ADHD

ADHD is no longer a mythical being devised by frustrated parents or clueless counselors to lump in every kid who has trouble sitting quietly through class. It is a REAL medical condition with real symptoms that can now be diagnosed via advanced equipment. (Yes, a brain scan, basically.)

Attention Deficit - Hyperactivity Disorder is most often the result of a frontal lobe that doesn't quite work the way it should. In short, people with ADHD have brain cells that are virtually incapable of communicating between each other as expected. Check out "The Science of ADHD" for a detailed explanation of why your little angel simply cannot complete a task or stay in one place for 10 seconds at a time.

Since dopamine is in short supply, a critical neurotransmitter, norepinephrine isn't synthesized as it should be most of the time. For some with mild symptoms, changes in diet and routine can make a big difference. I noticed a huge improvement with overall anxiety and hyperactivity simply adding a fish oil-based DHA supplement and heavy protein to my daughter's morning diet. (Protein helps your brain produce the needed chemicals.) Add protein to a healthy, low carb lunch, and you have even better success. Vitamins like iron, magnesium and zinc have been known to have a positive impact on kids with ADHD. Add a nice helping of Cheerios to that high protein breakfast and you've got a great start to the day! See this WebMD article for study summaries regarding ADHD and supplements. Remember, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Use OTC vitamins and supplements with caution.

Not all kids with ADHD are hyperactive. There are seven categories used to measure ADHD symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, social/mood, impulsivity, distractibility, disorganization and hyper-focus. Some may swing between symptoms and categories, others may exhibit the same symptoms consistently. It's best to consult a doctor or psychiatrist with ADHD expertise before embarking on a treatment program. I've found that attending regular therapy sessions to assist with daily life coping skills is critical to successful treatment.

Never assume that just because your child or other loved one exhibits one or more of these symptoms that ADHD is the cause. Depression, anxiety, bi-polar and APD can cause similar symptoms and must be ruled out before you begin any kind of medication program to manage ADHD. I know many parents worry about treating their child's ADHD with medication. I was one of them. There are so many myths about ADHD meds out there that the whole concept can be terrifying. However, the DAY my daughter started on her medication, her teachers and school staff thanked me and she immediately went from a discipline problem to an (almost) model student. Overnight. With one dose. She has been on stimulants to manage her ADHD for several years now and is much happier and more academically successful than I ever dreamed possible. She still needs special accommodations when it comes to testing and timed work, but she finished elementary school with an honor roll certificate and an "excellent" rating for her behavior. Trust me, this would never have been possible with supplements alone. Give it a chance if medication has been recommended for your ADHD sufferer - you'll be glad you did, and so will your child.

If you are the parent of an ADHD child, I highly recommend you learn everything you can and find a great counselor. About every third visit to my daughter's counselor, I receive guidance to help me manage my ADHD baby. Without that extra professional support, I'm pretty sure I'd have thrown in the towel several years ago. Granted, on most measures my daughter was evaluated 95-99 on a scale of 0 to 100 across six of the seven categories. (Her social/mood was pretty normal.) However, the challenge can be just as great for a parent dealing with one strong symptom as it is for someone like me dealing with six. There's no shame in getting help!