ADHD / ADD Signs & Symptoms

4 Tips On Managing Adhd

Despite what people think, ADD (an acronym for Attention Deficit Disorder) is not a catch all phrase for a bunch of common behaviors nor it is a pseudo ailment. The reality is, scientist have been able to link ADD with certain malfunctioning neurological responses that are lacking in individuals who do not have this disorder.
Also called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) this condition affects a small population of children (roughly 8-10 percent) and a number of adults who may have missed being diagnosed when they were young.
Top symptoms of ADD/ADHD that can be found in both child and adult sufferers and often include: – Trouble focusing – Hyperactivity and inability to sit still – Impaired social interaction – Irresponsible behaviors – Moody and insulting – Extremely forgetfulness There is a segment of society that believes that ADD/ADHD symptoms can be easily controlled through will power. What they don’t realize PET and CAT scans have uncovered circuitry abnormalities and lower metabolic activity in the part of the brain that controls our emotions and basic responses. The neurotransmitter dopamine is also severely lacking in the ADD brain.
Despite this knowledge, many parents refrain from seeking a diagnosis for their child and mature men and women feel ashamed and closet their impairment. This only serves to exacerbate the problem and clinical depression may even result.
Today, individuals with ADD need not suffer in silence.
Children and adults with ADD/ADHD can seek out the assistance of an experienced ADD doctor for analysis. The doctor will perform a series of diagnostic tests that will allow them to make an informed prognosis in regards to the condition and help them regulate it.
Once you are officially diagnosed with the disorder, there is a lot you can do about it.
1. Medication – slowed down and impaired neurons actually benefit from stimulants because they help to make the neurons fire correctly. Psychostimulants like Ritalin for children and amphetamines for adults are commonly prescribed to combat the many problems associated with ADD/ADHD. 2. Self management – this aspect may be a tab bit easier fro adults, but parents can help a child in this arena. Doing small things like making a to-do list, getting an organizer or planner, or planning to arrive someplace early as opposed to on-time may help you mitigate some of the more aggravating aspects of the disorder. 3. Talk with ADHD doctor – your doctor will be a veritable fountain of tips that can help you place you on the road to controlling your ADD symptoms. Be sure to ask lots of questions and take the acquired info to the internet for further study. Knowledge is power. 4. ADHD support Groups and behavioral therapy – At an ADHD support meeting you may learn valuable insights from people who know what it is like to deal with such a complex neurological problem. For instance, you could acquire from a host of dietary aids or holistic remedies that can help you get lower some of the more off putting aspects of your ADD behaviors. Behavioral therapy will also help as it can provide one-on-one counseling. A qualified therapist who understands ADD/ADHD psychology can retrain your thought processes so you recognize your ADD symptoms and learn how to control them by treating attention problems.
Combating ADD will take a multi-pronged approach, but with due diligence and proper education you should be able to gain control of your disorder and feel more in control of your own destiny. If you suspect you have ADD/ADHD contact a reputable doctor in your neck of the woods to get evaluated so you can be well on your well to greater health and a even better life.

By: Amy Nutt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

ADHD doctor provides solutions for dealing with Attention Deficit Disorder. Treat ADD without medication at the Dr.Svec Institute of Psychological Services.

Seeking a doctor who can tell me if i have Attention Deficit Disorder?

M2 asked: i’ve been wondering if i have ADD. i went to google and read some characteristics of add and some of their habits and there are some categories that fits me. i am looking for a doctor or specialist.

Tips for Drug-Free AHDH Treatment

Looking for a natural way to treat ADHD? Learn tips for getting off ADHD medications in this free video clip from a medical professional.

Analysis of the Concerta Ad

And with Concerta’s pill people will overcome the symptoms of ADHD and have a normal life without the trouble that AHDH brings.

Technorati Tags: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and treatments, hyperactivity disorder symptoms and treatment, tips on how to deal with adhd

Natural Remedies for ADHD Children

A brief explanation about natural remedies for ADHD affected children.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a common problem in children that affects the nervous system of the target and render them to feel uneasy in all their ways of life. It makes the child to lose interest in whatever that happens in front of him or her. If left without care, the problem may persist in one’s adulthood too. Though proper parental guidance is the considered to be the best treatment for the disorder, some people have started preferring natural remedies for it.

Natural Remedies:

Diet based treatment

Considering the natural remedies for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, most of the people prefer dietary approaches since they do not bring side effect unlike other medicinal treatments. In addition, the body does not get affected health wise. It has been scientifically proved that the diet taken in by the people has direct relationships with the brain and the nervous system of the humans. Hence, change in the diet can bring about a change in the behavior too. The main case of the above condition is the allergies that certain ADHD affected children have towards certain food. Tests on some of the ADHD children have shown proof that these children are sensitive to certain food may directly or indirectly affect the child mentally. Though this has been proved only on a small percentage of the affected children, a large percentage of the children are highly sensitive to hard chemicals and drugs. This means that there is only a small possibility of such children getting medical treatments for their disorder. This in turn forces them to take up natural treatments and diet based treatments.

Among the diet based treatments for ADHD children the most common diet given to the patients is the Feingold diet. The basic idea is to provide a diet that is devoid of salicylates. Though it is very difficult to make the children to get use to this kind of diet, adapting to the diet can result in very good and positive effects. It contains a rich and natural diet though it lacks a bit in its nutritive value.

Another important point to note in the case of dietary treatment is the avoidance of the use of excess of sugar in the daily diet. Though it has been experimentally proven that a sugar rich diet does not have anything to do with hyperactivity, the carbohydrate content in sugar has the tendency to make the child sedate. Hence, people prefer to opt for a protein rich diet for the ADHD affected children. Usage of essential fatty acids in the daily diet can provide the necessary impulses for a better brain functionality. This can also have direct effects on the functioning of the nervous system.

Herbal treatment

Herbal treatment and other natural treatments like homeopathic treatments are also a good option to choose for ADHD. This, in general, does not have any kind of side effects and can be accurate and reliable in the cure of the disorder though it takes a longer time than usual. Some of the herbs used for the treatment are oral flower essence, pine extract, melatonin, ginkgo biloba etc. These herbs have slow but positive effects on the affected people. Ginseng is also used for certain attention deficit disorders. Though these are very reliable, they must not be taken unless there is proper guidance from an experienced medical practitioner. They should also be taken on proper quantities as prescribed by the doctor. Special care should be taken while the treatment is applied for small children.

These are some of the natural remedies for ADHD affected children.

Technorati Tags: add herbal supplements, adhd natural remedies, natural treatments for adhd

Adult Treatment for ADHD

Today, the majority of the population has heard about or seen commercials that address Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. This disorder, also known as ADHD, has actually been around for a long time but the problem is growing. However, many people are just now becoming aware that ADHD can also affect adults, which can be extremely, disrupting to both home and work life. In this article, we wanted to specifically, address adult treatment for ADHD. Keep in mind that the first and most important step for any adult is to have a proper evaluation with a reputable doctor that specializes in ADHD.

With this, the appropriate treatment plan can be designed and implemented. The interesting thing about adult ADHD is that as many as 50% had ADHD as a child.

While diagnosing ADHD in children is not overly difficult, with adults it is more of a challenge. The reason is that as adults, most of us live busy, hectic lives, which could account for the distraction, depression lack of concentration, insomnia, and hyperactivity associated with ADHD. Therefore, if you suspect that you have this disorder, you need to talk to a good doctor who can make a firm diagnosis. With that, the adult treatment for ADHD would vary depending on the individual. Remember, while there is a long list of symptoms associated with ADHD, not every adult has the same symptoms or the same intensity of symptoms. The type of adult treatment for ADHD your doctor prescribes would likely involve drugs that serve to stimulate the mind but in many cases, antidepressants, cognitive training, behavioral skills training, and psychotherapy can also be very, beneficial.

Suffering from this disorder typically means at work having trouble grasping simple concepts, not being able to pay attention in meetings, not having the skill to follow through with tasks, and many times, and having difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. At home, families can be torn apart as he mother or father with ADHD no longer helps around the house, is not capable of having the same interaction with the kids as before, feels depressed because of not being "normal", and so on. While many adults with ADHD are reaching out to doctors for adult treatment for ADHD, others are going through a self-diagnosis mode, which can be very dangerous to recovery.

Although conducting research and educating yourself on the disorder is strongly encouraged, it is truly imperative to seek professional help in overcoming the disorder. With the stimulants prescribed, the imbalance of catecholamine metabolism in the cerebral cortex of the brain, which occurs in people with ADHD,is brought back to normal levels. These agents work by enhancing the body’s availability of norepinephrine and dopamine. Just as with children, the most common drug prescribed is Ritalin although today, we see a number of new products on the market that have been successful. For antidepressants used in adult treatment of ADHD, the concentration of catecholamine in the central nervous system is improved. The goal of the antidepressants is that they inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and if tricyclic antidepressants are being prescribed, they will help inhibit the reuptake of serotonin.

For the adult living with ADHD, antidepressants are particularly helpful by reducing affective instability while also controlling coexistent mood disturbance. Remember, while self-diagnosis should be handled with carefully, self-therapy is another tool that many people find useful. This means to learn how to plan and organize your day, whether for work or for home. You can also take classes, read books, or listen to audio that teaches you how to avoid distractions by working in a clutter-free environment, arriving to work early when the environment is quiet, using timers to help remind you of appointments and meetings, and breaking large projects down into more manageable tasks. In other words, when it comes to adult treatment for ADHD, you have many viable options, things you and your doctor can agree on – together.

By Amber Snow Published: 8/9/2007

Technorati Tags: adult hyperactivity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adults signs

Alternative Treatments for ADD and ADHD

There are many ways to decrease or completely cure ADD or ADHD symptoms in children or adults. Here are some ideas to help improve your health and minimalize your experience of ADD or ADHD.

If you or your child have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there are many alternatives to Ritalin or other mind-altering drugs for you and your family to choose. Mind-altering drugs should always be the last resort, as our children’s brains and nervous systems are growing and the negative influence of these drugs on brain and nervous system development are significant.

Symptoms of ADD and ADHD are: short attention spans, poor inhibitory control, restlessness, learning disabilities, disruptive behaviour, hyperactivity, excessive and often inappropriate motor activity, high levels of distractibility and impulsive behaviour, to name a few. The problem with ADD and ADHD are that the symptoms of these conditions can be caused by many different environmental allergies, essential fatty acid deficiencies or imbalances, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, low blood sugar or excess sugar consumption can cause the behaviours that indicate ADD or ADHD.

The simplest way to cure ADD and ADHD naturally is to look at improving the function of the nervous system and the digestive system.

Improving Nervous System Function

Chiropractic Care Makes A Big Difference

Chiropractors find that when children with ADD or ADHD are adjusted regularly, many of their symptoms will reduce in frequency and severity. Chiropractic adjustments help to optimize the function of the nervous system and allow the brain and body to be better able to communicate with each other. Children literally calm down and are able to sit and focus at the task on hand.

The reason why chiropractic care makes such a difference is that the brain is the master control of our bodies. Everything that we do is initiated by the brain, which sends nerve impulses to the body through our nerves. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord and allow movement, but they can become fixed (the chiropractic term is subluxated). These subluxated vertebrae can put pressure on the nerves as they exit the spine. This added pressure on the nerves can reduce the body’s ability to function. Chiropractic adjustments improve the movement of the vertebrae and help to take the pressure off the nerves as they exit from the spine. The brain is then able to communicate with the body more efficiently and the body functions with more precision.

Chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective treatment to help the joints of the spine move in a normal pattern of motion and improve nervous system function. Adjustments help children to grow with healthy, straight spines.

Brain Gym Helps Tremendously

If you were to ask a child with ADD or ADHD to place his (or her) right hand on his (or her) left knee, and then change hands and knees in an alternating pattern, chances are that he or she wouldn’t be able to do it easily. Children with ADD or ADHD typically have problems with cross patterning movements, as they do not feel comfortable crossing the midline of their bodies. This problem with crossing the body’s midline of the body is because the left and right sides of the brain do not fire in synchronicity and they do not communicate well with each other.

Brain Gym is a simple, yet effective way to help a child’s brain function as it should, coordinating the left and right sides of the brain. Brain Gym uses physical movements to help with right brain/left brain patterning. It helps the parts of the brain that aren’t firing properly to function as a whole, rather than as disorganized parts. Brain Gym makes a huge difference to children experiencing ADD or ADHD-like symptoms.

Improving Digestive System Function

Nutrition Plays A Big Role

When anyone eats, food is processed by the stomach, the pancreas and the liver to break down into food particles. These small particles of food cross the lining of the small intestine and enter the blood stream. It is thought that children with ADD and ADHD-like symptoms have a leaky gut, which means that the cells that line the intestines have spaces between them instead of being packed together tightly like healthy cells should. People with a leaky gut are letting bigger particles of food than are normally absorbed to pass through the spaces between the cells in the small intestines and into the blood stream. The result is that larger food particles are getting through into the blood stream and the body treats these food particles as foreign substances, which results in allergic reactions to the foods that the child is eating. The most common allergies for children with ADD and ADHD are dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, egg, chocolate and peanuts. Many children have difficulties with food colorings and additives to processes and packaged foods.

We find people experiencing ADD/ADHD are able to help heal the leaky gut by taking nutritional supplements designed especially for that purpose. If they also take digestive enzymes to help break down food particles into smaller bits, they heal more quickly.

It would also be important to look at the foods that the person is eating. Excessive sugar consumption, allergies or food intolerances to foods such as dairy or corn can cause ADD or ADHD symptoms. It is prudent to eliminate these foods from the diet slowly to see if they make a difference.

Putting It All Together

Healing a condition like ADD or ADHD takes time. The nervous system needs time to learn to communicate in an improved way. It takes time to be able to eliminate foods that trigger allergic reactions and to grow healthy cells to line the digestive system. You can find a chiropractor who is comfortable treating children. You can find a brain gym instructor close to you by visiting braingym.org. You can find supplements to heal a leaky gut and slowly eliminate trigger foods from the diet.

For more information on healing ADD/ADHD, you are welcome to visit my website.

Technorati Tags: alternative adhd treatment, ritalin alternatives

Adhd And Add Medication And Treatment

Deciding to take, or administer, medication for ADD/ADHD can be a very difficult and personal process. Therefore it is important to know the benefits and possible side effects associated with the different types of medications available. ADD/ADHD medications can help relieve symptoms such as difficulty controlling impulses, concentrating, and the ability to follow through with tasks. However, it is important to accept that although these medications assist in controlling symptoms, it is not a cure. Often time’s patients taking medication can still experience forgetfulness, emotional turmoil, disorganization, and feelings of social awkwardness. There are two different types of medications available, stimulant and non-stimulant.

Stimulant Medications
Medications such as Adderall, Adderall XR, Ritailin, Concerta, and Vyvanse are considered to be stimulant medications. Stimulants are the most common form of treatment because they have the longest running record of symptom improvement, and have the most supportive research. Stimulants increase the level of dopamine in the body, which assists with motivation, pleasure, attentions, and movement. Stimulants are known to reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behavior, while increasing the ability to concentrate. These medications are available in short term and long acting doses. Short term doses last only a few hours and may need to be taken 2-3 times a day. Long acting, also known as extended release, doses last 8-12 hours and only need to be taken once daily.

Common side effects for stimulant medications are feelings of restlessness, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, headaches, upset stomach, dizziness, racing heartbeat, mood swings, and depression. At this time, the impact on brain development for long term dosage is not known. Sudden death in children and adults who have heart disease has been associated with stimulant usage. The American Heart Association recommends patients receive a cardiac evaluation prior to beginning these medications. Persons with a family history or suicide, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, and depression have a higher risk of devolving hostility, and aggression while using stimulant medications.

Non-Stimulant Medication
Strattera is currently the only non-stimulant ADHD/ADD medication available. It works by increasing the levels of norepinephine in the body. Strattera is a long acting medication which can stay in the body for up to 24 hours. It is considered to be a good choice for anyone who is also suffering from depression or anxiety, as Strattera has some antidepressant properties. The down side to Strattera is that it is not as effective on hyperactivity as stimulant medications.

Common side effects of Strattera are sleepiness, headache, abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and agitation. In some cases, this medication may also cause insomnia, and appetite suppression. Strattera also lists on its warning label a potential increase in suicidal thoughts and actions, particularly in persons with bipolar disorder.

By: Chris Miller-27498

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The ADHD Treatment website is a useful resource for information regarding many aspects of Attention Deficit Disorder, including Medications, All Natural Treatment Options and the Stimulant Adjustment Process. The is also information on the treatment of Adult ADHD.

Technorati Tags: adhd and sleepness, adhd drug risks and warnings

If you have any questions regarding the content in this website, about the products that are mentioned, or just any questions at all don’t hesitate to contact me at the following address. I’d also love to hear any feedback on the site if you’ve found it helpful or have some ideas about how I can improve the site in some way.

Please contact me at admin@adhdtheguide.com!

I will reply to all messages as soon as possible

The ADHD Team

Technorati Tags: adhd add signs symptoms, contact us

ADHD and Iron Deficiency
 by: Anthony Kane, MD

About 8% of children, ages 4 years and under, are deficient in iron. Between the ages of 5 and 12, the percentage rises to 13%, and then settles back to 8% in people above the age of 15. Anemia is the best-known repercussion of iron deficiency. However, even minor deficiencies in iron may weaken the immune system, affect the thyroid, and impair general physical performance. Iron deficiency has also been implicated in a number of psychiatric and neurological conditions, including learning disabilities and ADHD.

Iron is a co-enzyme in the anabolism of catecholamines. That means it is essential for the creation of certain neurotransmitters. It helps to regulate the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which probably accounts for the association of iron deficiency with neurological problems. It makes sense that supplementing ADHD children, who have some level of iron deficiency, might have some effect on their ADHD. However, what makes sense in theory, does not always work in practice. Unfortunately, there have been very few studies done testing the effects of iron supplementation on ADHD.

One study, done in Israel, evaluated 14 ADHD boys for the effect of short-term iron administration on behavior. Each boy received iron daily for 30 days. Both parents and teachers assessed the behavior of the children. The parents found significant improvement in the behavior of the children. However, the teachers noticed no improvement.

In a second study, 33 iron-deficient, but otherwise normal, children were given an iron supplement. The children became less hyperactive. This study suggests that iron deficiency may cause hyperactive behavior in some children and that hyperactive behavior is reversible when the deficiency is treated.

A third study tested the affects of iron supplementation on a group of teen-aged high school girls who were determined to be iron deficient. At the end of the 8-week study, the researchers found that girls who received iron supplementation performed better on verbal learning and memory tests than those who did not.

This is about all the evidence we have. It’s not a lot and it’s not very impressive. None of the studies were double-blind studies, which means we cannot really rely on them all that much.

If this were the only consideration, I would say you should definitely try to treat your child for iron deficiency. The reason is that hyperactive children are more likely to be iron deficient than other children. Also, there is a possibility that your child has a higher than average iron requirement. That means that he might test normal on all the iron blood tests and still be iron deficient because he requires more than the average amount of iron.

So why not just give your child iron supplements and see what happens? Because iron functions in the body like a two edged sword.

Iron exists in the body in two chemical forms. There is the ferrous form, where the iron atom will bond to two electrons and the ferric form where the atom will bond to three electrons. Iron can go back and forth between these two forms. This is the property of iron that allows it to play a role in carrying oxygen as part of hemoglobin. However, it also makes iron an active player in oxidation-reduction reactions. What that means is that iron has the ability to act like a free radical and cause significant damage to tissues. Whenever iron is not bound to hemoglobin or to some other carrier protein, it travels around the body as free iron and can cause damage anywhere it goes. To further exacerbate the problem, excess iron is not eliminated well by the body. Most of the iron in the body gets recycled. Therefore, not only is excess iron toxic, but also once you have excess iron in your body, it is going to stick around for a long time. High amounts of iron have been ! found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. It is very likely that excess iron can aggravate, if not cause, other neurological problems as well.

With that in mind we have to approach iron supplementation with caution. My feeling is that if your child turns out to be one of the 8-13% that is deficient in iron, it is worth giving iron supplements. I doubt that it will help much with his ADHD, but it should help with his general health. This advice applies to your non-ADHD children, also.

How should you test iron deficiency? The hemoglobin and hematocrit counts that come as part of the standard complete blood count (CBC) are good for diagnosing anemia. They do not really give you accurate information about the body’s iron status. The best test for iron status is the serum ferritin test, which measures how much iron is stored in your body. It will be low if you are deficient and high if you are overloaded.

If you find your child has an iron deficiency problem, there are several approaches to treat it. Probably the safest is by giving him more iron-containing foods. You can serve him red meat several times a week. Liver is an excellent source, if you can get him to eat it. You can enhance dietary absorption by supplementing with vitamin A (about 10,000 IU) and vitamin C (about 500mg) with the meals.

The most likely the reason that your child is deficient is because he is a poor eater; so, dietary intervention may not be practical. A second and far inferior source of iron is through supplements. The primary difficulty of iron supplements is that they do not get into the body. Fortifying foods with iron in general does not work. Many foods bind iron and, as a result, the iron is excreted rather than absorbed. The best form of supplemental iron is Ferrochel. Ferrochel is an amino acid chelated iron, which is highly bio-available and is not affected by foods that bind iron.

Most iron supplements have a ten percent absorption rate. That means if you take 10 mg of the supplement, your body absorbs 1 mg. Ferrochel is different. Ferrochel has a 75% absorption rate. That means 1.5 mg of Ferrochel provides more iron to your body than 10 mg of other supplements.

That is an interesting fact, but it is not why I am recommending it. The more important property of Ferrochel is that since it is already amino acid bound, it does not become free iron in the body. That means it does not have the dangers and side effects of other iron supplements. The FDA has given Ferrochel the designation of GRAS, (generally regarded as safe). No other iron supplement has this designation.

The take home message is that iron deficiency may be the cause of hyperactivity in some children. It is worth your while to have your child tested. If for some reason you suspect your child is iron deficient, the best approach is to increase your child’s iron intake through his diet. If that doesn’t work and you need to use supplements, the best supplemental iron is Ferrochel.

Anthony Kane, MD
> ADD ADHD Advances
http://addadhdadvances.com

About The Author

Anthony Kane, MD is a physician, an international lecturer, and director of special education. He is the author of a book, numerous articles, and a number of online programs dealing with ADHD (addadhdadvances.com/childyoulove.html) treatment, ODD, parenting issues (addadhdadvances.com/betterbehavior.html), and education. You may visit his website at http://addadhdadvances.com. To sign up for the free ADD ADHD Advances online journal send a blank email to: subscribe@addadhdadvances.com?subject=subscribeartcity
akane@addadhdadvances.com

This article was posted on July 18, 2004

Technorati Tags: adhd iron deficiency, hyperactivity, iron supplements