Son with ADHD, How to Help Him....

I really think homeopathy could help you. I can't refer one where you live but start researching for a good one and have him start a remedy. It works miricles in my opinon. It has worked for my problems and I know many families it has helped with behavior problems such as ADHD. Best wishes

look into celiac. ADHD is a symptom. Taking him off glutin might be the answer. ADHD was not such a big thing until diets starting changing to have so much more processed foods. Take him off gluten and wait 4-6 weeks an see if that helps.

Learn Positive Behavior Management techniques. They will support him in his best behaviors and ignore the ones that don't serve him. This the the stuff that Super Nanny does.

And, watch what you feed him and how he reacts after he eats. Sometimes the sensitivity to foods, most commonly milk, sugar, wheat, highly processed foods- will cause an amplification of behaviors. If this is so, you can help him by watching his diet.

Hugs and good luck!

I have a daughter who is ADHD, I have her on concerta and I love the medicine. Also coffee works for kids with ADHD, it does the reverse thing on them. It is a downer for them, does not make them hyper. Look up concerta and ask your doctor about that. My daughter has been on it for 6 years.

Do you have health insurance? If so, my son takes metadate cd and through Prime Mail (mail order pharmacy), it only comes out to $75/month. If you don't have insurance, there is a program called Healthy Families or there is Medi-cal. Don't autmatcially assume you don't qualify, you might be surprised.

I agree with the other poster that nothing works as well as medicine. Still, it was a hard decision for us too and we went a long time without it. In the end, it came down to our son's self esteem and us wanting him to have one.

That's said, here are some natural things that helped greatly.

The Omega 3's or fish oil. We use Omega Junior. It is $29/month for the 8 yr old range.

Also, reduced sugar and red dyes.

Also, give him Melatonin at night, about one hour before bed to help him sleep. A good night's sleep and regular bedtime was key for us.

It takes about three weeks to really notice the difference with the Omega 3's but rest assured there is one.

Good luck to you.

Hi, L.~

It's great that you're doing your research! You may find that a combination of things work best. Vitamins may be a great option too, in addition to dietary changes. You may also want to work had in hand with your pediatrician even if you take the alternative route, just to make sure there aren't any complications you need to look for. I'm an marketing executive for a great wellness company and we have vitamins and products specifically geared to helping kids with ADHD and many families who have tried the products have seen improvements in their children's behavior. If you'd like to talk more offline about the specifics, I'd be happy to share more with you.

All the best,
D.
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I just heard an fascinating piece on NPR this morning about sleep apnia in kids and the pediatrician being interviewed said in her opinion all kids being diagnosed with issues like ADHD should have their sleep evaluated. The apnia can be caused by several things but enlarged tonsils is one and once they are removed the apnia is cured and the ADHD symptoms are gone. We all know how a kid on no sleep acts like they are on an energy high. This really made me think that if I ever have a kid diagnosed with ADHD or something like it I will be sure to get a sleep assessment done!

get him off wheat and dairy! Supplementing with fish oil can help. Do 2 teasponns per day. Get your child off tv, videos, computer games and internet. Get him out into nature. Go to the library and take out the book "Last Child In The Woods - Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv. Good Luck!

Homeopathic medicine is gentle and safe. There are some excellent homeopaths in the Richmond area. One suggestion: Nancy Herrick, PA. Hahnemann Medical Clinic. 80 Nicholl Ave. Pt Richmond, CA 94801. Phone: ###-###-####. Fax: ###-###-####

Hi L.,

I see that you have a lot of very good advice here to look into.

I would like to share a nutritional product with you that I have experience with.

It is a multi vitamin called Future Star that was formulated for better balance in the brain. It is a great tasting powder that mixes well with water, juice, smoothies, etc. Kids love it!

If you would like more info about it, you can find my website address if you go to Member Perks and Local Business Reviews to look up Victorious Living with Symmetry Direct. Or you can call me.

D. Hendon
Victorious Living with Symmetry Direct
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You have gotten some great advice here. One I didn't see was to visit www.vaxa.com . I have a book (of course can't remember the name at the moment) written by an ADHD woman with a family full of ADHD children. She discovered a supplement on that website that is actually three supplements in one specifically for ADHD. ATTEND, MEMORIN, and EXTRESS. SHe was able to wean her entire family off of pharmaceuticals and put them on the supplements and they have had great results and never gone back. I had my hubby take it for a few days....and he actually got things done....totally done without distraction for the first time in our close to 20 years together....he ended up not taking it anymore because it did cause some drowsiness (he also refused to try different dosages or a different time of day to take it because he was a truck driver at the time and didnt' want to risk falling asleep). The cool thing about supplements is that you can take any amount from 1 - 4 capsules...whatever works for you. Generally with supplements you start with the smallest dosage and do that fora week and then move to the next dosage and keep going until you get a negative side effect...then you back to the last dosage that felt good for you. The EXTRESS is especially useful for those really hard days where they are overstimulated, overexcited and unable to wind down. You can do the regular maintenance and then use any of the substances as necessary for any extra help.

Anyway,
Hope that this helps somewhat. I will try to find the name of that book and the author for you!

M.

Hello L.,
I have a son who is 16 with adhd. He got himself in all sorts of trouble when he was younger. I heard Ritalin helps kids with violent behavior. The doctor would never prescribe Ritalin to my son. We have tried numerous ones, but Concerta did wonders with my son. There is a website for more information.
My son made excuses not to take pills, nor did he continue to take them when he was told to. Some adhd kids grow out of it as the time goes on. My son is on ssi for his problems. Each child is different & I don't know about the oil you mentioned. It takes alot of patience with an impulsive child. He might have delays in school because of the adhd. I hope this helped you. Good luck with your son. G.

Hi L.,
I have helped many families with products from a company called NIKKEN. Check it out at mynikken.com/teamwellnesshome

I have also worked in child care for the past 20 years.
My children are now 18 and almost 21
A.

Sometimes with children who have difficulty concentrating, there is a part in the brain that needs to be kept busy with activity, so the rest of the body/mind is able to concentrate. There are different activities/things you can do to assist--listening to music (if the teacher doesn't already have music playing an ipod or walkman is good), chewing gum (some teachers will allow it/some won't), eating crunchy foods like pretzels while working, sitting on a large exercise ball instead of a chair while at the desk (the brain is forced to concentrate on balance) or allowing the child to stand at his/her work area. These are just a few things that I have had students do in my classroom. Although, I know medication can sometimes do amazing things for children, I have never suggested to a parent that he/she seek it for their child.

ADDitude magazine has useful, neutral articles about alternative approaches (in addition to other topics about living with ADHD). Unfortunately, nothing will work as well as medication does (ADHD is a neurobiological disorder and the medications target the right areas of the brain), but you may find something that minimizes the symptoms. www.additudemag.com

Also, have you talked to the manufacturer of Ritalin? They may have a program to help you pay for the medication.

Good luck,
M.

P.S. If it was a diet or sleep issue and not ADHD, your son would be hyper on a stimulant medication. Only people with ADHD are calmed by these medications, so don't discount the diagnosis.

Hi L.,

My son is 12 and also has ADHD and I wanted to go the natural way in the beginning with treating him. He began right away with Omega 3 Fish Oils and L-theanine. L-theanine is a stress reliever and works by inducing a relaxing effect without drowsiness. L-theanine as been shown to promote the generation of alpha-brain waves. His therapist took it all through med school as well. You can go here for more information.
http://www.drugs.com/npc/l-theanine.html

He also takes Klamath Blue Green Algae in place of his immediate release Ritalin. My son takes Ritalin LA for school and was taking two 5mg of the immediate release Ritalin as well. I have replaced the immediate release with Blue Green Algae. You can go here for more information.
http://www.klamathbluegreen.com/

I purchase his supplements at Trader Joe's on the advice of his therapist although I'm sure other brands would be okay. I buy the Carlson's brand fish oils. If you want more information on the dosage I give him, please email me back and I will look when I get home to give you the exact dosage.

Hope that helps! My son's doctor is all about treating naturally when possible.

Good Luck!
~M.

Get him off of all food dyes, additives, preservatives, etc and give him as much natural healthy food as possible and you may see marked improvement.

ADHD is a very common diagnosis for boys these days. I have serveral friends with boys recently diagonsed with ADHD. It could be that we are just not making sure our kids are getting enough physical activity. The pent-up energy is being released as behavior related problems at home and at school. Excessive screen time (tv, computer, video games, etc) is a culprit of reduced physical activity. It is astonishing how much screen time children are exposed to these days. Pediatricians are now recommending no screen time for children under 2 and limited time for older children.
If you find that medication is necessary and need help covering the cost, you should look into the Healthy Families Program. It provides affordable health, dental and vision coverage for children in eligible families. Check out more information at www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov or call the Smart Business Resource Center to make an appointment with a certified application assistant at no cost to you - ###-###-####.

My 10 yr old grandson was diag. ADHD 4 yrs ago. What a handful!!! Classroom disruptions, suspended from school, behavior issues also at home, etc. They tried many meds - adderall, concerta, etc. (I don't think he was ever on Ritalin.) He has been on VYVANSE for several months now with great improvement. He is having greater success with handling impulsivity problems, improved grades and some improvement in general behavior, It certainly isn't perfect by any means, but it is improvement over what it was.
California Healthy Families would not pay for it until the doctor used a procedure wherein he showed them that previous meds had not worked and that Vyvanse does. This apparently allowed them to pay for it. Thank heaven. Maybe that approach would help you, if you can qualify for California Healthy Families.

My daughter still has a tremendous load dealing with his issues, but knowing that the meds are paid for is one less issue.

Keep trying and know you are not alone.

My friend avoided medicine for her ADHD son. They tried everything else in the world. Finally, she let them put him on Concerta and it changed his whole life. Between the medicine and her working with him on his focusing skills, he got to the point where he no longer needed it it and was weaned off. He's 12 now and a wonderful, sociable kid who gets great grades and is so proud of himself. He's a completely different kid. He just needed a little help.
You mentioned the expense of the medication for your son.
I'm a single mom so I understand expenses, but talk to your son's doctor and see if he can give you some samples or something. You really can't cut a kid off cold turkey like that. In my opinion.
You may want to check into the California Healthy Families program.
I know they paid for my friend's prescriptions for her boy.
The web-site is www.mrmib.ca.gov
Click on the Healthy Families Program tab.
Their phone number is 1-800-880-5305.
This is a wonderful program for working families. You should check it out.

Best of luck to you!

First, if you son has an offical diagnosis of ADD or ADHD he should be eligible for an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and accomodations should be made so that he will not be suspended in the future. An IEP will give you support from the school behaviorist or OT if you have those on staff at the school or district. At a minimum the IEP will give the teacher lattitude to handle his behavior differently than the rest of the class to help use his energy productively.

Our son (6 YO) has sensory processing disorder (it behaves a bit like ADHD but is different) and is being successfully treated with a homeopathy product line called Neuroscience (www.neurorelief.com). It might initially be more expensive but the maintenace costs are much lower than what you are spending. We too did not want to do medication but after he was suspended for 3 days in kindergarten we upped our commitment to the naturapathic program and requested an IEP. We do not have the diagnosis for ADHD so could not qualify for that - got a 504 plan instead which is similar.

Good luck!

P.

Hi L.,

There are alot of natural options out there. I would start with reviewing his diet. It's AMAZING the changes that can be made by changing the diet...gluten, sugar, dyes, etc. I'd try everything before putting him on any medications.

Let me know if you'd like any more advice on this topic.

Talk to you soon,
B.

I know you dont want to read another book but get author Daniel Amen's book on add/adhd and look at his books on the brain. He is a neuroscientist and a psychiatrist and he has a daughter with add so use his methods. And yes he reccomends fish oil. I am just now starting it on my son. You should never solicit even natural remedy prescriptions from anyone who is not a professional as they can be harmful too if not properly administered. Dr. Amen has specific therapies for specifc types of add/adhd very detailed in the book. So if you can't afford his meds or a professional natural homeopathic authority, this is a good alternative. Make sure you are using all reccommended behavioral tecniques as well because you can't do one without the other. You could but not as effective. Add/adhd is very complicated. If you have Kaiser they have free classes and are well worth your time . Otherwise read every book from the library that is written by proffessionals then find a support group. My time is spent for you because I know the difficulty you have . Good luck but most of all it will be up to your effort. JC

Hi L.

Yes, there is a lot of information available on how Omega 3 fish oils help with ADHD. My children are not ADHD but I am not taking any chances; I give them Omega 3 DHA (DHA is good for focus and memory, EPA wards off depression and is good for heart health). A great DHA supplement is Nutrilite's Brain Health - each capsule contains 500mg of DHA from cold water fish, and they also do a gummy version for kids called Braniums, although your son would need to consume quite a few each day to get the amounts needed.

Good Luck.

M.

Dear L.,

I am a classical homeopath. I specialize in pediatric homeopathy. I work a lot with children who has ADHD. Fish Oil is a great supplement. It may help with some ADHD symptoms a little bit, but it will not solve the problem.

Homeopathy can be a great alternative to the medical drugs as it helps to solve the problem, not to supress the symptoms. Please take a look at my web site with the comparison of Homeopathy to the conventional drugs for ADD/ADHD: http://www.masharosen.com/HomeopathyforADD_ADHD.html

There is a great book about homeopathic help for ADD/ADHD called Ritalin Free Kids by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman.

I hope this helps,
Best wishes,
M..

L.-

I am a Chiropractor specializing in maternity and Pediatrics. One subject of interest and research has been in ADHD. I have lectured at length about it. It is a huge topic with no one solution. Here are a few simple things to think about:

1. Food allergies- try to remove junk food and excess chemicals from your child's diet as these are "neurotoxins" and literally over stimulate yuor son's nervous system.

2. Check your home and environment for removable toxins such as detergents, bug sprays, harmful cleaners.

3. Have him checked by a chiropractor. There are specific parts of the nervous system (called sympathetic nerves) which over stimulate the adrenal glands and cause them to produce a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol stops the production of normal "feel good" biochemicals, most of all dopamine. The inadequate production of dopamine is thought to be the cause of ADHD. Removing any blockages in these areas will allow his body to regulate his own neurochemicals.

4. There is a natural suppliment, and amino acid (protein) called tyrosine which is a building block of dopamine in the body. You can get this alone or in combination with another great calming protein called "Gabba Calm". It will help him to focus and regulate his mood.

** If he is already taking a pharmaceutical drug for ADHD, talk to your doctor before introducing the amino acids. They are safe and natural, but you don't want to cause an over production of dopamine, either. If your son is no longer taking the medications, then introduce a small dose of tyrosine and gradually see what his ideal amount is.

A great book on the treatment of ADHD and other mental/emotional conditions with the amino acids is called "The Mood Cure". It can be found on Amazon.

I hope this helps.

-Dr. L.

Dr. L. Gerner, D.C., FICPA
Gerner Family Chiropractic
429 F St., Suite 8A
Davis, CA 95616
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www.gernerchiropractic.com