ADHD Guide

Alvin Toh asked:


Ritalin is one of the most prevalent drugs used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is prescribed to thousands of children under the age of 18 every year. While Ritalin has been shown to help in severe cases of ADHD, it may not be beneficial in mild cases as its side effects may be worse than the symptoms of ADHD. Ritalin has varying side effects on children, some of which can be potentially harmful.

Ritalin causes stunted growth in children. A new study conducted by the Child Development Center of the University of California, Irvine found that children who took Ritalin for three years were about an inch shorter and weighed 4.4 pounds less than other children in their age group. It is not known if these children ever regain their normal height. The long-term neurological effects of Ritalin remain unknown.

Another possible problem with treating ADHD children with Ritalin is the potential for addiction and abuse. Ritalin is a stimulant and is categorized as an amphetamine. All amphetamines carry with them a likely risk of addiction. A study found that children who took Ritalin for more than 3 years have a greater risk of substance abuse and committing crime.

Many adolescents and young adults snort Ritalin in a way similar to snorting cocaine. They think that Ritalin is a cheaper and safer alternative to cocaine. However, Ritalin has dangerous side effects whether taken orally or inhaled. This could be a short leap from using prescription amphetamines such as Ritalin to using illegal street amphetamines in the future.

Other side effects of Ritalin include headaches, stomach upsets, reduced appetite, depression, irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure, sleep difficulties and nervousness. When the side effects of taking Ritalin are severe, they can be worse than ADHD symptoms, making them an ineffective treatment.

Instead of treating mild to moderate cases of ADHD with drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall, some believe that dietary changes can help control ADHD symptoms naturally. Many processed foods contain dyes, addictives, preservatives and artificial flavoring that can cause allergic reactions in people with ADHD. Avoid excessive intake of sugar as it can cause hyperactivity. Consume fresh and wholesome foods. Herbal remedies may also be helpful to treat ADHD without the harmful side effects or possibility of addiction or abuse. Behavioral therapies have more positive and lasting benefits.

With so many side effects of Ritalin and its long-term effects remain unknown, it is best to consider alternative treatments for ADHD. Discuss all treatment options with your doctor carefully to ensure that Ritalin is only the last line of treatment for ADHD.

Stella

Angie Dixon asked:


There are a lot of theories about ADHD, and a few of them are actually based in fact. I recently ran across some information from the National Institutes of Mental Health that I found really interesting.
First off, brain imaging using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) actually shows differences between the brains of kids with ADHD and kids without ADHD.
There also does seem to be a sugar link in ADHD, but not what many people suspect. In adults with ADHD, the areas of the brain that control attention use less glucose and appear less active than the brains of people without ADHD.
Research also shows a genetic link in ADHD, though it’s still not clear exactly what causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
What is clear is that children who have ADHD usually have at least one close relative with ADHD. At least one-third of fathers with ADHD have an ADHD child.
What’s even more convincing is that it seems to run in twin pairs–if one identical twin has ADHD, the other usually does, too. In fact, I know a pair of identical twins with ADHD. Their mother has her hands full, I can tell you!
The final interesting point I found in the ADHD research from NIMH was that studies of young children (ages 7 to 9) show that ADHD medication is more effective than behavioral therapies alone in controlling the “core symptoms” of ADHD– inattention, hyperactivity/impulsiveness, and agression. When it came to ADHD-related anxiety, school performance and social skills, the combination of ADHD medications and behavioral therapy was more effective than either alone.
It should be noted that behavioral therapy for ADHD was successful, just that it was more successful when combined with medication, according to these studies.
You can read the ADHD research summary I’m referring to on the National Institutes of Mental Health web site.

Eugene

Alvin Toh asked:


Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become the fastest growing diagnosed disorder among children under the age of 18. Many children in countries such as the US, New Zealand and Australia are being prescribed medications at an alarming rate. As the FDA requires ADHD drugs to carry warning labels, the overmedication of children with ADHD is becoming a real concern.

Most ADHD drugs are stimulant that contain amphetamine. Various side effects have been reported from taking these drugs. Some of them tend to suppress feelings of any kind, making children unhappy. Some are addictive and prone to substance abuse. In some cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.

Ritalin is a common prescription medication for ADHD in children to help them concentrate better. The side effects of Ritalin include headaches, stomach ache, insomnia, dizziness, nervousness, weight loss and even cardiac arrhythmia. The effects of long-term use are not fully known however it has been linked to abnormal brain development and stunted growth in small children.

Adderall is another ADHD drug that combines various amphetamines. The common side effects of taking Adderall include dizziness, restlessness, insomnia, headache, dry mouth and weight loss.

The potential for addiction and abuse is the biggest cause for alarm in ADHD medications. Children, particularly teens, who take these medications without the supervision of their parents and doctors are more likely to misuse and become addicted to the drugs.

There are other types of treatment for ADHD, especially for less severe cases. One alternative treatment is to make dietary changes. There are specific allergy causing foods that can trigger or add to hyperactivity such as wheat, dairy products, sugar, soy and eggs. Avoid refined carbohydrates and processed foods. The latter tend to contain preservatives, coloring and artificial flavoring which can cause further behavioral problems. A dietician can help determine a proper diet plan for children with ADHD.

Herbal remedies are also available to treat ADHD and are effective for mild to moderate cases. These remedies do not come with the side effects and possible addiction that conventional prescription medications do. Behavior therapy is beneficial as it teaches children to cope in various situations. Children that understand how to react when they are frustrated, angry or misunderstood can learn to better control their behavior.

While there is no one treatment that works for every child, the right combination of treatment options can keep the symptoms of ADHD under control. Parents should be less accepting of conventional prescription treatments and should discuss ADHD alternative treatment options with their doctor. ADHD children who are prescribed medications must be monitored to prevent addiction and substance abuse.

Miguel

adlihdz asked:


Most athletes I know use caffeine to get that extra boost of energy during performance, but with ADHD, caffeine has the opposite effect. Now, I may occasionally be a little hyper, but nothing compared to my other friends with a Red Bull or Monster in them. I want to know if there is anything I could take that would be comparable. Thanks!

Micheal

Pat Wyman asked:


If you are heading to the doctor to find out whether your child has ADHD, bring this list with you and ask questions before making a final decision.
While doing the research for my books, Learning vs Testing, What’s Food Got To Do With It?, and Instant Learning For Amazing Grades, I discovered nearly 20 things that can mimic the symptoms of ADD or ADHD.
According to Frank Barnhill, M.D., and many other of the world’s top medical doctors, ADD, now officially referred to as ADHD, is a diagnosis of exclusion first.
Dr. Barnhill and I created this list so you can get a thorough and high quality diagnosis for your child. You may be surprised to discover that your child’s ADD symptoms are actually something else in disguise.
1. Thyroid Disease. An underactive thyroid can make a child lethargic or too sleepy to pay attention. An overactive thyroid can make a child appear hyperactive. Either one mimics many of the symptoms of ADD or ADHD. Dr. Barnhill says to ask your doctor to rule this out first.
2. Anemia. Low hemoglobin can cause fatigue, irritability, mood swings, and of course, the poor attention span that goes along with ADD – ADHD symptoms.
3. Hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar in a child looks and acts just like low blood sugar in an adult. Sometimes the symptoms of fatigue, lethargy and poor concentration are even more pronounced. Unfortunately, this often goes undiagnosed in children, because they will bounce back fast and lead parents to believe they were just being lazy.
4. Diabetes mellitus. When your blood sugar is high, you will be on edge and others will perceive you as hyperactive. Sometimes ADHD can be cured by changing a diet, or adding blood sugar lowering medicines.
Check the amount of sugar your child eats and see if his or her behavior changes. Also, there is a type II epidemic in young people these days, so make sure your doctor checks your child thoroughly for any signs of it.
5.Seizure disorders. This is a new topic in behavioral science. Some children labeled ADHD actually suffer from mild seizures and it can make your child appear inattentive or spacey when they occur many times an hour. If your child becomes confused or scared, then periods of hyperactivity may follow.
6. Post- concussion syndrome. Mild cases of trauma to the brain that leave no physical evidence of having occurred, can lead to symptoms of ADHD. Brain cell pathways may have been damaged leading to inadequate higher brain cognitive and executive level thought processing abilities. PET Scans will give you this information.
7. Effects of other drugs. Prescription, over the counter, and legal-illegal drugs can cause symptoms that mimic ADHD.
For example, pseudoephedrine found in cold and cough medicines can cause irritability, difficulty sleeping, inability to focus and concentrate and the appearance of being hyper. It is well known that some children actually self-medicate with amphetamines or speed to slow themselves down. Stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as Ritalin, are a form of amphetamine.
8. Effects of certain foods. Everyone knows how some children get hyper when they eat a lot of sugar. But, have you ever wondered whether too much caffeine causing hyperactive states? Each and every child has a different metabolism.
So some tolerate large amounts of sugar and caffeine without becoming hyper, while others can consume little of these stimulants and start ‘bouncing off the wall’.
9. Depression. Mild forms of depression can cause irritability, attitude problems and poor concentration. Other symptoms may include sleepiness, insomnia, appetite changes, crying, and lack of energy and poor self-esteem. All of these can mistakenly lead to an incorrect ADHD diagnosis.
10. Manic depression. This disease is called the rollercoaster of life because one day the affected person will be on the highs of life and maybe the next day or two, will be on the lows. These people have wild mood swings and if not treated, will disrupt classrooms, home life and workplaces.
11. Anxiety, GAD. Anxious kids are almost always hyper in one way or another. It appears that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is very common in young ADHD children and girls with ADHD without hyperactivity. If the anxiety is not treated with ADHD, then therapy is likely to fail.
12. Mild psychosis. Most parents are surprised to discover that children can hallucinate. Usually, these problems have a sudden onset after a very stressful event in the family, such as a death, divorce, job loss or feelings of impending doom.
There are cases where day terrors and night terrors occur very slowly and simply disrupt the sleep pattern making a child very moody. Teachers feel these children are not paying attention in class because they appear spacey.
13. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing multiple times during the night. It requires special diagnosis and treatment since it can lead to the same problems as psychosis. It has been associated with night terrors as a child (or even an adult) may awaken abruptly with a feeling of choking, drowning or being suffocated.
14. Hormone problems in many diseases can cause ADHD like symptoms. Thyroid and insulin related diseases are not the only endocrine disorders that can cause symptoms that look or act like ADHD.
The adrenal gland sits on top of the kidneys and is responsible for everything from regulation of energy to how stable blood sugars remain after running the two-minute mile.
When these disorders are present, a child can have symptoms almost identical to ADHD, such as fatigue, restlessness, poor concentration, changes in weight, and mood swings. Ask your doctor to screen for these.
15. Lead poisoning. Lead damages bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells, resulting in a terrible anemia. These children can be lethargic and have weird hallucinations. Some can have seizures and eventual kidney failure.
16. Inhalation poisoning. Inhalants such as permanent markers, airplane model glue, paint, fingernail polish and other solvents can cause wild mood swings, periods of intense hyperactivity, irritability and irrational combativeness and defiance.
Abusing inhalants may cause paranoia, seizures, and hallucinations. Using even just a little can create symptoms that can mimic many other conditions including ADD or ADHD.
17. Malnutrition including multiple vitamin deficiencies. No child can adequately focus and concentrate when hungry. With prolonged periods of forced fasting, kids become tired, irritable, and unable to process visual-auditory-tactile sensory input correctly. In addition, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, and even depression.
18. Eyesight, vision, hearing and speech and language problems. While these three items may seem obvious, they frequently go unchecked when diagnosing ADHD. Take your child to a developmental optometrist, one who specializes in vision therapy, a speech and language evaluation and full frequency hearing exam.
19. Visual-tactile-auditory integration problems. These are very specialized problems that affect a child or adults ability to interact with one or more aspects of his sensory environment.
20. Other learning disabilities. These include minimal brain damage from birth trauma and low oxygen levels at birth. IQ may actually be affected in these circumstances and special training is usually indicated.
Birth trauma can cause a variety of auditory, visual and sometimes tactile problems. These integration difficulties should be thoroughly assessed to provide a game plan for learning success specific to that child.
21. Pregnancy. Although you may only have a young child right now, teenage pregnancy is so prevalent, yet often never given a second thought when it comes to diagnosing ADHD. The hormonal imbalance alone can make a young woman appear sleepy, agitated and moody.
22. Children learn in many ways, but schools test in one. Check that learning and testing styles match or your child may have a difficult time showing what he or she knows on a written test.
Keep in mind that ADHD is a complex diagnosis to make. Get the best diagnosis possible prior to filling a prescription for a stimulant drug.
Take this list to your doctor and ask if there are any more factors to rule out before deciding that your child has ADD or ADHD. Your family doctor is still the best source of advice for you and you should consult him or her if you have any medical concerns.
No portion of this article is intended to provide medical advice. See your doctor or other health care practitioner for more information.
Copyright 1997-2006 Pat Wyman, M.A., and Frank Barnhill, M.D. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Maurice

bhumay asked:


ADHD is attention deficiency and hyper active syndrome.

Manuel

sailorroyalhope asked:


Why do some people belive that ADHD does not exsist? It really gets me angry. I feel like they are calling me a lier.

Norman

Aliza Adar Levine asked:


Much research has been done on how you get ADHD, and it is now known that genetics is at least part of the reason. Current research demonstrates that at least 30%-40% of individuals with ADHD have a family member that is experiencing the same kinds of issues. However, this does not mean that the entire family will be affected by these issues; findings indicate that when more family members are affected, it is usually limited to one member.

There are many different theories as to what exactly causes ADHD. For many years, it was thought that ADHD was caused by some kind of brain damage; however, it is now believed to be caused by brain chemistry. Researchers have been looking specifically at neurotransmitters as the cause of ADHD. Examples of neurotransmitters that could be affected by this disorder are dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Because people in families tend to have similar brain wirings, it makes sense that ADHD would be at least partly genetic.

Other theories that have been investigated are that ADHD could also be caused by some sort of illness or accident that produced damage to the brain. Possible examples include complications that had occurred during pregnancy, such as drugs used to prevent infectious diseases, consuming alcohol, overexposure to radiation or a complicated delivery.

Many have questioned whether nutritional deficiencies are linked to ADHD. Although this has not been ruled out, it is doubtful that a particular deficiency would cause this disorder. While it is true that certain nutritional deficiencies will cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD, there is no proof or scientific evidence that a link exists. Research experts in autism and other behavior disorders have looked for a nutritional link as well, but have found none. However, there has been some evidence that the Feingold diet may help diminish symptoms of ADHD.

Since the diagnosis of ADHD has become so much more common in recent years, it is often that an older family member will get diagnosed while bringing their son or daughter in to get tested. This may provide some relief to individuals who weren’t sure exactly why they were the way they were, and explain some part of the individual’s life that did not make sense before. Some of those diagnosed late may decide to go on medication upon diagnosis, while others may not.

If there are no other members of a family that have ADHD per se, there may be other similar disorders. Although there is no formal link between autism and ADHD, there are similarities, and the two disorders tend to run together. Family background may include someone with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, bipolar or OCD; these are mainly brain based disorders that have been loosely linked to ADHD and are sometimes co-morbid.

Daniel

Angie Dixon asked:


Sometimes it’s hard to know if your child has ADHD or is just a “normal kid.” Below are some symptoms of ADHD, taken according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. If your child fits this profile AND you and your child are having difficulties because of the possible ADHD symptoms, it might be a good idea to see a doctor qualified to diagnose ADHD in children.
Is your child always moving? ADHD kids are constantly moving SOMETHING - arms, hands, toes, fingers.
Is your child always moving himself? ADHD kids walk, run, climb and fidget when others are seated.
Does your child have trouble waiting in line or taking turns? ADHD kids are notoriously impatient.
Does your child start things and not finish them? This is a major ADHD trait. The thing to note is that ADHD kids start a lot of things, too.
Does your child grow bored quickly? ADHD kids have trouble keeping themselves entertained.
Does your child seem to be in another world half the time? ADHD kids “daydream” a lot.
Does your child talk over other people? ADHD kids often interrupt.
Does your child get frustrated with schoolwork? ADHD kids often have trouble focusing and finishing their homework.
Does your child act without thinking first? ADHD kids have trouble with impulse control.
Does your child get sidetracked by what’s going on around her? ADHD kids get distracted easily.
Remember, ADHD is an extreme of these things. Just because your child doesn’t like homework doesn’t necessarily mean he has ADHD, but if you’re having trouble in a lot of these areas, it might be worth getting it checked out.

Florence

SweetnTangy asked:


My son has ADHD. He has been on three medicines since being diagnosed in October. He seems to be more sensitive now and way more whiny. The medicine is not helping his behavorial problems. Those can be scary. Any ehlp would be nice.

Miguel