Children and adolescents with overactive and attention deficit problems often cause themselves and others tremendous stress along with a myriad of complications dealing with life matters. Watching a child with learning problems (either through a learning disorder or attention deficit disorder) struggle through school and social situations can be one of the most challenging things a parent can face.

Affected individuals might get out of control, become over or under stimulated, or go through uncontrollable stimulation patterns weaving through their sensorium, which cause inconsistent and volatile behavioral patterns very hard to control in a household. This also becomes very emotionally unsettling.

ADD/ADHD/LD all fall under the umbrella of attention deficit disorders. These conditions are dysfunctions of the Central Nervous System and affects attention and concentration abilities, memory, learning, and difficulties in processing and sorting out stimuli coming from a person's subjective and objective realms.

Symptoms may include passivity and inattentiveness along with uncontrollable and unruly behavior. It is a frustrating condition, causing plenty of stress to individuals which could go through serious emotional and psychological problems. Attention Deficit affects the entire realm of learning, from socializing with others to performing well academically.

Dyslexia is a complex reading, writing and learning condition in which letters and numbers are reversed or even seen and written upside down.  Dyslexia affects more and more children and adults.  It may contribute to functional illiteracy in an estimated 25 million Americans.  It also causes low self-esteem and frustration on a massive scale!  This article aims to show that dyslexia is not due to brain damage or stupidity.  Many dyslexics are far brighter than average.  Treating them as though they are 'dumb' or 'slow' is absolutely incorrect.Moore

Peter R. Breggin, M.D - "The drugging of children has gotten so out of hand that America is waking up to this. This is a national catastrophe. I'm seeing children who are normal who are on five psychiatric drugs." Peter R. Breggin, M.D. Director, International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology

Dr. Robert Mendelsohn MD - "No one has ever been able to demonstrate that drugs such as Cylert and Ritalin improve the academic performance of the children who take them.... The pupil is drugged to make life easier for his teacher, not to make it better and more productive for the child."

Studies on food additive use and inteligence Food addictives and hyperactivity in children How psychiatric drugs can kill your child Psychiatric drugs; cure or quackery Dyslexia is a variation of attention decicit disorder

Many natural health oriented doctors believe that potential causes for the modern epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD) and hyperactivity are:

1. Food additives
2. Refined sugar
3. Poor nutrition
4. Natural light deficiency
5. Food allergies
6. Heavy metal toxicity (such as lead, mercury, or cadmium)
7. Poor teaching methods combined with lack of discipline

 

Believing that drugs and psychoanalysis were not always the best course of treatment for a variety of mental illnesses, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer began an extensive program of research into the causes and treatment of mental illness, and in 1973 opened the Brain Bio Center in Princeton, New Jersey. Here, with a team of scientists, he found that many psychological problems can be traced to biochemical imbalances in the body. With these patients, he achieved unprecedented success in treating a wide range of mental problems by adjusting diet and providing specific nutritional supplements for those conditions where deficiences exist. This book documents his approach. Each year, thousands of people are diagnosed as schizophrenic; many more suffer from depression, anxiety, and phobias. Dr. Pfeiffer's methods of treatment presented in Nutrition and Mental Illness are a valuable adjunct to traditional therapies, and can bring hope of real wellness to many of those who suffer. Moore

The official name for ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder. It has a related malady called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also referred to as ADHD, a term originally coined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1994. Most people give it one name or the other.

It's name has changed coinciding with the different advances made in the scientific community through field trials, where researchers have come up with the condition that ADHD has many different variations. Along the same line, ADHD is divided into three different types, according to the primary symptoms associated with the condition, including impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness.

The three variations of ADD and ADHD are:

• ADHD Predominantly Inattentive
• ADHD Predominantly Combined
• ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive Impulsive

These variations are used to distinguish between ADD sufferers who experience different combinations of symptoms. Some people with ADD will never show trouble sitting still, while others may overwhelmingly show a lack of inattentiveness and difficulty staying on tasks. Another subtype may have an ADD afflicted person pay decent attention to a task but easily lose focus because of hyperactive and impulsive tendencies. The combined type is the most common subtype, with most children experiencing a combo of symptoms from all three.

Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is a neurological disorder that is estimated to impact between 3 and 5% of children in the United States.

Common ADD/ADHD symptoms include:

• aggressive and/or impulsive behavior
• excessive talking and/or movement
• passivity or hyperactivity
• impaired concentration

Usually, difficulty with reading and continuous learning problems are the hallmark of LD, or Learning Disorder and ADD/ADHD (attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.)

Your child, or student, may demonstrate an inability to sit still, or a sense of being 'out-of-control'. This child may also become over or under stimulated. This is all a result of inadequate or erroneous neuronal connections in the part of the brain where the child experiences and interprets their environment. The behavioral irregularities are enough to upset the entire family.

Reticular Activating System and Attention Deficit

Although the exact causes of ADD/ADHD are unknown, medical science has determined the disorder to be the result of a dysfunction in the Reticular Activating System, the area of the brain that coordinates learning and memory and maintains consciousness. This area of the brain is also responsible for processing and sorting out incoming information and stimuli from the individual’s inner and outer worlds.

The Reticular Activating System is responsible for the proper transmission of nerve impulses between the spinal cord and those areas of the brain that process incoming stimuli. If neurons in these regions of the brain that control learning and memory are either insufficiently stimulated or over-stimulated, the child's Reticular Activating System will be poorly equipped to assimilate incoming information, and will therefore result in some combination of inattentiveness or hyperactivity, often creating stress and frustration for the child.

Paying close attention and concentrating is very difficult due to the inadequate number of neurons working properly. There are not only less neurons but also there are less connections than in a normal brain.

With these connection problems, learning and memory may be impaired and passivity, aggressiveness, and hyperactivity can occur.

ADD/ADHD impacts children most prominently in the classroom, where prolonged concentration and the ability to follow instructions are often required for the child's academic success. Because of this, many parents today are faced with the problem of ADD/ADHD and how to treat it.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a growing problem among adolescents in the western world. Estimates of prevalence vary between 5 and 10% with most victims being boys. The major symptoms of the disorder are difficulty in sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There is considerable evidence that ADHD is linked to a fatty acid deficiency and imbalance, specifically a lack of the omega-3 long chain fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and an excess of the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA). Clinicians at the University of Milan now report that supplementation with fish oils is effective in correcting the fatty acid imbalance and improves the symptoms of ADHD. Moore

Essentail fatty acid

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests itself by the inability to concentrate in a sustained manner, control impulsive actions, and pay attention to tasks. Hyperactivity and oppositional/defiant behavior are other symptoms of ADHD, which affects as many as 7% of children in the United States, mostly boys. About 70% if children with ADHD continue to experience ADHD-related problems as adults. Several clinical studies have noted that ADHD patients have a deficiency of omega-3 long chain fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main components of fish oil. It is also clear that ADHD patients have a very high ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA. Moore

Most self-proclaimed "experts" on ADD and Hyperactivity disorders are unaware of the relationship between nutrition and ADD / ADHD, but they are quick to say that these are not important nor relevant. However there are enough studies that prove otherwise. For example:

1. A 1994 study at Purdue University found that boys diagnosed with ADHD had lower levels of the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
2. A 1997 study found that 95% of ADHD children tested were deficient in magnesium (Magnesium Research 10, 1997)
3. A 1996 study found that ADHD children had zinc levels that were only 2/3 the level of those without ADHD (Biological Psychiatry 40, 1996)

The cell membranes and synaptic endings of neurons in our brains and nervous systems are composed of DHA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid. These membranes go rancid unless protected with antioxidants. Since most people don't get enough DHA, other types of fats are incorporated into the brain, but they do not function as well because they are the wrong shape. Also, the all-important neurotransmitters are manufactured by the body from dietary sources. In order for these neurotransmitters to function well, the B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and Vitamin C must all be present in sufficient amounts. Some studies have shown a relationship between fatty acid deficiencies and ADD, learning disorders, and behavior problems.

What Causes ADD? What Causes ADHD?

Role of Reticular Activating System

Attention Deficit is a malady of the Reticular Activating System, the area of the brain (via billions of nerve connections) that is important in reinforcing learning and memory.

It also helps support the processing of information and the ability to pay attention.

An insufficient amount of neural building materials can prevent the proper number of neural connections from being made. 

With limited neural connections, the existing neural pathways are over-worked and are forced to deal with an extreme amount of information processing (just like an overburdened computer) that may lead to a processing shutdown.

This inadequate connectivity slows down the processing of information and can induce terrible feelings of aggravation, irritation and dissatisfaction in the child with ADD, ADHD or LD.

ADHD is a development disability with neurological roots, estimated to afflict up to 5 percent of the school age group in the country. No studies have placed a direct cause of ADHD, but numerous scientific evidence suggests that ADHD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that depletes the amount of neurotransmitters which are responsible for helping the brain regulate behavior.

There was a groundbreaking study done by the National Institute of Mental Health that showed glucose levels were lesser in ADHD brains than "regular" brains.

The causes of ADHD are yet unknown, though it is confirmed that ADHD is a medical problem based in the brain. ADHD is not a condition caused by external conditions. There are many ways children can manage their ADHD symptoms. Prior to listing these tips and tricks, it is important to know what ADHD is and how it is diagnosed first.

Signs and Symptoms of ADD

The medical community stands by the criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in 1994. Based on the readings, the primary symptoms associated with ADHD are impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Here is a summary of each symptom.

Inattention

ADD & ADHD afflicted individuals can have problems with focusing, selecting, maintaining, resisting, or shifting (or a combination of) attention. Many might have problems initiating tasks while others lose focus with directions during activity. If you observe closely, you can see where the attention process starts to disintegrate in the affected individual.

Short attention spans or being easily distracted are common traits of ADD and ADHD children. In reality, both inattentiveness & distractibility don’t go hand in hand.

Distractibility is a term given to short attention spans and the relative ease in which children could be swayed into switching tasks and altering their attention.

Attention is a multi functional process that involves choosing something to focus on, selecting something that needs attention at a particular moment, and maintaining that attention for as long as required. Resisting and shifting our attention is also a part of the process.

Easily distractible children have a tendency to get their attention off balance and can be quickly swayed into focusing on something else.

ADD and ADHD children have trouble with one or more of these process. Routine and boring tasks are especially hard, along with starting a task in the first place. Someone familiar with the condition can easily tell when the attention process starts to disintegrate in these children.

According to the DSM/IV, here is a list of inattentive symptoms:

• Poor attention to details and frequent mistakes in school assignments and work activities
• Lack of concentration in tasks or play activities
• Looking lost or appearing to ignore people who speak to them directly
• Poor follow through on instructions and hardships with completing school assignments, house chores, or occupation duties
• Poor organization of activities and tasks
• Avoiding tasks that require lots of mental effort, like house chores or schoolwork
• Frequent misplacing of things, especially those that belong to particular tasks like pencils and books
• Distractibility when multiple stimuli are present
• Forgetfulness
  

Both parents and professionals alike wonder over the safety of ADHD drugs, with the highest controversial methylphenidate (Ritalin) at the forefront. Numerous side-effects have been observed and recent studies confirm that these mediations are not the safest and most effective treatment for you or your child. The danger of Ritalin or other ADD medication sadly, becomes apparent only after numerous side-effects have developed. Ritalin dangers must be discussed with your family and child before a course of this drug has begun.

It's widely thought that pulse rate increasing stimulant use, combined with hypertension heart problems, could downgrade health. Methylphenidate deaths are very rare, and the majority of problems are thought to be caused by mixed drug interactions. Matthew Smith, a 14 year old boy reported in the news, died due to long term Ritalin use, which raised doubts amongst medical experts. His medical examiner made the claim diabetic children had a higher risk of developing heart problems.

According to the Food and Drug Administration’s Pediatric Advisory Committee in 2005, there were two safety concerns regarding brands of methylphenidate, particularly Concerta, which were psychiatric and cardiovascular ramifications. Conducting a study of 25 affected people (19 children included), the FDA voted for Ritalin and similar drugs to carry a heavy warning on the label.

ADD/ADHD Medication Abuse

It’s been proven that ADD individuals are more likely to participate in substance abuse and smoking than those without ADD. With regular treatment, this risk is greatly reduced. There was a 2003 study done that concluded ADHD children with methylphenidate treatment were less likely to consume drugs and alcohol later on.

Lots of people abuse methylphenidate by snorting crushed tablets, which changes the standard therapeutic delivery system. The quick consumption of dopamine helps speed up the high and gets absorbed into the bloodstream. When used regularly, Ritalin abuse can rank up there next to cocaine and amphetamines on the addictive drugs list. When prescribed doses are offered and the drug is ingested orally, methylphenidate has a low addiction level with highs rare.

The DEA and UN have expressed concerns in the past over the relative ease of acquiring legally prescribed methylphenidate. The DEA says "The increased use of this substance [MPH] for the treatment of ADHD has paralleled an increase in its abuse among adolescents and young adults who crush these tablets and snort the powder to get high. Youngsters have little difficulty obtaining methylphenidate from classmates or friends who have been prescribed it."

Studies have shown that when methylphenidate is slowly cleared from the brain, repeated self administration from other addictions could be discoursed, which lessens methylphenidate addiction itself.

Methylphenidate- Popular with IV Drug Addicts

Methylphenidate is a very popular drug amongst intravenous drug addicts, especially in areas when amphetamines are hard to get. Although not all tablets are injection candidates, brand name Ritalin can easily be dissolved in water and injected into the bloodstream. This is a very dangerous habit, since talc is commonly used filler for methylphenidate tablets. Pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis are associated with talc injections, which can lead to breathing problems and death in the worst case scenario.

Substance Abuse Study: 25% Used Ritalin without RX

According to a University of Michigan substance abuse research study that examined 10,000 college students, close to 25 percent of them used Ritalin without a prescription. These same students also admitted they were frequent cigarette and weed smokers who sampled the occasional ecstasy tablet and other serious drugs.

Street Names

Ritalin is known by many street names, including poor man’s cocaine, R pop, coke junior, study buddies, and vitamin R. Adderall street names include brain food, smarts, little speedy, and Altoids.

Among the suspected additives and foods that parents and studies report as inciting behavioral changes are:

• Any artificial colorings (particularly yellow, red, or green)
• Other chemical additives -- for example, BHT or BHA
• Milk
• Chocolate
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Foods containing salicylates, including all berries, chili powder, apples and cider, cloves, grapes, oranges, peaches, peppers (bell & chili), plums, prunes, tomatoes

Feingold Diet. The most well-known diet for ADHD is the Feingold diet, a salicylate- and additive-free diet, which requires rigorous vigilance over a child's eating habits. This diet also prohibits aspirin, which contains salicylates. Some parents report great success with this diet, although it may be difficult to impose. It is certainly wise, in any case, to avoid food with artificial colors and flavors and to provide a healthy balance of fresh, natural foods.

Essential Fatty Acids. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish and certain vegetable oils, are important for normal brain function and may have some benefits for people with ADHD. It is not clear if supplements of fatty acid compounds, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA), provide any advantages.

Zinc. Zinc is important for the metabolism of certain neurotransmitters that play a role in ADHD, and deficiencies have been associated with some cases of ADHD. Long-term use of zinc, however, can cause anemia and other side effects in people without deficiencies and it has no effect on ADHD in these patients. In any case, testing for trace minerals, such as zinc, is not standard procedure when evaluating children suspected to have ADHD.

Sugar. Although parents often blame sugar for causing children to become impulsive or hyperactive, a number of studies strongly indicate that sugar plays no role in hyperactivity

 According to Shé D'Montford, Shambhallah, from Australia ‘The human body "WILL HEAL"... If we get out of our own way and allow it, it heals itself. It is our basic nature. Anybody who tells you other than that is trying to sell you something. No matter what you have been told. Don't give up on yourself and don't buy into the lines like ... ‘oh well you've had a good life'... 'at your age'... and the worst of all ...'there's nothing further I can do, I suggest you finalize your affairs'... How dare anyone tell you to give up! So much in society combines to convince us of the propaganda that some things never get better. It's up to you ... do you want to get better? Make things better? It is human nature to make things better, evolve and grow.”

This site  is intended to provide general information only and is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment. All matters regarding health or a particular health situation should be supervised by a licensed health care professional.The author and the publisher shall not be held responsible or liable for any harm or loss allegedly arising, directly or indirectly from any information in this site