Seeking Help for My Son That Might Have ADHD

A friend of mine has a son who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and she changed his diet. She referred to _The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood_ by Dr. Sears and the difference is like night and day! The first step is to get him off of artificial food colorings and processed sugar. The book will flesh out the rest of the diet and I hope it helps!

I work in the health care industry and am interested in giving you some advice, as well as health care professional recommendations. Where do you live?

K.,
Google Dr. Jonathan Walker in Dallas. He has a neurofeedback clinic and is great with kids with ADHD WITHOUT meds.
L.

School officials are not doctors. They simply want "sheep" that follow the rules and don't rock the boat and unfortunately doctors don't know everything either. You need to always get more than one opinion. I'd consider medication as a last resort. The standard test for ADHD is sadly lacking and really not a good marker of true ADHD.

Were you focused at that age? Come on. This is a child. They are not supposed to be focused. They are full of wonder and curiosity. Perhaps he is bored to tears in school?

Before you ever consider pumping a bunch of drugs into a child, drugs that no one knows the long term effects of, consider doing a LOT of research on the internet. Don't allow anyone to put anything into your kid that you have not researched thoroughly,ever.

The first thing you should do is get to a nutritionist. If you want to email me privately I can tell you who I've used and that nutritional intervention at age 6 profoundly changed my child's behavior. Get him off all the cokes and wheat and refined sugar. There are plenty of substitutes, he won't feel deprived.

Secondly, investigate Sensory Integration Disorder. This mimics ADHD and it is not something you medicate. Occupational therapy takes care of the problem. Read The Out of Sync Child.

Third. Is you child getting enough exercise? You said he is athletic. Take advantage of that gift. Most kids are watching way to much tv, playing video games and SITTING in front of something electronic. Kids don't have enough outdoor time, and I mean free outdoor time, not just organized sports.
Get him on his bike, ride with him, play, climb trees, bounce on a trampoline, GET PHYSICAL. Boys need this, we all need this.

Remember boys are completely different animals than girls. Completely. We need to embrace that difference and not find fault with it, or try to label it.

Remember, he is SEVEN. We tend to lose sight of the fact that our kids are supposed to be LEARNING behavior, not be perfect at behaving. I'm in my 50's and I'm not perfect at behaving!

Good morning, K.,
I heartily endorse Dr. Jonathan Walker also. We have been to him and he is excellent. The neurofeedback program really works. My husband has adult ADD and it really has helped him and he is a college professor.
Having your son checked for wheat/gluten sensitivity is also a great idea. My youngest daughter has this problem and we spent 2 years running around to numerous doctors before we found out what her real problem was. Once we cut out the refined flour, it was like magic and she improved dramatically.
Good luck!
B. G. (mother of 8, grandmother of 4)

My son, who is now 13, was diagnosed with ADHD 4 years ago and for 2 years we tried everything to not put him on medicine. The last 2 years we put him on Stratera. We were having issues at school as well. Then, this past March we found out that he has Celiac Disease. One of the symptoms is Behavior Problems. It's more common than people realize - 1 in 133 people have it. We have since taken him off the medicine and with the change in diet that Celiacs have to follow, he behavior has improved soooo much!!! He's still in the healing process so he still has some issues, but not anywhere near what it was! Your pediatrician can have the test run, it's a blood test. Good luck....

You have already gotten a lot of good advice and I'm probably just repeating a lot of what you already have seen. I too have a fast-learning, intelligent child who also has a lot of trouble staying focused and struggles with impulsiveness. Like you, we have yet to take him in for testing with a pediatrician.

We have found that both wheat and Red Dye #40 exacerbate things for him tremendously. He avoids them entirely now. Also, fish oil supplements helped him to be able to sit still and do much better at paying attention. I've read of several study results that show fish oil to be as effective as Ritalin in certain individuals. Essential oils also have helped him a great deal. Young Living has several oil blends that improve focus and concentration. Lavender may help keep him calm, lemon and rosemary oils may improve focus and memory.

With all that said, my husband was diagnosed as an adult with ADD and has found that taking medication is the only sure fire method of being productive and fully functional at work. He does see significant improvement with fish oil, but without his meds,forgets to take the fish oil--sort of a catch 22. ;o) He hates how the meds make him feel though and notes a significant lack of creativity in his thought process while he is on it.

“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. ... What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.” M. Russel Ballard “Daughters of God,” Ensign, May 2008, 108

Best of luck for you and your child!

My daughter had ADD and the doctors put her on Ritly while on it she did not grow and she would bruise verry easy. Also she did not eat well. I looked for all natural products and I tried lots of them from GNC then I found Advocare and with in a week of her taking a product called Spark everyone could notice a diference. Even the teachers where amazed. You can find out more about it at www.advocare.com then llok up Spark. It is all natural. I use a distributor in Haltom City named Debbie and Greg Wilson. There cell is ###-###-#### and I am sure they would send you some samples. It can not hurt to try it. It also works on people who suffer from Migranes. I Love it.

Sorry if I repeat what someone else has already said.

Lack of sleep can cause ADHD-like behaviors. I looked this up recently and the recommendation for 6-9 year olds is about 10 hours. Sounds minor but it really makes a huge difference when kids don't get enough rest.

Another suggestion is having him tested for food allergies. This is huge because eliminating a few things from his diet could make a world of difference.

When was the last time he had his vision/hearing checked?

Also, ask the teacher what he/she is doing to help him focus. Can she write the directions on the board to give him a visual? Does he need to sit closer to the teacher? Can he stand up a couple folders on his desk (like a carol (sp?)) to help him focus on his work? Is there a reward system that she can use to encourage him to pay attention?

Hope this helps.

You are in the exact place I was last year. Our sons could be identical. We took the schools advise and had our son evaluated by Dr. Jackson in Hurst. Just as you, I was very reluctant and did NOT want to medicate. Before we got to this step I tried several things from the health food store including Focus Attention. Dr. Jackson spent an hour testing our son. We, as parents, went back a week later to hear the results. It made everything so clear and made us feel relieved. The results clearly pointed out his difficulty and explained his behavior. Dr. Jackson then sent this information to our pediatrician and then we met with him. We decided to try medication even though I was completely against it. We are on the lowest dosage of Vyvanse now. I can not tell you what a difference this has made. Our son no longer gets in trouble for silly stuff and he is able to stay on task at school. To us, this is a lifesaver as it has saved our family's frustration and his self esteem. Please email if you want anymore information.
____@____.com

I totally have been where you are! The daycare when my son was 4 wanted us to have him tested. We did not as I was not going to put my 4 year old on meds no matter what. He is not 7 and having issues focusing. My brother told us to try an Amway product call Brainums. He has been taking them for almost a month now and I have noticed a difference already. My brother told me that there have been people able to take their kids off of meds giving these to them. They have DHA in them and that's something that most people don't get enough of in their diets and kids with attention issues need it the most. Let me know if you would like anymore information on them and I will do my best to get you all information I can.

Good luck and God bless!

You may want talk with my husband. He works with children that have behavior problem and attention problems. You to make sure that the issues are not academic. Academic problems can appear to be ADHD or as behavior issues.
Give him (Johnny Thomas) a call at ###-###-####.
H.

strict diet; no sugary/yeast/caffiene products. more fresh fruits/vegetables/water. structure/consistent discipline. no television/computer in his bedroom because of the "stimulating" effect prior to bedtime. same routine for bed/getting up time. start making him do chores cleaning his bedroom/bathroom, doing his own laundry, etc. stand your ground when discipling him. good luck.

I have the exact same problem with my son. My son is in 1st grade and he had always been active. He is always talking, singing, wiggling, running, just a wealth of endless energy, and a total lack of focus. My son's school helped me last year, as I asked them to find a teacher with a firm sense of discipline, and so we changed his classes mid semester, and he went from a "bad" depressed child who was in the office once a week, to a child who from day one in the new class, was happy and never got into trouble again. I firmly believe it is the willingness of the teacher and the school, to work with your child.
This year, he has a teacher who has a personality that is TONS less conducive to cooperation than the teacher that he started last year with, and since he is in 1st grade, there are no teacher assistants and so he is sent to the office every day because she is unable to mentally "take him". We tell the school what works at home. We have my son practice being a "bump on a log". He sits still for a few minutes without speaking and raises his hand to ask permission to speak. This works on 10 minute increments but as I'm sure you will agree, is a huge accomplishment. We also realized his high intelligence level and so we told that teacher that he gets bored and sent a book from home, that was more to his reading level, so when he completed his work he could read, instead of become a nuisance. This has worked wonders! We demanded to have a stricter teacher, but there is a new administration this year, so they have not even begun to comply. The teachers seem afraid to cooperate this year, I believe due to the new principle and vice-principle. Believe it or not, every teacher and staff member that I have spoken with and that has been involved with my son's educational process this year has suggested medication. I am appalled. I did not think the schools were allowed to initiate such a discussion. They all start out by saying, "As a mother..." The vice-principle also told me that 3 of her 4 kids are medicated. I refuse! I refuse to put my child on drugs. It's an excuse and a mask. I have read that Ritalin will cause my child to have major depression and sexual dysfunction in his 40's. That's not fair! Like I said, I refuse!
I have been reading a lot about supplements, and correcting diets, and homeopathic methods. We have chosen to take him to a chiropractor, who also does acupuncture. This seems to be working. It has taken two weeks @ 2 treatments per week. This coupled with the diet changes that I started in kindergarten. I removed sugar from his diet altogether, so no Kool-Aid, sodas, donuts, cookies, candy,……. nothing! I only allow him to have cereal on weekends, and even then it’s organic, gluten free, sugar free cereal. He loves it because it is HIS box, and he doesn’t have to share with his 17 year old sister and his 15 year old brother. We are also trying to get him into karate, and soccer. I have read that activity like this is crucial. I also noticed his ability to concentrate when he is listening to music, so we have a small MP3 player filled with classical music, to challenge his brain. While he is listening to it, he is still, and he always falls asleep better when he listens to his MP3 player.
I mentioned about supplements earlier. I would like to hear of your experience with this vitamin supplement if you decide to try it. I am open to almost anything at this point. I have been dealing with him from the day he was born, and only since he started school, have I noticed the world’s inability to handle him. The world is used to quick fixes, and “It’s not MY problem!” ways to deal with everything. I am willing to change our whole way of life to make sure he remains himself, and not a drug-induced zombie! My son is extremely bright and the school district does not have a gifted program in place, and they are aware of it. We, as parents, are expected to “fix” our children, and make the teacher’s life easy. It’s sad. We can only do so much at home. My heart goes out to you! Stick to your guns! Do not let them label your child, or treat him badly! There are NO standardized tests to determine ADHD. “ADHD” has become a catch-all, and a crutch. Do what feels best for you and your family! Good luck!

Hi K.. Just to clarify that ADHD is not a learning disability and that these kids are often quite intelligent, even gifted! I have always suspected my 14 year old is ADHD, although hers is more in a distracted, daydreaming type of way (which is fairly common for girls vs. boys). However, I never wanted her on meds so I just decided to handle it in a behavioral way, but working with her on developing organizational skills, setting specific boundaries and time limiters, etc. It has helped. She is in the "gifted & talented" programs in her high school and she is very intelligent. She just has trouble staying focused on tasks -- like getting her homework done! But ADHD kids can also show intense focus on those things that really interest them, which is a trait my daughter often displays, but the downside is that they lose focus on their other responsibilities (such as homework).

I have stayed away from "all natural" remedies as well, because there is this misguided notion that "all natural" is safe yet that is not always the case. Perhaps you may want to consult with a psycologist/psychiatrist who specializes in treating ADHD without medication. Are you familiar with Dallas Child magazine? They usually have an ADHD Q&A section and the doctor who responds to the questions does non-medicated treatment. Their website is www.dallaschild.com.

My son is the same way and the same age as yours, his pre-school teacher wanted him to be tested a couple years ago but I didn't want to label him so early in life. I really watched his sugar and white flour intake (cut out high-fructose corn syrup) Got him taking good vitamins and cod liver oil and it seemed to help a lot. I'm about to have him try a new product called BLUE ICE Royal™ Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend from a website called Green Pastures.

I read a blog from another mom with an ADD kid about it and I've heard it's minimally processed so the body can absorb it much better.

http://frugalhsmom.blogspot.com/2009/09/green-pastures.ht...

I'll let you know how it goes. Best wishes to you and your family as you find a better alternative to medication.

I would maybe call the Block Center in Bedford. Dr. Block believes that attention and behavioral problems can be changed with diet and vitamins. I would definitely give her call.
The Block Center
1750 Norwood Dr
Hurst, TX 76054
###-###-####

My 8 year old was diagnosed with ADHD in January and we put him on a Narcotic called Concerta. He gets 18mg daily when going to school. I personally couldn't find any natural things to give him that worked. I was so hesitant to give any meds, but it was such a wonderful change that before I got the chance to tell his teacher that he was taking something, she sent me a note saying how wonderful his day was and what a change it was for him to focus. After I told her about him having taken his meds for the first time, it eased my mind because he did have a change on the meds. His Dr. has told me that with his weight and height we can up his dosage, but recommends that we don't unless it's not working like it should. I would try the natural things first and if those don't work, don't hesitate to get him on Concerta. It really does help.

K.,

It may not bee ADHD. Before you take him to get tested at your pedi, (the tests are very subjective, vary with each provider and are based completely on opinion)get him tested for gifted and talented. He may just be bored silly and he's just acting out!

Hi K.
Good for you for seeking out help! I had similar concerns with my son this past summer. Our pediatrician told us he would do nothing until we got him evaluated by a child psychologist, so that may need to be your first route. Also, you may try to eliminate dyes from your child's diet (I've heard this helps - it couldn't hurt, right?) - specifically red dye #40. It's in EVERYTHING! Like, jelly, fruit snacks, even yogurt. Basically just about anything that is red or orange or pink! LOL It's a start, and you have to start somewhere. No point in jumping in with both feet for a million changes before you have talked to a psychologist. Good luck with your journey.

I want to note that children with learning "differences" are often very smart. It's not really a disability. It's more like they learn differently than the average child. If this is your son it could be that he can't focus because he is bored.......he needs a different explanation, or he can get lost as the teacher isn't making sense to him. He could be a genius and have a learning difference. He could be so smart that he hides that he doesn't understand by being silly. He may not want anyone to know. This may not be your son, but if it is, and the difference can be identified, then you can offer your child a better solution. That could be a little tutoring to a new school with a different teaching style.

The question would be, are his grades suffering? If not now, but as he gets older they begin to, then pay attention to that. Children with learning differences can often struggle just enough to get by, but around adolescence things tend to get out of control.

Well I can't help you with the natural drug treatments, because I am ignorant about them. Do, of course, run anything your considering trying past your pediatrician before giving it to him.

HOWEVER, I do want to tell you that your school district is legally obligated to provide that testing per your request and teacher referral. It shouldn't have to come out of your pocket, although it is always good to have more than one set of testing because all kids are so notoriously bad about dramatically differently depending upon their mood, restfullness, hunger, yadda yadda, at the time of testing.

I don't know anything about the product that you bought, but I was told that a cild shoul never be prescribed ADHD medications until a fish oil supplement has been tried first. The one that was reccommended to me is Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil (1/4 tsp for my toddler). Maybe the supplement you bought has fish oil in it?

Hi K.,

I also have a son w/ ADHD, and I have it as well (suspect hubby, too). I've been hearing about Spark, an energy drink mix (B Vitamins and amino acids)from Advocare from a few people I know. They report some dramatic results. The lady who recommended it again last week is about to receive her degree in nutrition, and she has met with several of the doctors from Advocare and peppered them with questions. She is quite thrilled with it, as are several members of her family.

I just bought some, and started myself and my son on it yesterday. He's been home sick, so today is the first day back to school. I'll try to e-mail you back to let you know how it goes, but I do have have some BIG projects on my plate this week, so feel free to contact me next week, and I can tell you if it's made a difference.

I've had two friends who both said their child's teacher literally called the day they started and asked what had been given to their sons because their behavior was so much improved. I'm hoping that it will help us both focus better. (Maybe I'll finally be able to get my home together!)

My son is extremely bright as well, but is extremely disorganized and distracts others with his overabundance of energy. His teachers love his intelligence, but he frustrates them and his classmates.

I don't sell Spark, so I have nothing to gain from recommending it. I notice another writer has already recommended it and given a source to buy it. You can get it from her, or just go to advocare.com if you decide to try it.

Good luck! I know it can be SO frustrating. I don't want to medicate my son either. Hubby's a doctor, and worries about the long-term effects, and we hear there can be a lot of personality changes as well.

D.

There are TONS you can do naturally to aid your son with ADHA (this coming from a daughter of a teacher that deals with it every day and a wife of a man that has it and his family has had it forever!
Start with nutrition! Good nutrition does wonders to keep ADHD at bay. Stay away from simple carbs (they are just hyper fuel for the body), candy, etc but things you wouldn't think to stay away from that are biggies are RED DYE 40, MSG, too much protein, pesticides, antibiotics in meat. Also, believe it or not, coffee ACTUALLY has a calming affect in many ADHD people, so that could be a last-case scenario BEFORE meds. Many people also react with ADHD by allergies, so I would suggest having him allergy tested and avoid allergens (esp in food). Many people also swear by Glutten free diet to majorly help this too!

Also, a MAJOR BIGGIE is that MOST children (ADHD or not) do not get enough sleep and ADHD are even more likely to not get enough because they actually require more for their brain to relax and re-coop so you can often get rid of almost ALL symptoms just by adding plenty of sleep into their routine.

There are natural remedies that are also said to help ADHD that are OTC. Some of these may be by opinion only but the ones I've heard of from some researchers are Rosehips, plenty of Omega Threes (which we all need more then we get anyways) and a couple of others that I can't remember right now. Find your local health food store and ask the nutrition couselor there lots of questions. They are highly intellegent about this stuff and if don't know the answers, have a weath of resources right there at finger's length to find them for you.

There is absolutly no reason to medicate 99% of the people on medicine for ADHD as one or a combo of some of these things usually do the trick and are much better for the child and family (in cost alone, much less health).

Good luck!

Wow, you have gotten a lot of great advide! I was a teacher before having our son and now am a SAHM working from home, but when I was in the classroom I saw a lot of what you were talking about with your son and the advice you 've been given. One additional thing that you may want to consider, besides vitamins and the red food dye is the toxins in your home, air quality, cleaning products, etc. that can overload the system and have negative effects like ADD, ashtma, among others. You may want to consider looking into all natural/green products that will rid the bleach, phosphates and formaldehyde from your home and its air quality. Look into it, I can also give you more info if you'd like, its right up my alley.

L.