Treating ADD/ADHD- Inattentiveness Without Medication

I treat my Asperger daughter with a gluten free/casin free diet. It have been life changing - a lot of work, but worth it in my opinion. It has also changed my ADD brother who can't take the medications. He was on medication, and it totally changed his personallity. He ended up having reactions to the other meds - all medications have side effects regardless what you are taking it for. I've also help other friends use it on their ADD children - if you want more information, please let me know.

We have had very good results with the removal of gluten and casein, too.

I love this book: "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics - Autism, ADHD, Asthma & Allergies by Kenneth Bock, MD and Cameron Stauth.

I'm sorry to hear that you both are struggling with this. My son, his father and I all have ADD or ADHD. The good news is that in most cases you can use natural methods.

First, look at diet. The Body Ecology Diet recommend that you take out Dairy, Gluten and Sugar. All of which are great mucus forming food, that cause inflammation, even to the brain.

Another option is Allergy Elimination (SRT-Sensitivity Removal Therapy). A local osteopathic practice, Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center http://osteomed2.com/children.aspx can greatly help. Often the foods listed above are considered toxic by the body. The SRT process reverses that response and helps relieve the ADD. They also sell a biofocus type of supplement shake that has nutrients that help the brain.

The last thing I suggest is to read a book called Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child, by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. He has a whole series on ADD that could give you some good advice and insight.

With her good grades it sounds like she's a fighter! She'll do great in life. The earlier she learns coping skills, the easier it will be.

Oh, one thing that saved me in college was that I signed up for Recordings for the blind and Dyslexic. I was able to get all of my college text books on audio tape so that I could read the book while listening to it. I actually understood what I was reading and in record time. I think Kindle and maybe ipad have the ability to read books to you, if you can get the text books, that would a great way to do it as well. Best wishes!

My son has ADHD - inattentiveness (no hyperactivity) he was not put on medication until 5th grade. Best thing we ever did for him. He didn't really start to have social impacts from his problems until about 3rd grade. He had a horrible time with projects and in 4th grade we would sit for HOURS for him to finish HW. You will not get teachers every year willing to work with your daughter - most will say they have too many students to focus on just a few. My sons problems eventually caused him to have low self esteem and depression. He is now in 8th grade and doing great - but he does take medication.

Hi,
Sounds a bit like my son. He wasn't diagnosed with ADD, but did have trouble processing symbols--but oddly enough, only letters--he has always been great at math. He has always had a great spoken vocabulary but struggled with reading, and I knew he was way too intelligent to be getting scores near the 17th percentile for reading (in grade 2).

What helped him was a tutor who sat with him during class (sometimes pulled him out but mostly was in class) and helped him focus. He had an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) until 9th grade, when it was discontinued due to no longer having evidence of disability--he was on Honor Roll with mostly As and one or 2 Bs. In grade 8 the plan was "observation only", so he was actually only really getting services in grades 3-7. So some things can be learned, and there is a definite hope for maturation helping out here. Is your dd among the younger students in the class? just curious.

You are fortunate that the teahcer is so helpful.

As a teacher, I have taught a couple ADD kids on meds and I had no idea they were ADD, I found them delightful.

I would also recommend reading the book "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp, MD. It's about allergies and the changes that can occur when you remove the offending substance. If you go the allergy route, I would suggest you being keeping a food/mood log; also, if you suspect sensitivity to environmental stuff (dust, mold, carpet adhesive, chalk, perfume) include those as well. The doctor may ask you to keep a log, plus you may find some insights from it yourself.

Best of luck to you!

K. Z.

Our 10 year old was diagnosed last year after declining grades in 3rd grade for reading and spelling and later teacher reported anxiety in 4th. She was tested by the school and we also did some additional private testing. She has ADD inattentive type and dyslexia. We tried accommodations only (less homework, preferential seating, no spelling deductions for other topics, more time on tests, etc.) but now that she is in 5th grade the independent curriculum demands are outstripping her ability to compensate. We started her on Vyvanse which is a very long acting and smooth amphetamine. She had GREAT daytime results but could not sleep at all. She is now on Concerta 18 mg ( a methylphenidate) with moderate daytime results but minimal sleep and appetite affects. She herself likes taking the medicine since she tells me that "school is misery without it". It was incredibly boring for her not to be able to pay attention and she would come home wiped-out-tired and often weepy. She is now able to complete class assignments on time and even does her homework immediately after school in about 1 hour, something that used to be an all afternoon and evening battle between us, with me asking her to do "1 more problem and then a little break", etc. Besides the long list of amphetamine or methyl-phenidate stimulants, there are also some non-stimulant meds. We just started on the one the doctor recommended on the very lowest dose and kept a daily log with time she took the med, time she went to sleep and any comments by her or the teacher about how she felt. There is not easy answer, but at least you are getting her help at a young age. I had asked each teacher from K-3 if she needed some testing but all claimed she was always "age appropriate". There is no easy answer, just educate yourself after her diagnosis and then decide how to proceed. Just a note to make meds more acceptable: if it is the wrong med or the wrong dosage you will know that day and by stopping the med it will be out of her system in the next day. The wrong med would make her zombie-like with no emotions, and the wrong dose of a med either has not focusing effects of won't allow her to sleep or decreases her appetite. These types of stimulant meds have been used since the 1920's and would not still be in use if they were not safe and effective. The doctor will push you towards the latest long acting ones since they have a smoother feeling instead of the short acting (Ritalin) up/down feeling which can leave kids moody when they come down. However, the latest (Vyvanse) is also the most expensive, and there are many that are almost the same but the patent has run out so there is a generic available. Google "stimulant ADHD meds" and you will get lots of info from manufacturer's, blogs from users, etc. Here is one listing a lot of the meds available: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-medication-chart
You will know more about your little girl (and yourself) and what kind of learning styles there are, and that there are pros and cons for all types of learning. ADD-ers are generally very creative, have great visual memory, and many more positive things. Here is another positive story about this learning style: http://innerself.com/Parenting/hartmann_2135.htm. And a long list of positive traits: http://www.addcoach4u.com/positivesofadd.html
Good luck, don't let this get you down. Cheers.

Unfortunately, if your child does have ADHD-inattentive type, you're not going to find alternatives that treat her condition entirely. Should she receive the diagnosis, I urge you to join CHADD and subscribe to ADDitude magazine for more information about managing the condition. Also watch for the PBS show "ADD and Loving It." Be very, very, very careful because there are so many people out there giving false hope with alternatives, which have not been proven scientifically to work. They prey on parents' fears of medication based on the widespread misinformation about there about medication. The only alternative I've read with any promise is Omega 3 supplements, but they take a long time to work, help marginally with focus and are generally used in combination with medication.

The reason medication comes up is that it works. No one starts off as a "fan" of medication, but when you see how much it helps your child, you become one. We all start medication with great hesitation and as a last resort ... my only regret now is that we didn't insist on using medication earlier. It's been completely life-changing. Zero change to personality. We still meet with a therapist, but when the medication is active, the strategies actually work now with our son.

Just go into this with a very open mind and definitely ask the psychiatrist or other specialist about the best treatment options for your child.

There is an osteopath doctor in Richfield, Ohio who work with kids with allergies and ahdh/add. Her assistant lives in Columbus and travels from there daily to work there. Her website is Integrative Wellcare. I am reading a book about the relationship between food and many issues like add/adhd and autism. The Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O'Brien discusses her own struggles with food and allergies and behavior. A great read and at the library. Dr CHeryl tries not to use prescriptions to treat these type of conditions, I hope this helps. We love her.

http://www.integrativewellcare.com/

Hi! Looks like you've gotton tons of great answers. Something else I would suggest is perhaps an OT evaluation for SPD. My 6 yo son started having issues about a year ago that mimic ADD/ADHD. We've worked with his teachers etc. to set up an informal IEP. Yesterday he was evaluated at Children's with an OT that had training with Sensory Processing Disorder, and lo and behold, that seems to be a big part of his problems both at school and home. Turns out that although he is an excellent athelete, he has low normal tone. To compensate he has really strong limbs, but a floppy core, so he's not really comfortable in his own skin. He needs deep pressure to calm himself which looks like hyperactivity, but it has the opposite effect. Feel free to PM me if you have any q's. SPD at his level (low) is treated with OT only, more for coping mechanisms. Hope this helps!

How is your daughter when it comes to interacting with others? Can she sit and play a game with no problem? Can she watch a movie to the end? I just ask because your daughter sounds a LOT like mine. These were questions I was asked by the ped when my daughter was younger. She was fine when she had specific goals but telling her to do something...She would constantly forget. She still does sometimes. It is like her mind is all over the place. Last night I had to tell her 6 or 7 times to get the bottle of vinegar from the basement. She kept getting distracted by taking care of the cat. I had her tested 2 different times for ADHD/ADD and both times we didn't even bother finishing the test because the doctor said it got to the point that she was not going to come out as either. Until my daughter was in 3rd or 4th grade, she sat closer to the teacher and the teacher specifically called her out to pay attention. She also had notes taped to her desk that she had to go over at the start of the day, before and after lunch, and before leaving school. The teacher also checked her notebook to make sure things were written down for homework. yes, it was hard but she kind of outgrew it. Now, when I talk to her, I make sure I have her full attn and ask her what I said. She also gets lists of what to do so she can cross things off. Of course, she tends to "forget" to do all her chores but so do my other kids. One thing I have noticed recently though is that she really started to improve as she got more creative. For the last 3 years, (6th grade now) she has started drawing more and over the past yr and a half or so she has created her own comic books. She can sit for hours writing the story line and drawing everything up in a notebook.
Have your d tested and see what they say. Not everyone reacts the same way to medication so she may not have an extreme side effect and of course there are everyday changes to can help.

First and foremost, make SURE her diet is free of processed foods......dyes, chemicals, processed sugar, etc. These things FEED on ADD/ADHD, if in fact that's what she really has.

Make sure when she is doing a task, that she is "distraction free" AND that she completes a task. We LEARN how to focus, so have an easier time
than others, but it's still a learned skill.

When she wants to get up and do something else, go somewhere else, make sure she finishes the task, cleans up her messes, puts away what she's used/played with, etc. - a part of finishing the task.

Continually remind her that "we have to stay focused on ..... until we finish and THEN we can ..............." I can't tell you how MANY times I've had this "conversation". At some point, they begin to remind YOU that you/they have to set priorities and stay focused and complete the task.

my step son used to draw lines for hours to help with his. he still does and he is 20. he also plays a math game that is long division by making a chart and it takes about half a page of paper to do one problem. he also does sodukus to help him focus.

You might try looking into EEG biofeedback. Basically it is a way to train the brain. For ADD, a child would be watching something like a Pac Man chomping dots. If the child stops paying attention the Pac Man stops moving. This reminds the kid, "oh hey, I need to pay attention" and then the character starts moving again. They are essentially practicing paying attention and get better and better at it as they do the therapy. The brain waves are monitored through electrodes placed on the scalp with a little goo - totally painless and completely comfortable.

I worked for a man who did this kind of therapy when I was in high school. It was amazing the difference I could see in the kids over time. His goal was to help parents reduce or eliminate medication. Some kids just need medication no matter what, but he was able to help get them down to one med or lower the dosage on it. It's a totally scientific, legitimate kind of therapy that's been around for a long time and it works on all kinds of things like anxiety and depression too. Some insurance companies are finally starting to pay for it but you may have to pay out of pocket. I'm not anti-drug, but I do wish it were easier and more affordable to try some things besides or in addition to medication! Good luck!

We had great success with the book "Ritalin Is Not The Answer: A Drug-Free, Practical Program for Children Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD", by David B. Stein.
It is a wonderful approach to parenting, and we use the methods for both our boys. It is takes work and plenty of follow through on the part of the parents, but (for us) it is worth it, in order to avoid medicating our child.
Good Luck!

I see you have lots of good responses. We did not go the medication route with our daughter. She is a Freshman in College. She met the criteria, they tested her for in-school assistance and she qualified, which means there was additional help, another teacher in some classes, during the school day for her and she was also permitted to leave the class to take quizzes and tests and have additional time to finish her work as needed.

Good Luck, you can do this without the medication!!!

Hi I luvmylife :-)

You are getting great responses here, especially those who are looking at your whole child, and so bringing in the consciousness around diet and how important that is in the development of the brain. You are not wanting to do medications if not necessary and are looking for other ways, so I would like to add to this "whole child" concept by suggestion you also look at the "energetic aspect" of your child's bodymind.

I offer an Energy Medicine technique for balancing the brain and helping it to focus. You can find this technique called CORTICES on my website which you can find under my name - business. The tab that says Dr. John Veltheim teaches CORTICES is where you want to go.

Learn this simple technique and do it on yourself, your child, your whole family if you like! Everyone can use more calm and focused balancing in their lives :-)

hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner

Hi Please contact me. I work with Shaklee and nutrition is SUCH an important formula for these issues. I can send you testimonials and information on all of this. Let me know you are interested in using nutrition and possibly some supplementation instead of the meds. S.

You need to talk to my mom and hear what happened for my brother. They tried alternative ideas (academic) and eventually felt forced to put him on meds. Not a good experience. She was able to finally find something that made all the difference in the world, and did what the medicine could not! Everyone was happier. I know she'd love to talk to you and answer your questions, just PM me and I'll connect you with her. (I'm in C-bus also :)