Can Your Child Go Without ADD Medication?

I came across a very interesting article today on the USnews.com website. I have reprinted portions of the article below. 

"In the 1990s, the National Institute of Mental Health tried to weigh the relative benefits of the two most common treatments for ADHD: stimulant drugs and behavioral treatments, including parent training. 

The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD followed 579 grade-schoolers for 14 months. Some got stimulants, and some got behavioral therapy that included parent training, teacher training, and a summer camp that taught the kids social skills. 

A third group got both medication and the behavioral intervention. A fourth group had treatments chosen by their parents in the community. 

At the end, the children in all four groups were doing better. Parents and teachers rated the medication-only group as having many fewer symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. 

But they rated the children who got behavioral treatment as doing better on aggressive behavior, peer relations, parent-child relations, and academic achievement."

This is what the Calm Kids program focuses on - Behavior Modification combined with diet and brainwave entrainment.

For the full article click here

End The Homework Nightmare With Your ADD Child - Slideshow

End Homework Hassles

From: equest,
1 hour ago

End Homework Hassles

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: parenting hyperactivity)

This slideshow looks at 10 ways you can end the homework nightmare with your ADD/ADHD Child once and for all.

SlideShare Link

11 Tips For Parenting The ADD/ADHD Child - Slideshow Presentation

11 Tips For Parenting The ADD/ADHD Child

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: adhd add)

I turned a popular article into a slideshow to make the information easier to digest and apply. Enjoy!!

What Causes ADD & ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is considered to be a neurological disorder that manifests in childhood. Symptoms of ADHD may include inattentiveness and increased distractibility, as well as high energy and hyperactivity. When only distractibility and inattentiveness are manifested, the disorder is referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. With the rising number of reported cases of ADD, research is consistently being conducted in understanding the disorder, as well as exploring the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition.

ADD symptoms are classified into two main groups: inattentiveness and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Inattentiveness is manifested most explicitly in school, where ADD children have a hard time following instructions, concentrating on their work, keeping their work error-free, and even finishing it. They will often avoid difficult schoolwork, and will sometimes lose important school items such as books or pens. ADD children can appear inattentive if they are spoken to. If people with ADD do strike up a conversation, they can speak excessively, only to break off the conversation abruptly as they are distracted by something that catches their fancy.

People with ADD can also be forgetful, and they may find it hard to sleep, due to the many, varied thoughts they have at night. They may also be easily frustrated, and may exhibit emotional outbursts frequently. Although hyperactive-impulsive behavior is more characteristic of those who suffer from ADHD, there are a few habits that ADD persons may have, such as occasional fidgeting or talkativeness.

Thanks to much research, there are now therapies and medications available to treat ADD and ADHD. Research is still being conducted in the field of attention deficit disorder and nutrition links, although changing diets is often recommended as an alternative, if not experimental treatment. In the early years of studies seeking to find the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition, research proposed diets that excluded stimulants, such as coffee, tea, or sugar. Other studies proposed diets that removed allergenic foods from meals, such as eggs, milk, and wheat. Despite these findings, no study has yet shown a conclusive link between diets and improved ADD symptoms.

Research still does show, however, that ADD and ADHD children have differences in their metabolism compared with non-ADD and non-ADHD children. For instance, Neil Ward, a chemist from the United Kingdom, showed in 1990 that ADHD children lost zinc quickly when they took tartrazine. Other studies suggested that lack of omega-3 fatty acids could trigger ADHD development. Despite these and other findings, a concrete link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition has yet to be established, although the research is often used as the basis for supplementary diets in addition to existing medication and therapy techniques.

A popular supplementary diet is the Feingold diet, where artificial flavors and colors, such as salicylates and preservatives, are removed from an ADD or ADHD person’s diet. Another school of thought on the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition dictates that a balanced diet is essential for the proper health and nutrition of any person, whether with ADD, ADHD, or any other disorder. Scientists have therefore taken middle ground in the debate: no diet has yet been approved for ADD or ADHD treatment, and any diet proposed to patients must always be used in conjunction with therapy and medication.

For more information now go to:
http://adddotcom.com/
http://www.drnathaliefiset.com
http://www.a-1hypnosis.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

Have you ever wondered if your son had A.

Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

It has been suggested to you that your son may be suffering from attention deficit. This information has come to you via a teacher or a child care worker or family member or maybe it has crept into your own mind without any suggestion from anyone. You struggle with the idea and you wonder, is it really attention deficit or is he just being an active boy. After all, the symptoms of attention deficit and the normal behavior of boys can look remarkably alike. They are distractible, don’t stay focused on one thing for very long, can be impulsive, are forgetful (except for details of video games!) don’t listen for directions and are constantly moving. Sound like your boy?

The diagnosis of ADHD has increased tremendously over the past three decades, if the prescription of medication to treat the disorder is any indication. In the years between 1987 and 1996 there was a 600% increase in the prescription of medication for the treatment of ADHD. (the increase in the prescriptions was for children enrolled in HMOs, during that same period there was only a 17% increase in enrollment in the HMOs). This is a staggering increase in the diagnosis of ADHD, add to this that boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than are girls and the question of if this is boy behavior or ADHD is a significant one.

The only way to really tell the difference between the two is a very thorough diagnosis. Unfortunately, between the pressures on teachers and classrooms and the busy health care practitioner there can be a rush to diagnose a child with ADHD simply by looking at the diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual Fourth Edition (DSM IV) and declare a child to be indeed ADHD, particularly if his behavior and academic performance is suffering. One study in Australia showed that three fourths of the children diagnosed with ADHD had been improperly diagnosed (Australia has the highest use of psychostimulants for ADHD in children).

Fortunately, most experts agree that there is a way to accurately diagnose ADHD but they are also quick to point out that there are a number of disorders in children that can present like ADHD. Some of these disorders are depression, anxiety, learning disabilities among others. It is also possible that what looks like ADHD simply is immaturity due to the fact that the maturity rate among boys varies significantly from boy to boy, particularly compared to girls. If you suspect that there may be a problem with ADHD, make sure that you are getting a good assessment, remembering that ADHD is what is called a “rule out” disorder. A rule out disorder is one that is diagnosed partially by ruling out other, more readily identifiable disorders.

The diagnosis of ADHD is done usually by comparing your son’s behavior with boys his own age. Even within this comparison there are tolerances built into the measures to account for variability among individuals. It is also important to note that behavior that is showing up in only one setting (such as at home but not school, or school but not after care, or at school but nowhere else) is not likely to be ADHD, it is most probable that something else is going on. These comparisons are done using questionnaires constructed specifically to evaluate children for a select number of disorders, including ADHD. It is also widely accepted that children less than elementary school age should not be diagnosed with ADHD as the symptoms of ADHD and toddlerhood are too similar.

So the question of whether it is boy behavior or ADHD can really only be answered with a thorough evaluation. If you choose to ask your pediatrician about the issue, make sure he or she is familiar with the guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics for diagnosing ADHD. This will demonstrate that at least they have some awareness of the complexity of diagnosing ADHD and will not be in a hurry to prescribe medication. Recognize that you son is going to active and distractible unless actively enganged in an activity. Don’t expect him to sit quietly and play without movement or noise. This is just not the way boys are. However, if his distractibility or activity seems to be excessive, make sure that you get a good assessment.

Needing more information about ADHD? A more detailed and complete article on this important issue of boys and ADHD can be read at Boys Behavior, a web page dedicated to Boys and Their Unique Behavior http://boysbehavior.thehomeschoolorganizer.com

Problems associated with ADD

There are many conditions that co-exist with ADD /ADHD such as dyslexia and other learning difficulties, OCD, ODD, and so on.

Beware of lumping in other problems that often
occur in children with ADHD – including depression, anxiety
and learning difficulties – under the single diagnosis of ADHD.

Experts are getting better at understanding the
differences between learning disabilities and ADHD.
Sometimes they can overlap and that can be tricky and
complicated to dissect.

ADHD is different for every child. It’s important to
understand which problems are truly part of ADHD and which
are not, so that each problem can be dealt with appropriately

How Do You Integrate Your ADD /ADHD Child Successfully Into The Family Unit.

What you need to do is fully integrate the child into the
family and make them feel a part of the larger unit. Use
routines and give clear rules: explain how you expect your child
to behave in situations and teach him what to do when he feels
he’s heading for trouble.

1. Watch for trigger behaviors and step in to avert the
problem before it starts.

2. Negotiate rules with older children.

3. Criticize the behavior, not the child. Instead of: ‘You’re so spaced-out, it drives me crazy,’ say ‘It makes me unhappy
when you forget things.'

4. Get everyone to cool off. Don’t escalate arguments or
inflame them.

5. When boundaries are broken, make other family members
realize it isn’t personal.

6. Try to stay positive. Avoid sounding disappointed in your
child, which will lead to low self-esteem, and praise,
praise, praise good behavior - for siblings, too.

7. Make sure relatives and friends understand it’s important
for your child to feel accepted by them. 

Older relatives
may have less patience with a busy child, in which case it
can help to make visits short and sweet.

Dealing with critical family members

 Some friends and relatives don’t
believe ADHD exists. They think your child is deliberately
naughty and you are a bad parent - they will often say your
child just needs a good smack.

Friends and relatives may feel they know everything
about ADHD because they’ve read it in the paper or seen it on
TV. So they’ll berate you for not trying an exclusion diet, not
giving your child dietary supplements or not trying
complementary treatments for ADHD.

They can blame you for putting your child on medication -
or not putting your child on medication, depending on their
views.

Educate them, if they’re open-minded enough to listen.
Some people can see comprehensive reports by an expert, but
will still claim the expert doesn’t know what she is talking
about.

If this is the case, you can simply smile politely, thank
them for their advice and explain that you’re following your
doctor’s advice. A second option is to just ignore them - and
punch a cushion when you get home.

You may find that some friends decide to drop you
because they can’t deal with your child’s behavior. This is
hurtful but remember: it’s their problem, not yours or your
child’s. True friends will try to understand and help. A friend
who drops you isn’t worth worrying about.

When you are parenting a child with ADHD, there are
special considerations that need to be addressed – whether you
want them to be or not.

Parenting The ADD Child: Pick Your Battles wisely

Remember to pick your battles. We can’t stress this part
seriously enough. Look at what’s really important – what will
matter five years down the road – and choose to address those
issues.
 

IGNORE THE REST!!!

Some Quick Rule Setting Advice For the ADD / ADHD Child

For children with ADHD, it's better to praise the good
behavior (i.e. the one you want to see more of) and ignore the
bad behavior as much as you can. Negotiate rules with older
children so they'll have a say in what happens.

Empower the ADD Child With Choices

Let your child make choices for themselves. Instead of
giving them a myriad of options, set out two and let them
choose between one and the other. 

ADHD children can’t concentrate on many things all at the same time. 

When you taper down choices, you are giving them the ability to make
decisions but you are not overwhelming them either.

Discover the Secrets To Hassle Free Parenting of the Child With ADD/ADHD

Ditching The Guilt part 2

Sometimes you may wonder why you don't  have a nice, quiet child
instead of the livewire who never listens. But there are a
number of reasons why children  develop ADHD... none of which are your fault.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, your
parenting style can influence how you and your child deal with
ADHD. There is no one right way or one wrong way.

Dealing with a child who acts before she thinks things
through, loses and breaks things and forgets what you've said
30 seconds later can be frustrating and stressful.

 It can drive you to the point where you give up on discipline, and find
yourself being snappy, critical or even hating your child.

You need help to deal with the difficult behaviors and
accept that you're not perfect - and that what works for one
child might not work for yours.

Just as you might be dealing with some self-esteem
issues when it comes to your ADHD child, your kid is dealing
with the same issues in their own way.

Ditching The Guilt

Parenting the ADD Child is difficult enough without adding guilt to the mix.

Always keep in mind that you are not a bad parent in any
way shape or form just because your child has ADHD. As we’ve
said before, some people feel that ADHD is just a myth that
doesn’t truly exist.

 This simply isn’t true. ADHD is a medical condition with no one to blame. These
children are demanding and always on the go. That’s just the
way they are. It’s not your fault; it’s just the way they are
built.

Building Your ADD Child's Self-esteem

A child with ADD Often has a low self-esteem. Because they are more difficult and challenging to deal with, those around them tend to react in a negative manner toward them. Coupled with So how can you help your child with his or her self-esteem?

Praise and reward: you need to make your child feel
positive about himself or herself, so try and give praise
wherever possible. This can be for large or small actions -
for example if she's tried hard at school or has helped
clear up after a meal. As well as verbal praise, giving
small rewards can highlight accomplishments.

Building your ADD child's self-esteem Through Unconditional Love

 Love and trust are  vital ingredients if your child is to develop a healthy self-esteem.  

Don't attach conditions to your love. 

Your child needs to know you love her no matter how she
behaves. 

Tell your child she's special and let her know you
trust and respect her.

This will make all the difference in the world.

Building your ADD /ADHD Child's Self-esteem Through Sports and Hobbies

 Sports and hobbies: joining a club or having a hobby can

build self-esteem. Depending on your child's interests, the
activity could be swimming, dancing, martial arts, crafts
or cooking.

 No matter what the hobby, your child will gain
new skills to be proud of - and for you to praise.

Sometimes children with ADHD will go off their activity, so
be prepared to come up with new ideas.

For more ideas to help you to cope with your ADD child please take a look at 

The Calm Kids Program

Building Your ADD /ADHD Child's Self-esteem

 

Focus on the positive: get your child to write a list of
everything she likes about herself, such as her good
characteristics and things she can do. 

Stick it on her bedroom wall or in the kitchen, so she sees it every day.

Encourage your child to add to it regularly.

Helping your ADD Child to deal with criticism

Part of self-esteem has to do with criticism. You have to
teach your child the best way to deal with that criticism.
Tell them the following and then reinforce it:
1. Listen to what's being said. Don't interrupt to contradict
or make excuses.
2. Agree with it, where possible.
3. Ask questions if they are unsure about anything.
4. Admit mistakes and apologize.
5. Calmly disagree if it's unfair. For example, they can
politely say, 'I don't agree with you'.

Giving your ADD Child Constructive Criticism

There are times when criticism is necessary, but children
with low self-esteem aren't good at accepting criticism - or
giving it nicely. Most children with ADD /ADHD have had more than their fair share of criticism, most of it fairly destructive. Therefore you are going to have to exercise extreme caution with this child.


How you give criticism is important. Sarcastic, negative
comments can undo all your hard work to be encouraging. So is
there such a thing as good criticism?

If you want to teach your child how to accept criticism, you
need to give it in a constructive way.

Rather criticize the behavior you want to change instead of criticizing the person.


It also helps if you can find positive things to say to balance the
criticism. Using 'I' tends to be less aggressive than 'you'.

So if your child is struggling with a piece of school work,
rather than say 'you're stupid', say 'I loved the way you read the first
page. It's only a couple of words you're stumbling on.'

For more positive ways to love and live with the ADD or ADHD Child, please visit www.maximindpower.com today and claim your 2 free reports.

Focus on the positives instead of the negatives. Your child will be better
for it.

All these things apply when your child gives criticism as
well. For example, 'I like playing with you, but it's too cold to
play outside today.'

The idea is to learn techniques to cope with criticism, give
confidence and generally make your child feel better about
himself/herself.

For more practical examples and guidelines on giving constructive criticism to your child sign up for the Make Your ADD Child A Winner e-Course.

Dealing with the misbehavior that is part and parcel of ADD & ADHD.

All children behave badly from time to time, and
sometimes get aggressive, but it's more common for children
with ADHD to have problems with their behavior.

This is because the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity
and inattention all affect the way your child interacts.
If you look at how these symptoms can affect a child's
behavior, it's easy to see how they are linked to bad or
aggressive behavior.

1 Hyperactivity causes a child to fidget, run about
excessively, talk excessively and have difficulty in playing
quietly. It can cause your child to accidentally damage
others' belongings, play too roughly and hurt other
children.

2 Impulsivity causes a child to blurt out answers, speak
before thinking, interrupt, barge into games and have
volatile moods. It can result in your child having a short
fuse and to lash out when frustrated.

3 Inattention causes poor attention to detail and problems
with following instructions. A child with inattention
problems may not appear to listen to requests.