ADD and ADHD in Children: Investigate Before You Medicate

The United States is currently experiencing an epidemic in childhood behavioral issues. Children are often first recognized as possibly having a behavioral problem in the classroom. These are children who do not pay attention, are not reading on grade level, have difficulty accomplishing classroom tasks, refuse to follow instructions, and experience problems in establishing and maintaining friendships among their peers. These same children often grow to dislike school and eventually, learning. A trip to the pediatrician is advised and a battery of tests administered. Sure enough, Little Johnny has ADHD. All he needs is a cocktail of mind numbing drugs and everything will be better. And they are or so it seems. Grades are higher and attention spans improve. Little Johnny's teacher is pleased.

We need to ask ourselves: Are powerful medications- often prescribed like candy- really necessary? Sometimes, yes. There are children who desperately need medical intervention. I would argue, though, that many do not and never should a prescribed medicine be the first choice of parents or doctors to treat a suspected condition when the cause of that condition is unknown. Little Johnny has few advocates who are putting his personal long term wellbeing first. Teachers want control of the classroom; doctors want to treat the symptom. It is up to parents to become informed, seek out a variety of sources, research different techniques to find out what is causing the behavior. Knowledgeable parents can try alternate methods to bring the behavior under control before resorting to pharmaceuticals. If you have severe chest pains is the first recommendation to prescribe a painkiller to indefinitely keep the pain under control? No. You find out WHY you have are having severe chest pains and treat the cause. The same should hold true for all medical conditions, behavioral problems included.

One potential culprit in attention disorders is easy to eliminate. That is lack of sleep. Bedwetting is often associated with sleep disorders. Does your child get the recommended number of hours of sleep each night? According to the Academy of Pediatrics, a 7 year old child needs 9 hours of sleep each night.* It's a mistake to assume that because your child is in bed for that amount of time that he is sleeping. He may have difficulties falling asleep. He may experience night waking, terrors or sleep walking. He could be experiencing sleep apnea- a serious condition he may not even be aware of which can temporarily starve the brain of oxygen at night leading to reduced brain function during the day. Record his sleeping for your own peace of mind or camp out in his room for a few nights and observe. Excessive snoring or periods of laboring to breathe may indicate the need for an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist to check for physical abnormalities such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Any unusual sleep patterns should certainly be further explored by the parents and the appropriate specialists before resorting to medicating for attention disorders.

Food allergies are another avenue to explore. Sensitivities to dyes in foods, especially red dyes, often mimic attention disorders. Other common food sensitivities include refined sugars and an abundance of unhealthy and processed foods. It is relatively simple and inexpensive to eliminate these foods from your pantry. Read labels and stock up on healthier foods. Use as many fresh ingredients as possible when cooking. Substitute processed deli meats with fresh meats. Buy yogurt, fresh fruits, whole grain cereals, and fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned. The closer a food resembles its' natural state, the less processing it goes through before it hits the grocery store shelf, the better that food will be for you and your family. Experiment with food replacements to rule out one of these food sensitivities.

While speaking of food, I must bring up another, less known, possible trigger in some children with behavioral problems. More research needs to be done, but a growing number of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders have had amazing results with eliminating wheat and dairy from the diet.* More specifically, the casein protein (found in dairy products) and gluten (found in wheat as well as other grains). I have included a link at the end of this article to assist you in beginning your research into that possibility.

Hypoglycemia is also a potential cause of behavior problems. It is caused by low blood sugar- with levels dropping too low to effectively fuel the body.* This can be ruled out with a series of blood tests given by your doctor. There are several types of hypoglycemia which can all affect the way a child acts. A child who eats a sugary breakfast will appear normal for a period of time following eating. Shortly thereafter the sugar levels drop significantly, leading to disorientation and foggy thinking. Children may misbehave, act erratically, and be unable to concentrate or focus. Often the remedy is a healthier diet including frequent snacks to keep sugar levels even, however that is a decision that must be made with your doctor.

There many more possible causes for your child's short attention span. Chemicals in cleaning and personal care products are a possibility as well. However, my goal in this article was not to name them all but to introduce you to a few. Hopefully this will prompt parents to research on their own because each situation is unique to each child. Talk to other parents in your situation. Research possible causes with an open mind. Consult with alternative practitioners such as a reputable Naturopath. Do your due diligence as your child's advocate. I strongly encourage parents to look for causes and always use common sense. Always seek medical advice before attempting to treat any condition with extreme diet changes, unconventional and possibly unsafe therapies, or other drugs- whether natural or manufactured. Finding help for your child should never involve endangering your child. If you are unsure always refer to an expert.

In the end, your child may be one of the few who actually has a real attention disorder and needs medication to help control it. If that is your situation, you can at least give him his medication knowing you have done your job as a parent in ensuring your child was not medicated simply because it was the easiest option.