How to Determine if Your Child Has ADHD (ADD)

ADHD otherwise known as ADD and attention deficit-hyperactivity affects 3 to 5 % of school-aged children. It refers to excessive age-inappropriate physical activity.

Unfortunately since it is hard to define "normal" childhood behavior it is also hard to determine whether a child suffers from ADHD or is simply more active than other children.

Because of this ADHD often goes undiagnosed. The sad fact is that many affected children grow into adults who are unaware of their condition.

It is important to understand though that ADHD can affect learning. Learning disabilities or emotional problems are closely associated with ADHD.

The problem is that the "normal" can be viewed in many different ways and therefore it is often unclear as to whether a child suffers from true ADHD or is simply more rambunctious or rebellious than his classmates.

At present there is no objective criterion that accurately confirms the presence of ADHD.

Sadly ADHD often goes undiagnosed despite outward symptoms.

ADHD is generally recognized by a pattern of inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is estimated that 3 to 5% of school-aged children have ADHD. Sadly, learning disabilities or emotional problems often accompany ADHD.

Children with ADHD experience an inability to sit still and pay attention in class. Furthermore they often engage in disruptive behavior.

Dietary changes may be helpful. The two most researched dietary approaches to ADHD are the Feingold diet and a hypoallergenic diet.

The Feingold diet was developed by Benjamin Feingold, M.D., and centres around salicylates (chemicals similar to aspirin that are found in a wide variety of foods) and the fact they are an underlying cause of hyperactivity. Parents who suspect their child has ADHD should contact their local Feingold Association for more information about which foods and medicines contain salicylates.

Furthermore the Feingold diet eliminates synthetic additives, dyes, and chemicals, which are commonly added to processed foods. Surprising the yellow dye tartrazine has been specifically shown to provoke symptoms in controlled studies of ADHD-affected children. It is important to note though that not every child reacts. Studies have shown that enough children do, so trial elimination may be worth exploring.

It is important to note also that the Feingold diet is complex and requires guidance from either the Feingold Association itself or a healthcare professional familiar with the Feingold diet.

Then there is the hypoallergenic diet where studies have shown that about one third of ADHD children improved when challenged with food additives. Aggravation of symptoms where experienced when children were given these additives. By eliminating individual allergenic foods and additives from the diet many children found they no longer had attention problems.

Some parents and health professionals still believe sugar may aggravate ADHD. One study found that avoiding sugar reduced aggressiveness and restlessness in hyperactive children. More research is still required to determine whether sugar does indeed play a role in ADHD.

When it comes to ADHD you can handle it in many ways. The key is to know where to begin.

To make things simple most doctors recommend trying these following steps first:

Try the Feingold diet. Here you work with either a diet specialist or the Feingold Association to reduce or eliminate food additives and other food issues that may affect ADHD. For more information on the Feingold Association or the Feingold diet speak with your health practitioner.

Many doctors also recommend L-carnitine to improve behavior. A daily dose would be 100 mg for each 2.2 pounds of body weight, with a maximum of 4 grams a day.

Try 200 mg a day of magnesium. Many doctors have found that magnesium can address possible deficiency of this mineral that may influence ADHD.

Please note these above recommendations are not comprehensive and are only mentioned as an educational tool to supply you with some information you may want to discuss with your doctor. By no means is it intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.