Child with ADD and Alternative Management Other than Medications ?

Dr Rios in Grapevine is a pediatric behavorial specialist. He helped me with my daughter & she is not medicated. ###-###-####

I have a 3.5yr old that I'm having evaluated in a few weeks suspected ODD and ADHD. I've recently started seeing a psychologist who also practices with children and adolescents and didnt seem to be in huge favor of medicating kids this young-- his name is Dr. Heath. He was recommended and in the same practice by my psychiatrist (also treats adolescents and children) who is Dr. Ramos. They're in desoto, tx in a brand new building.

I've been seeing Ramos for almost 10yrs starting when I was a teen and was referred in after a private hospital stay. I trust him 100% with my very young kiddo.

Good luck! :)

I have to say what I have to say....take what you will then discard the rest.

ADD and ADHD are brain disorders that have little to do with outside influences. The brain is randomly shooting off signals and not being received or sent in any pattern or able to correctly send or receive usable information.

Medication speeds the brain function up to a point that the brain synapses syncs up and it suddenly starts shooting the information correctly. It's remarkable to see.

Cutting out red dye 40 and other artificial additives like artificial sweetener and fake fats can help with behaviors but don't really effect brain synapses.

I think that getting her evaluated by a psychologist that does ADD/ADHD testing as part of their regular practice would be the best step forward. They could rule it out totally and give a diagnosis if there is something else going on.

If she is ADD or ADHD she has little control over how her brain is working and getting upset with her or yelling does nothing except destroy her self image and self esteem. Getting an evaluation done that shows just what the issues are makes it so much easier to come up with a game plan to know just how to get the best out of her.

Meds are only a tool. If her brain is misfiring and she is unable to pay attention then may I suggest that this could be compared to someone who has epilepsy. If she had that and had seizures you would not say you don't want to medicate her and find natural solutions to treating that. It's only a brain signal issue too.

So please don't rule out meds if she is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. They serve a purpose that has shown over the years that it works well when the right combination is found.
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My grandson can't do exercises and stuff because it's much like winding him up. You know, like those watches that wind as you move around. This is how he reacts to jumping or bouncing. Running or anything like that is like giving him a shot of adrenaline. He goes for hours and hours if he does that stuff.

Rocking settles him down, sitting close to someone and even snuggling helps him focus. He has some Sensory issues but has come out of them a lot. But the motion stuff.....well, if it seems to help your daughter then do it otherwise try other stuff that is the opposite.

Going out and playing hard for an hour after school can be okay if you have time for her to change around by dinner time then other large muscle activity stuff of she won't sleep until the wee hours...

Please, please, please get her in with a specialist. You're always in control of treatment. However, you need the advice of a specialist like a child psychiatrist, neuropsychologist or developmental pediatrician to determine whether she even has ADHD-inattentive type and, if so, what the best treatment path may be for her. You wouldn't diagnose and come up with your own treatment strategy if your child had diabetes, right?

Medication will likely come up (but never pushed). The reason is that it's highly effective for people with ADHD. Medication, combined with therapy, has by far the best track record in helping kids with ADHD. Medication isn't evil. Don't go in with preconceived notions about what medication can/can't do for those suffering from ADHD. Unless you're a doctor yourself, you need to listen to advice from the doctors, and not any information you find online.

We've tried therapy, Omega 3 vitamins and neurofeedback with our son. By far, the best results have been from medication. Medication has transformed his life in ways nothing else has.

A couple of useful resources as you start all of this would be CHADD, the advocacy group for people dealing with ADHD, and ADDitude magazine.

I believe that a lot of these "issues" or problems we're seeing with our children--Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADD, ADHD, etc., etc., really have to do with the poor diet we consume and the bad tap water we drink. Unless you eat organic, the food we eat is devoid of nutrients and pumped full of pesticides, chemicals, preservatives, MSG, aspartame/artificial sugars, artificial ingredients, dyes, colorings, artificial flavorings, etc. A vast majority of what we consider to be "food" is actually manmade manufactured foodstuffs--not real food at all but manufactured to look and taste like real food--devoid of the nutrients. Our water, esp town water, is full of fluoride, chlorine, lead, pharmaceutical drugs, and other volatile byproducts--and we both drink this as well as absorb it through our skin when we bathe or wash our hands.

That doesn't include the pollution and toxins our bodies inhale on a daily basis.

Giving the body a detox, installing a whole-house--or even just a kitchen--reverse-osmosis filtration system to clean the water, eating organic, cutting out fast food/junk food will all go a long way to helping our children live more cleanly in a toxic world. Their bodies are being bombarded every day, all the time; they have too much pollution inside their bodies for them to work correctly.

You can do wonders if you just change what you eat and drink. You don't need pharma drugs. My daughter is on the high-functioning end of the Autism Spectrum with Sensory Processing Disorder. We went organic, cut out junk food/fast food, took out the foods from our diet we are intolerant/allergic to, did whole body cleansing/detoxing to get rid of heavy metal toxicity, put in a R/O water filtration system, cut soda out of our diets, and take a variety of supplements/nutriceuticals. Our daughter does not take any pharma drugs to manage her symptoms because we have implemented clean living.

Does that mean we never backslide or that we're never "naughty?" No. We still cheat once in a while. But 90-95% of the time, we eat well and take care of our bodies. It makes a tremendous difference.

First off: Im ADHD-c, unmedicated... As is my son. Not for some moral reason, just because it works for us not to be. I wanted to get that up here first, so you don't misunderstand what Im going to say next:

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You know how you take your child into the doctor and they say "If we don't do XYZ your child will die." ?

As in, when there's something wrong with your child, and they HAVE to be seen, something HAS to be done, or you risk losing them? Or only "bad" &/or neglectful parents don't do whatever (feed their kids, love on them, etc.). And the professionals are the conduit to "Are you a good parent?" On top of the whole "Treat this deadly illness" / risk of death/blindness/brain damage, etc.?

That's not ADHD.

ADHD is a different way of absorbing and processing information.

Its not life threatening.

To them or others.

There is no "must" with ADHD.

Its not like epilepsy, or 104 degree fevers, or measles.
Or heck, not even depression / bipolarity / schizophrenia

Its JUST a different way of thinking.

It isn't an OMG!!!! We have to get treated or she'll DIE!!!! Sign every form, e dry waiver! Get. It. Doooooooooooooone! Save my child!

So breathe.

Are meds one option?

Yup.

And ANY specialist will bring them up.

Because its Actually. Criminal. (legally) to hide treatment options from parents.

But its only one option.

And its NOT a cure or a fix.

Even WITH meds, one still needs 'coping strategies' or 'coping mechanisms' (which are the phrases you're looking for / with ADHD, not 'alternative treatment' which is charlatans with snake oil.

WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO SEE A DOCTOR AND AN ADHD SPECIALIST.

Be ause a lot of things MIMIC the DOWNSIDES of ADHD.
- malnutrition (either dietary lack, or absorbtion issues)
- sleep disorders
- certain seizure disorders
- certain tumors & diseases
- certain illnesses
- allergies / intolerances

You REALLY NEED to see a doctor to rule these things out.
Its part of every GOOD ADHD eval. The full physical & labworkup that checks for medical causes.

JUST LIKE a woman who had a tumor removed from her uterus wasnt "pregnant until she had her tumor removed", so too, a person wasnt ADHD until they fixed their malnutrition/ allergy/ sleep problems, etc.

Bit you hear a LOT of people say "Supplements CURED my ADHD" (No. Supplements cured your malnutrition.), or "I was/My child was ADHD until ________." (No. You/your child was NEVER ADHD.).

ADHD is a brain disorder that is FAR more that just distraction. It has more upsides than downsides (its just a pain in k12 because that's the WORST system possible for ADHd,... Seriously, its like books on tape for deaf people bad).

ADHD commonly comes part and parcel with
- giftedness (academic gifted/highly gifted/profoundly gifted... &/or physical giftedness depending on whether one is ADHD- h, i, or c.)
- sensory "schtuff" (both positive & negative)
- synergistic processing (intuitive leaps, & multilevel thinking)
- intense emotions (less than bipolar, more than neurotypical folk)
- emotional memory (emotions don't fade for ADHD types)
- creativity
... And a whole lotta other stuff.

People with medical conditions that mimic ADHD don't get the GOOD stuff. Nor the really challenging stuff.

But they sure are obnoxious about "evil" meds, and how treating their allergy/malnutrition/sleep deprivation/etc. "cured" them. (It DID. Just not of their "ADHD". Which. They. Never. Had.)

So DO see both a doctor AND a specialist.
Doctor to rule out other causes of behavior.
Specialist to diagnose.

In the meantime... Those coping mechanisms? There are 1000's.

My 2 favorite sources:

www.additudemag.com
You Mean Im Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?!? By Kate Kelly & Peggy Ramundo.

My son was evaluated by the school system when he was 4 and found to be on the Autism spectrum (mild-moderate). They provided preschool services for him at that time. Then we moved, and the new school has been very good with providing OT, speech therapy, etc for his kindergarten. They found he has a sensory issue - sensory seeking - and have also helped him with that. It's not major stuff, it's just enough to interfere with "typical" learning situations. It has worked VERY well. He has never been on medication, his teacher works with the OT to find what works for him to help him learn. They use behavioral and sensory tools, etc. One thing they did for my son, because of the sensory thing, is put a stretchy band on his chair. He is able to kick or push on it when he needs the input and it has done a lot to help him concentrate.

Why not request an evaluation just to be sure?

I have ADD, I've learned how to combat it, I still slip up and space out. I make note, lots of notes, we have a huge white board that I use. Is there a way her unfinished school work can be brought home as part of her homework? I had a daily assignment notebook in school. I wrote down all my assignments and crossed them off as I did them, This may help her. Honestly, a slip up once or twice a month every handful of months really isn't bad. I'm not sure there's much of a real issue.

Also what helped me was having me sit as close to the teacher as possible so they could catch me just as I began to unfocus and they could call me back to earth.

I also tend to "zone" if I'm asked to do something not fun, like sit in a classroom and listen to a lesson.

To help you with the yelling, if you fine you have to ask her to do something a second time, get up and go to her instead. Stop her from doing what she's doing and make sure she's looking at you when you ask her to do something. Prompter her to do it right away and thank her when she get up and does it.

I hope this is what you're looking for. If you know when she usually "zones" you can catch her before she's gone.

Good luck!

My friend is an experienced kindergarten teacher, and she has seen it all. Her own son had ADD and she did not want to medicate him so she used a phenomenal children's supplement that gave him all the nutrients he needs and restored the imbalance in his body. It made things SO much easier because they didn't have to eliminate all kinds of foods - they just gave him the additional nutrients he needed to process regular foods and to have increased focus. There's an Omega 3 fatty acid that is key to brain function, but it doesn't work so effectively if you take it alone - you need to do good supplementation so she has all the basic nutrients and can absorb the omega 3s. Doesn't matter what you eat - it matters what you absorb. She'd be happy to chat with you and share her experience.

Dr. Block in Hurst is amazing. She will work with to see if there are any allergies to certain foods. Then she will give you a diet to stick to. She can also give her behavioral things to do. www.blockcenter.com I am not sure if she takes insurance or not.

If you are looking for non-medicinal treatments, I would start with a naturopath. Many chiropractors have experience with diet and nutrition and are a good place to start.

Medications do a good job at treating the symptoms of ADHD but do nothing to help get to the cause because the root causes, despite the millions of people diagnosed with this and the billions of dollars the pharmaceutical industry makes off of medicating this, are still unknown. Research can provide some insight into what are commonly believed to be the causes, but no one really knows. What we can guess is that a perfectly healthy, optimized brain functions differently than an ADHD brain does. What we know is that stimulants seem to alleviate the symptoms but not why, or really how we can heal the brain so that people don't need stimulant medication.

Anyway...there are a lot of steps one can take to try to optimize brain function - avoiding certain foods or chemicals, adding certain nutrients into the diet, exercises for the body that affect the brain, bio-feedback, crossinology/BIT, brain gym, OT, therapy, routines, accommodations, etc. What your daugther most needs will be highly individualized, and possibly quite expensive. Health insurance will gladly cover this if you want to medicate your child but if you actually want to try to make her whole self healthier, you're on your own. It's cheaper to treat the symptoms than it is to treat the person.

Anyway...my oldest son (14, 9th grade) was dx'd with ADHD-inattentive in 2nd grade. We did many years of everything but medication and did have some success with some treatments, but then we'd get short on time or money (or both) and wouldn't be able to continue. He did start medication about a month ago because he asked to and I figured at this age, he's old enough to have a say in managing this and realistically, we aren't in a position to get him back on any of the more effective alternative treatments any time soon. The meds are OK. He likes how they make him feel in school but doesn't take any on the weekends or days off. For him, they're really just a study aid. I haven't noticed a huge difference with him but he doesn't seem to have any side effects so he'll continue to take this for the time being.

At the end of the day, I was not comfortable putting a small child on medication. I definitely don't regret waiting - the other things we tried have definitely improved his health and his coping strategies and I like that he knows that if he ever decides to go off medication, he knows that with optimal nutrition and routines, he can function just fine.

My favorite books are from Ned Hallowell. When he first started writing about ADHD years and years ago, he was 100% conventional and pro-medication in his approach and pretty dismissive of other approaches. Over the years, however, he's become more open to alternative to medication and talks about them in his later books. Dr. Frank Lawlis is another prominant ADHD doctor who is wary of jumping straight to medication and offers other realistic choices for parents who want to do more than just fill a prescription.

I think everyone expects young children to fit into one mold!!!!! Work with her and give her time. 2 times a month every couple of months!!!! Sounds like she is a six year old. A normal one at that.

I have known parents who don't want to medicate having some success with caffiene. I know that it is still sort of medicating...

Check out Feingold.org. We follow this diet and my child is like a new kid! We also started epsom salt baths and will begin soon to supplement Omega 3. At the very least, stay away from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives,and corn syrup.

I have a son in fourth grade that is just like this. We've done neurofeedback which helped alot. We've avoided meds until recently when it seems that the struggles of school have proved a little much for him. Meds proved to be a wild card for us although they do work for alot of people. I'm on this journey with you and am anxious to hear the answers to your question. Good luck!!

Cultural perspectives on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:
A comparison between Korea and the U.S.
http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/11898.pdf

Sometimes just getting them outside to play and run helps a lot. Kids need to burn off all that excess energy and then often they can settle down and study.

I think diet is huge try liniting dairy, artificial colors and flavors, processed foods, gluten. Take a few things out of her diet see how her behavior is, then add ONE item back for 2 weeks and see how she does. If her behavior gets 'bad' again take out that item but add in a new one. Sometimes as moms we need to play detective.

I am a certified teacher and a certified parenting instructor...I read what you write a few times. If she is not completing her work (just 2x per month) that does not throw out a red flad to me. On the other hand, girls wih ADD usually hold it together the best they can until they get home from school. Kids w/ ADHD are usually much easier to diagnose.

If it is true ADD, then you would have to go to a neuropsychologist or similiar sort of specialist and get her tested. There is a WONDERFUL book about girls with ADD that was written by Kathleen Nadeau. Just search her name and a world of good info. will come up.

Ann is 100 percent on the money when it comes to our food choices today. Stay away from dyes, high fructose corn syrup, processed foods, etc. I met with a Mom last year that followed the same advice Ann offered--and her daughter was a new kid in 2 wks. Also, our soil today is very depleted of nutrients. Try some organic produce and foods.

Sleep is super important. Sometimes kids do not get the proper amt of sleep ---and in the past have been diagnosed w/ ADHD. And not enough sleep w/ a processed food diet is a recipe for disaster in some kids.

ADD/ADHD can overlap w/ sensory issues. In this case, OT would be necessary. I recently sent a friend to an OT that had the extra training in sensory integration dysfunction to be tested. She had further testing, too.

Excercise is always a wonderful outlet for kids. It helps tremendously for people w/ ADD/ADHD.

We used to have a wonderful developmental pediatrician in our area. I used to send friends to her when their regular pediatrician could not help. In fact, a friend of mine was having concerns about her 4th grade son last year. I questioned my friend and she said that her son never crawled and barely ever mouthed items. I said to myself, "YIKES." I sent her to the developmental ped (THE NEXT DAY) and the child was sent to the proper theraphy. He has been seeking assistance for 1 year now and he is doing much better in school and at home.

I would have a specialist look at her if you have that "gutt" feeling. ADD in girls is overlooked many times.

For now, when your daughter gets home from school...give her a snack that is not processed in any way. Give her some time to relax. Have a set hw time. Just BEFORE her hw, have her go outside and climb/jump rope, etc...or if you are inside have her do jumping jacks or put on a fast song and let her jump around for 5 minutes. This helps the body to feel like it is in sync. She will be better able to focus. Plus, excercise is essential to managing ADD!

I am against medicine. But, in some kids I have worked with over the yrs---It has been life changing! About 15 yrs ago, I had a friend bring his son to a specialist and get tested for ADHD. The child did not take meds for years becaused his Dad did not want him to. One day, his Dad had a change of heart and filled the prescription.. This child was like a new, focused child. This child is now an adult and refuses to take any meds. Every day is a challenge for this young adult. He has since moved away and makes his own decisions now. So, do all you can do now. You are your child's advocate!

I thought my daughter may be mildy ADD as well. I changed her diet (go on-line and search diet for ADD). I found that whenever she had anything with red dye in it, she had a harder time. Sounds crazy, but it's true. Of course, the usual, caffeine, sugar, etc. But there are some things out there that you would never think of that you can change in their diet that can help immensely! It worked wonders for my daughter. I would recommend trying that before any meds . . . just a thought! Let us know what works!

My daughter has several autoimmune illnesses, not ADD, but in looking for alternative treatments for her, I came across GAPs....www.gaps.me. Might give it a try. Dietary changes have worked wonders for my daughter. Diets like GAPs restore balance in the gut and usually don't need to be followed permanently.