ADHD Tips

A mother of his two children with special needs and talk show compression SPIO Superman suits in action. A must see! For more information on how SPIO compression systems have improved the lives of thousands of children with sensory and motor developmental delays visit www. spioworks. com and become a fan on Facebook-

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When you find out that your child has ADHD, it’s not uncommon to be shocked and concerned about what to expect. However, you should know that although ADHD can be limiting for a child, there are ways to manage it successfully. ADHD does not have to be the biggest factor in your life as a parent, nor does it define your child. Raising an ADHD child is achievable without losing your sanity with the right strategies and attitude.

Probably, the biggest challenge that a parent can have in raising an ADHD child is hyperactivity. All kids can be a bit boisterous when they are young and exploring the world around them but ADHD children can be particularly so.

Raising an ADHD child may require you to develop lightning fast reflexes and running skills as a child with ADHD can get away from you in the blink of an eye.

This hyperactivity can manifest itself in different ways. Some children tend to misbehave and be noisy, although it’s generally not due to willfulness.

Raising an ADHD child can require you to develop a high tolerance level for chaos. Nobody is ever prepared for the level of hyperactivity that children can have. What you need to do is make sure that their excess energy gets channeled into a productive outlet instead of a destructive activity.

Another challenge of raising an ADHD child lies in education. The structured environment of a classroom can pose some real difficulties for ADHD children. Because of their ADHD, some children have learning difficulties and to make matters more complicated a number may have learning disabilities too. Others may be particularly gifted in certain areas. In order for your child to get the most out their education the school and parents need to work together.

Speak to the school about the possibility of adapting the curriculum to fit in with your child’s needs. Ask the teacher to make allowances for their behaviors and to try and provide an environment that doesn’t distract them from learning. This could mean sitting at the front of every class away from window and next to students who offer a good role model.

Mixing up lessons so that they involve practical work as well as writing and desk based work can also keep them interested for longer periods.

For younger children a sticker chart can provide motivation to complete tasks and also being given jobs to do that allow for movement, like handing out assignments or materials.

Maybe the greatest challenge that a parent will face in raising an ADHD child is treatment. Every parent wants the best for their child and it may seem that suppressing ADHD behaviors with medication is the way to go. Although prescription medicines like Ritalin may seem like an easy answer, it is important to remember that there are adverse effects of these medicines which could cause you to regret using them later in life.

There is a number of other treatment strategies that can help, from nutritional supplements and dietary interventions to biofeedback and behavioral therapies, along with herbal treatments and homeopathic remedies.

Not all of these treatments will work for every child so some trial and error maybe involved in finding the right treatment, or combination of treatments, to suit your child.

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Raising an ADHD child is just like raising any other child: you need to focus on what’s best for them, not what’s best for you.

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SPIO Co-founder and developer of Nancy Hylton, PT, OL, continues his comprehensive presentation and demonstrates the many benefits of compression clothing systems Spio. This series is a must for all occupational therapists, orthotists or PT in the field of pediatric therapy. For information on how clothes SPIO compression system has improved the lives of thousands of children with sensory and motor developmental delays visit www. spioworks. com and become a fan on Facebook.

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Bringing home your tiny bundle of joy, many parents never think about the possibility of dealing with ADHD. But for parents and children diagnosed with this problem, the challenges of ADHD can frustrate and overwhelm. As questions arise about the best treatment from doctors, many quickly assume that parents will want the easy way, with a prescription. Many parents are concerned about the long-term affects, however, and have found that there are alternative therapies through ADHD diet therapy and herbal supplements.

DIET and ADHD

Diet and behavior has been studied as a possible factor in ADHD in children, as well as the cause for other behavior problems, since the early 1970’s. Some parents have found that by keeping the diet remedies for ADHD children through an additive free diet that the results have been nearly as good or better than drug treatment. Modifying diet is a good first step to take before resorting to medication.

Since some children’s behavior is triggered by different dietary factors, finding the culprit can be tricky. Keeping a food journal and eliminating certain trigger foods through the “elimination diet” is the most effective way to find out what foods are causing problems and finding diet remedies for ADHD for your child. ADHD is not the only problem from food triggers; behavior problems – including autism – as well as sleep problems and irritability – have also shown improvement from the elimination diet.

ELIMINATION DIET HOW TO

When searching for diet remedies for ADHD, read up on the common triggers. Make your child’s meal plans for a week while withholding the suspected trigger. Chart behavior changes and attention over the course of the week, since it often takes time for the allergen or trigger to work itself out of the child’s system. Teachers and care providers are going to have to be on board to get accurate results!

Common triggers include food dyes – this includes dyes found in medicines, drinks, food products, candy – dyes are a non-essential part of the child’s dietary needs. Other common foods that can trigger reactions are dairy products, particularly cow’s milk, sugar and artificial sweeteners, processed meats and fried foods.

Once you are ready to add the foods back into the diet, add one type of food every two days, and watch for behavior changes. After it is determined that the food is not a cause, it can be added back into the regular diet.

HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

ADHD diet therapy can be used in conjunction with herbal supplements to maximize results. Both children and adults have seen positive response when using herbal treatments. These are common items, easy to find.

Ginkgo Biloba is known to improve blood flow to the brain, thus improving memory and concentration. Combining this with American Ginseng has been shown to help symptoms of ADHD in children in several studies. St. John’s Wort is another popular treatment. It has been used for years as an anti-depressant, by increasing serotonin (which affects mood).

Grape Seed Extract is another popular treatment, becoming more common as a first line of defense by doctors. Grape Seed Extract is believed to inhibit the faster than normal breakdown of dopamine in the brain for ADHD patients.

Pine Bark, also called Pycnogenol, is a complex of flavanoids that increases circulation and lowers free radicals. This is a potentially good treatment up and coming in the herbal remedies available for treating children with ADHD.

Finding the right ADHD diet therapy for your child is not an overnight magic pill. It takes time and persistence, but many parents and teachers will testify that diet remedies for ADHD combined with alternative therapies such as herbal remedies and extended behavior modification, that there is hope! Your child can be the focused and attentive child you want – well, as much as any child can be! By using ADHD diet therapy, you are keeping your child from the risks of associated drug risks.

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Nancy Hylton, PT OL, Children’s Therapy Centre and Dynamic Orthotic Systems discusses the history of compression systems SPIO she co-developed.

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ADHD remains one of the most misunderstood psychiatric disorders in all of the mental health profession. Contributing to much of the confusion surrounding the condition is the very negative effects of the common psychiatric drugs prescribed for it. Since many are worried about the potentially disastrous side effects of these drugs, there is a great deal of fear surrounding seeking treatment. However, there is some positive news in regards to this. There have been many great strides in the realm of alternative medicine for ADHD. And, yes, ADHD alternative medicine can deliver positive results without many of the risks associated with the more traditional treatment methods.

Natural Herbal Remedies

Thankfully, there are a number of natural remedies for ADHD. Despite their relative low profile, these herbal treatments have a solid track record for delivering highly positive results.

Hyoscyamus – This is a natural plant extract that was commonly used as a calming agent for those that suffered from excess fidgeting and restlessness. In a way, you could consider this herbal supplement the ADHD treatment of ancient antiquity. Then again, that would not be a completely accurate assessment since it is still used to this day.

Arsen Iod – This could be considered an “anger management” herbal supplement since it is commonly employed to relieve stress and anger. Through taking this herbal ADHD alternative medicine, much of the more agitation based outbursts of ADHD can be reduced.

Tuberculinum – One of the main symptoms of ADHD is a feeling of boredom which yields the need for perpetual stimulation. Of course, this can lead to disruptive behavior and other such problems. For those in need of a treatment that can alleviate the onset of such behavior, tuberculinum can provide the reprieve needed. It is one of the most successful brands of alternative medicine for ADHD in terms of its ability to curtail such behavioral problems.

Verta Alb – When one must contend with high anxiety or anxiousness, a great deal of restlessness can occur. This is where a number of the disruptive physical behavior patterns of ADHD start to manifest. Through the use of Verta Alb, much of this extreme anxiety can be reduced to manageable levels. And, of course, this is achieved without the negative consequences of sedatives and other mood altering drugs.

While we have mainly discussed the ability of alternative medicine for ADHD to curtail a number of the serious physical manifestations of the condition, some may wonder about the value of these treatments towards the psychological ones. Actually, the two go hand in hand. That is, if the physical restlessness of ADHD is curtailed, the negative psychological energy contributing to the restlessness is dissipating as well.

In short, these herbal remedies are not numbing agents designed to restrict movement. They are well rounded herbal treatments that can blunt the impact ADHD can have on a child or adult’s life. As such, alternative medicine for ADHD   can allow the person afflicted with the condition to once again live a complete and free life. That alone makes the use of these remedies infinitely valuable.

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Here is some homework for parents before they seek a diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. If your child has some of the symptoms of ADHD such as distractability, forgetting things, inattention when you try to engage them in conversation and maybe non-stop fidgeting, Google first on other medical conditions that have similar symptoms and see if they could possibly be one of the reasons for his symptoms. Your list could be quite long including a parasite, liver dysfunction or low blood glucose levels. Make a note of these and make sure that when you do go for a diagnosis, that you mention these and that they have all been excluded. Correct diagnosis is important as ADHD, if left untreated can lead to teenagers being involved in road accidents, low academic achievement and risk of substance abuse which they may carry into their adult life.

Let’s suppose that you do get a diagnosis and treatment of ADHD plan from your doctor or specialist. If that includes psychostimulants, ask him why the FDA has all the back box warnings on these medications. This is because of a certain risk of sudden death from heart attacks in children who have potential heart problems. You could also mention that as these drugs act on the child’s neurotransmitters in the brain, what are the long term effects and what are the risks? Actually the drug companies cannot tell us how Adderall and Ritalin precisely work which in my opinion is even more alarming. Next do some research on ADHD homeopathic remedies and look at the companies offering these and what advantages there are. You are trying to get a broader picture here of various possibilities open to you. One thing will be very clear from this little piece of research is that these homeopathic treatments have no side effects are there are no risks.

Next type in the names of Dr. Gregory Fabiano (winner of prestigious White House Award) and William Pelham and read up about their work on ADHD. You will discover that their research at the prestigious University of Buffalo actually shows that ADHD behaviour therapy or treatment is more effective (in the long term) than any ADHD drugs and that this should be the main thrust of any diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

Your doctor or paediatrician may well not agree but you, as a parent, will have to decide what to do. You could also drop in the names of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) as their guidelines now definitely support tying behaviour modification first, rather than last.

Then go to the ADHD blogs and see the posts on all the different psychostimulants. You may be alarmed at the long list of problems, side effects and risks. Try also the parenting blogs and you will see where parents have been able to turn around their kids using behaviour therapy.

After a few hours doing your homework surfing on the Net, you will have come up with vital issues and questions to ask in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and you will also be much better informed. That means making the right decision for your child, whichever option you choose.

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ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and it is a chronic condition that can have a great impact on a child if a child does not get help, or if the right ADHD treatment is not prescribed.

Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are impulsivity, inappropriate behavior, and hyperactivity. These children have difficulty staying on task and completing projects, which if not identified and treated early can be a huge barrier throughout the school years and eventually on the job. Before there was a diagnosis, these children were just seen as having lots of energy, or were just wild and always getting into trouble. Now that ADHD treatments are available, parents have the option of getting their child help so that they can be more productive in school and have fewer disruptions at home.

Not all parents and professionals agree on what type of ADHD treatment is the best, or if it should be used at all. Some parents feel that it is unnatural to treat a child with prescription medication that could have significant side effects, or otherwise harm the child. Side effects are dose dependent and can be lessened by reducing the dosage or switching to a different medication. Many times behavior modification therapy is not effective on its own, which is why ADHD treatment usually requires use of a stimulant drug. Stimulants have a paradoxical effect on children; these drugs do not increase hyperactivity, which is a normal response in adults, but help the child focus, control behaviors, and improve self-esteem. Stimulants used in ADHD treatment help children to complete tasks, learn more efficiently, and interact more positively with their peers.

Physicians and psychiatrists develop individualized ADHD treatments for each child, because not all experience the same symptoms or have the same level of severity. There can also be other conditions that are present as well, such as mental or physical disorders that need to be addressed in addition to ADHD treatment. Such conditions may have a great impact on how the child responds to therapy, and if not treated simultaneously will tend to slow down progress. There are a number of sites on the internet that discuss ADHD, the symptoms, and how to go about getting help for your child. ADHD treatments and the controversies surrounding them are also discussed in depth. If you suspect your child has ADHD have him or her evaluated by a professional as soon as possible, so that your child can get the treatment he or she needs.

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SPIO Co-founder and developer of Nancy Hylton, PT, OL, continues his comprehensive presentation and demonstrates the many benefits of compression clothing systems Spio. This series is a must for all occupational therapists, orthotists or PT in the field of pediatric therapy. For more information on how the clothes SPIO compression system have improved the lives of thousands of children with sensory and motor developmental delays visit www. spioworks. com and become a fan on Facebook.

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