(ADHD) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-
What's Happening to Our Children?
By Jane Sheppard
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention
Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is the
fastest growing diagnosis given to children
and adolescents in the United States. We all
know about it - the “problem-child” label
placed on children who display difficulties
learning or paying attention, or who may be
judged as being overactive with behavioral
problems. Parents and teachers perceive these
children as unmanageable or hard to control.
Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) an Actual Disease?
What may be happening in a child’s brain
to cause them to be affixed with this label?
First of all, let's eliminate any misperceptions
that ADD or ADHD is an actual disease. Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has never been
proven as a disease, even after 25 years of
research. No abnormality or dysfunction has
ever been found in the brain, and there
is no concrete medical disorder or disease.
According to Rita Kirsch Debroitner, R-CSW
and Avery Hart, MA in the book Moving
Beyond ADD/ADHD - An Effective Holistic Mind/Body
Approach, “saying that someone has
ADD, with or without hyperactivity, is like
saying a person has RND, Runny Nose Disorder,
with or without fever.”
ADD or ADHD are labels that mental health
and primary care physicians have used to describe
a situation that they see frequently. The
labels give them a way to talk about it and
provide a simplistic explanation for an extensive
array of "problem" behaviors that
are likely to have an equally wide range of
different and complex causes.
Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD, adult and child
neurologist and author of The ADHD Fraud-How
Psychiatry Make "Patients" of Normal
Children, (www.adhdfraud.org)
states with absolute certainty is that ADHD
is not a disorder/disease. Referring to psychiatry,
he says: "They made a list of the most
common symptoms of emotional discomfiture
of children; those which bother teachers and
parents most, and in a stroke that could not
be more devoid of science or Hippocratic motive--termed
them a 'disease.' Twenty five years of research,
not deserving of the term 'research', has
failed to validate ADD/ADHD as a disease.
Tragically--the "epidemic" having
grown from 500 thousand in 1985 to between
5 and 7 million today--this remains the state
of the 'science' of ADHD."
Then what is really going on? I don’t want
to minimize what is happening with children
who really do
have
a problem. I just want to point out
that most children given this false "diagnosis"
of ADD/ADHD are perfectly normal, but misunderstood.
They are simply healthy, highly active, distractible,
exuberant, strong-willed kids who can be very
irritating to teachers trying to teach within
a rigid system. However, many parents are
at their wits end with trying to find help
for their children who really
are “out of control”. Some children
do
have serious learning and behavior problems
that need to be addressed. However, placing
a label on them, telling them they have a
brain disorder and giving them dangerous drugs
is harming rather than helping them.
Giving Children Labels
Children are naturally active, exuberant,
easily distracted and, at times, very uncooperative.
Unfortunately, this society does not understand
and honor the truly amazing exuberance of
a remarkable child. Our public schools are
not designed to embrace these qualities in
children. Nor do they honor a child’s unique
learning style and developmental readiness.
Children are made to sit still at a desk for
hours at a time, work on a task within the
time allowed, memorize everything the teacher
says is so, and be quiet little robots in
order to not be distracting. When children
can do this, they are considered “normal”.
Those who do not comply or exhibit strong
reactions to this stifling environment or
become “fidgety” are given the problem-child
label or ADHD "diagnosis", since
they do not conform to society’s idea of how
children should act. They are considered a
disruption and an inconvenience to parents
and teachers. However, these children are
usually very creative, curious and intelligent.
They may have their own unique learning style.
They want to learn and are quite able to do
so, but cannot adapt to the typical school
environment. Usually, when children are allowed
to develop their own natural, innate learning
abilities to the full extent in an unconstrained
environment and know that their parents and
teachers believe them to be capable, they
will excel.
Known or Suspected Causes
What may cause a child to be more distracted
or hyperactive than usual? There are many
known or suspected causes, including exposure
to toxins, alcohol or drugs before birth,
poor nutrition, chemical or food allergies,
toxins in the environment, metal toxicity
and yeast overgrowth. Childhood vaccinations
are linked to learning disabilities and attention
problems. Routine watching of television can
also be a contributing factor. Studies have
linked TV to increased hyperactivity. Sadly,
it is very common for children to sit in front
of the television set for hours at a time.
Are Drugs The Answer?
The high numbers of children being prescribed
mind-altering stimulant drugs are staggering
and tragic. Since there is no bona fide disease
or disorder of attention deficit, the poisoning
of normal children with toxic drug treatment
is not only unethical, it may even be criminal.
The drugs prescribed for ADHD (including
Ritalin and Dexedrine) don’t help a child
to learn better; they just calm them down.
With drugs, children become more compliant
and easier to control, but suffer from serious
side effects. These side effects include nausea,
stomach aches, headaches, facial tics, insomnia
and depression, loss of appetite and weight
loss. Children on Ritalin can become robotic,
spacey, listless, anxious and emotionless.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), there has been a 1,000% increase in
drug abuse injury reports involving Ritalin
for children in the 10-14 year age group.
The DEA classifies Ritalin and Dexedrine as
Schedule II drugs, along with opium and morphine,
both addictive drugs. Children without prescriptions
are buying or stealing these drugs from children
who have prescriptions. More importantly,
it is a tragedy for children to believe that
something is wrong with their brain and that
a pill is the only thing to make them “normal”
and be able to control themselves or function
properly. This way of thinking strips children
of all power and ability to make their own
decisions and think for themselves. Another
problem with drugs is that they do not address
the cause of the problem; therefore it continues
and even gets worse, due to more toxic assault
on the body.
Why does the medical industry continue to
prescribe these dangerous drugs to children?
Why do parents accept these prescriptions?
One answer may have to do with big profits.
There are huge profits for pharmaceutical
companies in the drugs themselves and making
this into something that needs a medical diagnosis
provides more business for doctors. Understandably,
parents want desperately to see their child
"functioning well" and welcome the
drugs as an easy answer. Yet, another answer
is simply that the drugs do
calm children down. However, in using these
drugs, there is too big a price to the child’s
physical health and mental state.
Solutions and Alternatives
to Drugs
Centering and Grounding
Fortunately, there are
alternatives to dangerous drugs that do not
simply mask the symptoms, but actually get
to the cause of the problem and allow a child
to be vitally healthy. Debroitner and Hart
in Moving
Beyond ADD/ADHD say they have seen
hundreds of individuals effectively move beyond
ADD/ADHD, making a full and complete recovery
without the use of drugs. They say the key
is centering and grounding. The tools and
techniques that they use to promote centering
and grounding include breathing exercises,
balancing the brain with music and poetry,
eye focusing, and working with root points
and acupressure techniques to rebalance and
calm a child’s energy.
Brain Gym/Edu-Kinesiology
Brain
Gym/Edu-Kinesiology was developed for
children with learning disabilities by Dr.
Paul Dennison, Ph.D., a learning specialist.
Brain Gym/Edu-K balances and integrates the
whole brain using simple and enjoyable movements
and exercises. It helps children to focus
and center, empowering them to use their brain
more effectively. It has been endorsed by
the National Learning Foundation.
Homeopathy
In an article published in the New England
Journal of Homeopathy entitled Children,
Attention and Homeopathy, Randall Neustaedter,
OMD, LAc explores our culture’s rigidity in
expecting “conformity, rational behavior and
a predictable civilized style of being in
children”. He suggests that “the more a culture
values self-exploration and harmony with the
forces of the multidimensional world around
us the less use we will have for diagnostic
terms like ADD”. Homeopathic remedies are
prescribed based on an in-depth, detailed
description of the child. Dr. Neustaedter
describes an in-depth approach to understanding
the child by assessing his/her emotional responses
as well as mental and physical symptoms. He
writes that “choosing a remedy hinges upon
the essential nature of the child as well
as the subtle character of symptoms”.
Diet and Nutrition - A Huge Part of the
Problem and Solution
Children have specific and complex nutritional
needs that are not met with the standard American
diet. It is absolutely essential to take a
look at what a child is eating. As Sandra
Hills, N.D. and Pat Wyman, M.A., the authors
of What’s
Food Got To Do With It?, point out
“health and your child’s wellness mean much
more than having a child who can remain quiet
long enough so the adults in his or her life
can get something done”. They go on to say
that “learning requires optimal health and
brain function; if a child is eating the wrong
foods or those foods which are deficient in
the proper nutrients, his or her ability to
learn will be compromised.” There is no question
that food affects behavior, memory and learning
ability. Diet and nutrition may be the cause
and
the remedy of a learning disability or the
behaviors associated with the ADD/ADHD label.
A typical child’s diet contains large amounts
of packaged foods with unnecessary, harmful
ingredients. These over-processed foods are
vitamin and mineral deficient and full of
pesticides. If you shop in a typical grocery
store, 85-90% of foods you buy are refined
and processed. Our soils are depleted of essential
minerals. In addition, freezing, frying and
overcooking minimize the vitamin content.
Too many children begin their school day with
sugary donuts or other sweets and continue
to eat them throughout the day. Sugar can
affect a child’s ability to pay attention
and can cause them to be overactive and irritable.
In 1979-1983 one million school children
in New York City were involved in a study
based on the Feingold diet. Over this four-year
period, the schools eliminated artificial
colors, flavors and preservatives and reduced
the amount of sugar in the cafeterias’ food.
This resulted in a 41% increase in national
test scores. For more information on the Feingold
Diet, contact the Feingold Association at
http://www.feingold.org.
Sugar can be a contributor to learning disabilities
and hyperactivity (as well as a destroyer
of general health and immunity). It literally
robs the body of important vitamins and minerals,
particularly the B vitamins, which are needed
for thinking, coordination and memory. A child’s
blood sugar will drop about 20 minutes after
eating sugar, leading to a lack of oxygen
to the brain. This can cause forgetfulness
and affect ability to concentrate. Sugar increases
adrenaline levels, which can also interfere
with learning as well as increase anxiety
and irritability. Sugar can be an addiction
as severe as any other drug addiction. Many
children are addicted to sugar, eating it
regularly instead of the important nutritious
foods their bodies and minds need to function
well.
Allergies and Environmental
Illness
Many kids who are considered to have a learning
disability, hyperactivity or problems with
paying attention are actually suffering from
food or environmental allergies, which can
cause abnormal learning patterns and symptoms.
Some of the signs to look for in detecting
allergies are red cheeks, red ears, eye circles,
puffy eyes, eye wrinkles, bloated belly, rubbing
nose and mottled tongue. It takes some detective
work to find the specific cause or causes
of a child’s problem. Cow’s milk is one of
the biggest culprits of allergies in children.
It may be a good idea to remove all milk products
for at least a month and watch for signs of
improvement. Other foods that can cause allergies
are wheat, corn, soy, eggs, citrus and peanuts.
Molds, dust, chemicals used for cleaning,
perfumes, pesticides and other toxics may
be the cause of your child’s problem. Environmentally
sick schools or homes can cause a child to
become very sick and display behaviors associated
with the ADD/ADHD label. Doris J. Rapp, M.D.,
a leading specialist in Environmental Medicine
and founder of the Practical Allergy Research
Foundation has a wealth of information on
the causes and solutions to environmental
illness on her website and through the Foundation.
Related Article: Allergies
and Environmental Illness
Additional things to look out for are chocolate,
nitrates (found in hot dogs, bacon and luncheon
meats), MSG, caffeine, artificial colors and
preservatives, and any foods with hydrogenated
or partially hydrogenated oils. Read the labels
on almost all packaged foods and you will
find some of or all of these ingredients listed.
Related Article: Essential
Fatty Acids
Metal Toxicity
Metal toxicity is suspect in learning disabilities.
In his book Healing
Through Nutrition, Melvyn Werbach,
M.D. talks about several studies which closely
tie metal toxicity to learning disabilities.
He says the findings suggest that aluminum
toxicity may play a role in learning problems.
Aluminum toxicity can come from vaccines,
drinking from aluminum cans, water with high
aluminum content, eating foods with pesticides
and additives in the soil, deodorants containing
aluminum (most do), and heavy pollution. Arsenic,
mercury, cadmium and lead are other toxic
metals. Aluminum and mercury are present in
childhood vaccines.
Even low-level lead exposure impairs children’s
intelligence. Lead is present in certain paints,
enamels, glass, ink printing materials, lead
crystal, crayons and some drinking water.
Even if the water itself does not contain
lead, it still may be leached into the water
from lead plumbing so it is important to check
the water at your child’s school and your
home. You can purchase a lead test kit for
the paint in your home. There is a blood test
available to test the level of lead in your
child’s bloodstream. The long-term effects
of lead poisoning include learning disabilities,
decreased growth, brain damage and even death
in children. In children with elevated blood
levels of lead, symptoms include stomachaches,
loss of appetite, decreased interest in play
and excessive activity, fussiness or irritability.
Yeast Overgrowth
An overgrowth of yeast in the body may be
a contributing factor of learning disabilities,
attention deficit, and hyperactivity in some
children. Yeast overgrowth can occur when
repeated doses of antibiotics are given to
children. Antibiotics weaken the immune system
by destroying the beneficial bacteria, allowing
yeast to grow rapidly. Yeast feeds on sugar
so an overgrowth can be suspected in a sugar-addicted
child. William Crook, M.D. writes about this
in his books The
Yeast Connection, The Yeast Connection Handbook
and his booklet Hyperactivity
and the Attention Deficit Disorder.
Getting the yeast under control may be a major
step in recovery.
Nutritional Supplements
One of the most important factors in the
solution of learning and behavior problems
is optimal mineral intake and absorption.
Many children are deficient in important minerals,
which are essential for proper body and brain
functioning. One or more mineral deficiencies
are usually found in children classified as
learning disabled, and mineral supplementation
may be necessary. Be certain you are getting
a high quality supplement since some contain
sugar, food colorings or other fillers. Avoid
supplements containing lactose if your child
is milk-sensitive. Metallic minerals in tablet
form are not absorbed very well. Chelated
minerals in capsule form are more available
to the body. There is much debate on the subject
of colloidal minerals. Some say colloidal
minerals are highly absorbable by the body
and the most effective way to get minerals.
However, there is a lack of research to document
this claim. The authors of What’s
Food Got To Do With It? say they use
Twinlab mineral formulas or the Now brand
form of colloidal minerals with good results.
Organically grown vegetables are important
to increase your child’s mineral intake. Superfoods
like barley green, chlorella, algae, spirulina
and wheatgrass have maximum vitamin, mineral
and amino acid concentrations.
Lecithin is a very powerful brain food. It
boosts memory and concentration. Lecithin
contains the B vitamin choline. Choline can
boost the brain’s memory power for four or
five hours after eating. Choline is found
in egg yolks, lean beef, fish, and wheat.
Phosphatidyl choline is the strongest form
of lecithin. The powder can be stirred into
food or juice.
Concentration and memory are specifically
connected to levels of certain neurotransmitters
in the brain. Too many or too few neurotransmitters
will cause over or under reactions, such as
acting out, feeling depressed or hyperactivity.
Amino acids are precursors to neurotransmitters.
They are necessary in order for the brain
to receive and send messages. If the diet
contains inadequate amounts of the essential
amino acids, physical symptoms will appear.
Brain cells must be fed constantly with amino
acids, vitamins, minerals, oxygen and fatty
acids. Amino acids boost brainpower and mental
clarity and enhance memory and concentration.
They have been medically proven to calm hyperactivity.
Nutritional yeast, barley grass, spirulina
and algae are all high in amino acids.
It is important to supplement the diet with
DHA from omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs).
See article on healthy
fats for children.
Summary
Using centering and grounding techniques,
homeopathy, eliminating processed foods, chemicals
and allergens, and eating an organic whole
foods diet can help children to function at
their highest level of health. It is much
more difficult to go this route than to accept
a drug as a magic potion. It takes time, persistence
and effort for both parent and child. It’s
not easy to change the diet of a child who
is completely attached to unhealthy foods.
Usually, the whole family needs to cooperate.
However, there are huge payoffs in the behavior
changes and the overall health and happiness
of the child as well as the entire family.
|
|
Use
the information provided on this site as an
educational resource for determining your
options and making your own informed choices.
It is not intended as medical advice or to
diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific
illness.