child was diagnosed with asthma would she keep her off of albuterol because of the side effects? Would she deny a child with diabetes insulin? This child has a medical condition; she needs medical help.
While there are some cases of misdiagnosis in regards to ADD/ADHD this case sounds like it's clear cut.Having worked with children for 20+ years I can tell you that in a case such as this the side effects from not going on the medication are far more debilitating than any side effects from the medication.
This poor child is suffering on a daily basis humiliation, disgrace, failure, isolation and a extremely heightened sense of anxiety that accompanies ADD/ADHD. Can you imagine how you would feel experiencing these every day of your life??
Please get the guardian to get this sweetheart medical attention for this medical condition.

Hi A.:

This is a very tough situation and one I have been in often--as a parent with an ADD child, you know it when you see it, and it breaks your heart to think that this child might not get the help that could change his or her life. The social rejection faced by these children is extremely damaging as it the failure in school.

Your best bet is to try to gain the friendship and confidence of the guardian so that the guardian does not see you as a judgmental threat. Then try to suggest some evaluation--it should be made available through the school. After proper evaluation, then a decision about medication can be made. The best advice I have for the guardian is that it doesn't hurt to TRY medication. It might just work beautifully--if it doesn't then they can try other avenues as well.

If you can give them some advice--try sending them to the website of Dr. Edward Hallowell in Massachusetts. Dr. Hallowell is a Harvard-educated physician who has written extensively on ADHD (and who has it himself). His books are avialable in major books stores and I highly recommend them. Interestingly, Dr. Hallowell found that ADHD meds did not work for him--they don't work for everyone. BUT,it is worth a try. Ritalin is not an evil drug. The time-released forms of mehtylphenidate (Ritalin), such as Concerta can work very well.

I had a girl in my Girl Scout Troop who faced some similar obstacles. With some gentle discussion with her parents, they did finally seek help--but it may take them some time to come to it.