ALTERNATIVE THERAPY SERIES NO: 20 ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

SYMPTOMS


Keep in mind that attention deficit disorder (ADD) is often misdiagnosed. Because so many symptoms are related to child development, they can be normal at one age and not at another; moreover, they may be appropriate to one child and not to another of the same age. However, add dose exist, and it can be treated. In many cases, a child will show signs of the disorder in early childhood even infancy but go undiagnosed until first or second grade, when the demands of school work make them more apparent.



Symptoms include:

• Habitual failure to pay attention.

• Difficulties with schoolwork.

• Excessive distractibility.

• An ability to organize, even with activities that are enjoyed.

• Impulsiveness.

• Hyperactivity fidgeting and running about.

• Excessive talking and frequent interrupting.


Difficulty in paying the defining sign of attention deficit disorder (ADD) is among the most common development problems of childhood, affecting about 20 percent of all school children, according to some estimates. (other estimates, however, suggest a lower figure of 5 to 7 percent.) five times as many boys suffer from ADD as girls, and the disorder can persist through adolescence, with some symptoms continuing into adulthood. Great progress has been made in treatment in recent decades. At the same time, though, much about condition remains uncertain or ill-defined, leading to popular overuse of the term: professional report that it has become fashionable, especially among teenagers or their parents, to blame ADD for what may simply be negligent performance.

Most ADD children are of normal or intelligence. Their activity levels may be normal, lower than normal (hypoactivity), or higher than normal (a version that has its own diagnostic label: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD). An ADD child may also have specific learning disability that prevents him from taking in and sorting out information in the same way other children do. His brain is unable to process the massage his ears, eyes, or muscles give him.


CAUSES

Although the cause of ADD are poorly understood, biological inheritance appears to be important in many cases: the disorder seems to run in families. A number of non-genetic can also play causative role. Among them: drug or alcohol abuse or other problems in a mother pregnancy, birth trauma, early child abuse, brain injuries from accidents, meningitis, encephalitis, low level lead poisoning (see Environmental poisoning), and psychological disorders.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, some researchers thought ADD was caused or intensified by sugar and artificial food activities. This theory is now controversial, but some studies till shows that specific foods such as chocolate, wheat, cow’s milk, and oranges may exacerbate the condition in some hyperactive children.


DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES

A battery of test sometimes including positron emission tomography (PET) scans are given to assess a child’s neurological and psychological status. They should be administered by a pediatrician with a special interest in school problems.

Test include:

• A medical and social history of both the child and his family.

• A physical exam and neurological assessment including screening of vision, hearing and verbal and motor skills, as well as tests for blood levels of lead, a mineral that has been implicated in hyperactivity.

• A quantitative evaluation of intelligence, aptitude, personality traits, and processing skills.


You may be also advised to check with an allergist if any sensitive are suspected.



TREATMENT

The best treatment is thought to be a combination of medication and psychological therapies. Close co-operation among therapist, physicians, teachers, and parents is very important, and team meetings are useful.


CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

Although there is considerable controversy about their possible overuse, stimulants such as amphetamines or, more usually, methylphenidate (better known by the brand name Ritalin) are the medications often prescribes for ADD. (strange as it seems, stimulates often calm hyperactivity.) a physicians needs to monitor the dosage closely (about twice a month), both to check for the right level and watch for side effects. Since the benefits of Ritalin dose last only about four hours, two or three tablets may be needed each day.

Of the psychological therapies, behavior modification may be best, particularly if the therapist helps parents learn some of the techniques for behavior control. It is often given in conjunction with specific educational intervention, such as help with learning skills. Psychotherapy valuable option, particularly if the child suffer from low self esteem.


ALTERNATIVE CHOICES

Several different alternative therapies may prove helpful, among them homeopathy; consult a homeopath for guidance. EEG biofeedback also shows promise as a means of behavior modification.

NUTRION AND DIET

Although the effectiveness of dietary restriction is controversial, some doctor recommend high protein, low carbohydrate, sugar free diet. Some children may also benefit from the B vitamin supplements niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), and possibly thiamine (B1). The stimulant caffeine ingested at the rate of 150 to 300 mg per day can be helpful. Depending on the result of your child’s tests for mineral blood levels, he may need supplements.



AT HOME MANAGEMENT

• Join a support group. Connect with the national organization children and adults with hyperactivity and Attention disorder (see Appendix).

• Because an ADD child may process direction and other information in faulty ways, he is apt to be bombarded with corrections, leaving him with a low opinion of himself. Do whatever you can to promote your child’s self esteem.

• Praise and reward good behavior promptly.

• Be consistent with discipline, and make sure baby sitters follow your methods.

• Make instruction simple and specific (“Brush your teeth; now get dressed”), instead of general (“Get ready for school”).

• Encourage your child special strengths, particularly in sports and out of school activities.

• Have set routine for meals, sleep, play, and TV.

• Don’t let homework monopolize all of his time after school; play and exercise are important.

• Simplify your child room. Store toys out of sight.