Driven to Distraction.......
Recognising & coping with ADD
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) seems to be more and more prevalent today among our children, particularly boys. I very much doubt this is because today’s world exposes our kids to the disease any more than they were in the past. No, I reckon it is because only recently has ADD been defined as a disease or condition at all. And, beyond that, one that you can do something about. Alas, in the past our children were all too easily classified as “bad” or “stupid” and, as often as not, punished or co-erced into a conformity that ill became them. Many lives being blighted as a result. Happily that is less and less the case today as more and more parents and schools recognise the problem and seek to address it.
ADD is characterised by a poor or short attention span and an impulsiveness that is inappropriate for a child’s age. When children with ADD are also hyperactive, the disorder is is called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although ADD is commonly diagnosed in children, adults can suffer from it as well. The disorder is usually inherited and is often caused by abnormalities in neurotransmitters. There are three types of disorder: ADD without hyperactivity, ADD with hyperactivity and ADD residual type. This latter applies when ADD persists into adulthood.
What it is.....
ADD affects between 5 and 20% of school-aged children, with boys being diagnosed 10 times more often than girls. Signs of ADD can be noticed in children under the age of 4, but it is not until middle school that it can seriously interfere with performance. Symptoms of the disorder include a lack of sustained concentration, attention, and task completion. Impulsiveness and overactivity may also be present as well as rages and tantrums. Preschool-aged children with ADD may have difficulty communicating and interacting, and they may have associated behaviour problems. Older children may constantly fidget, move hands and legs, talk impulsively and forget easily. About 20% of ADD children also have learning disabilities and a full 90% have academic problems. Although typically not aggressive, children with the disorder may have conduct and behavioural problems. By adolescence, about 40% of young sufferers will be depressed, anxious and confrontational. They will also display a low tolerance for frustration. It is important to note that other childhood problems can trigger what appear to be symptoms of ADD but are not. These include physical and emotional abuse, family violence, tension, depression and stress. Food allergies and sensitivities can also play a role in ADD-type symptoms.
Also to be remembered is that many children have been labelled with ADD when their behaviour is actually normal for their age or situation.
What to do......
A child with suspected ADD should first be examined for the presence of physical disorders. Then a battery of neuro-psychiatric tests needs to be done by an ADD specialist. This is extremely important since ADD and ADHD have become “fad” diagnoses and are easily overdiagnosed, leading to unecessary medication.
Traditional treatment is to manage ADD with medication, primarily the psychostimulant, methylphenidate (Ritalin). Although medication does not always work, when it does it’s like a miracle, but you need to test for the right drug and watch out for side effects. Ritalin may improve attention and concentration in some children, but be aware that many specialists believe Ritalin is overprescribed. Though comparatively safe, look out for common side effects, sleep disturbances, insomnia, decreased appetite, depression, headaches, stomachaches and high blood pressure.
Sometimes antidepressants are used to treat ADD and there can be advantages to this approach over Ritalin in certain cases. It can be taken in a single dose and avoids the jagged peaks and valleys some people experience on Ritalin. It all depends on the individual. The usual antidepressant used for ADD is the tricyclic type desipramine or Norpramin. largely because this drug has been used in clinical trials for this condition. Norpramin also has various side effects to watch out for. Other stimulants such as dexadrine and cylert have been used, but since these drugs can decrease appetite, the child’s weight and growth developments should be monitored. New research indicates that antithyroid medications such as neomercazole may be an effective treatment in some children with ADD and thus screening suitable children for elevated thyroid levels may be justified.
The French Found an Answer.....
A good natural alternative to either Ritalin or antidepressant drugs for ADD, and which avoids all chance of side effects, is a French discovery called Adapton, a fish extract called Garum armoricum which has been used extensively in Europe for many years and with great success as a drug to treat anxiety and depression, as well as ADD. Most children with ADD/ADHD problems are under a tremendous amount of self-imposed stress. Adapton calms the nervous system without sedative effect and works very well. A loading dose of 2 pills before breakfast and 2 pills after school for 14 days, followed by 2 pills before breakfast 3 days a week is all that is necessary.
Any drug therapy is usually combined with behaviour therapy conducted with a psychologist and parenting techniques that include providing a routine and structured environment.
Allergies?
Some years ago Dr Benjamin Feingold was the first person to promote the idea that food additives might be responsible for causing ADD. That is to say anything that nature did not put in our food. Examples being food colourings, preservatives, bleaching agents, thickeners and anti-caking agents, MSG, sugar and sucrose plus milk and dairy products and, alas, chocolate. It is estimated that 8 to 10 lbs of food additives are consumed by each American every year. The idea was initially controversial but now it is commonly accepted that adverse reactions to certain food products and additives plays a significant role in triggering ADHD in children. Magnesium deficiency can also play a role. There are a host of possibilities and through the Feingold Foundation a comprehensive elimination diet was developed by Dr Feingold which determines if the child has allergies or food sensitivities. This is important, for dietary allergies cause much more than skin rashes, asthma attacks and intestinal disruptions. Studies have shown that they can cause brain-wave disruptions so severe that a child can’t process incoming information, exercise behaviour control, or demonstrate emotion-based reasoning. For more info on the Feingold elimination diet write PO Box 6550, Alexandria, VA or call 1.800.321 3287.
Behaviour Modification
In addition to diet, behaviour training is essential in effective treatment. ADD and ADHD children need structured daily routines. Encourage the child to look at the person speaking to them and to acknowledge what was said. Daily schedules and time limits should be set and adhered to for TV, playtime and bath time.
A new and exciting form of treatment that is showing sometimes spectacular success in the treatment of ADD/ADHD is EEG or electroencephalograph biofeedback based on the work of Dr. Eugene Pennisten. This is achieved by inducing an alpha/theta state which has dramatic effects on behaviour. The process has been applied with astounding success in a number of inner city schools with teachers reporting that these children are more centred and focused on school work with little or no intervention to complete assignments. Parents report that children on drug therapy no longer need the drug to function. In one school district neurofeedback kept 20 out of 60 students treated with EEG out of expensive special education classes. For further info: EEG Spectrum, 16100 Ventura Blvd., Encino CA 91436-2505, Tel: (818) 789 349.
The Natural Approach
In addition to Adapton, which as we’ve seen is used by doctors in Europe as an antidepressant, and taking care to ensure the most supportive diet having checked for allergies, there are many other natural supplements that can play an enormous part in helping to treat the condition.
First of all a good children’s multi is a no-brainer. As usual you need to take great care in selection as they vary enormously in quality. For ADD, if not for any child, you should find a formulation that contains a good panel of “brain food” along with the right vitamins and minerals. Look for a formulation that includes choline bitartate, phosphatidyl choline, choline, DMAE, L-Cysteine and Inositol. These will help boost your child’s memory and concentration, whether or not they suffer from ADD. Amino acid supplementation also works on the nervous system to calm the body, particularly L-Tyrosine, GABA and Glycine. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) including both Omegas 3 & 6 are essential for good brain function.
Those doyens of the antiaging movement, Durk and Sandy Shore who started the ball rolling back in 1982 with their book “Life Extension” designed a product called “Choline Cooler” to be taken as a pleasant tasting drink (important for kids that), which is a synergystic blend of brain boosting nutrients and also used for children with ADD.
ADD in Adults
ADD is most usually associated with children but it can and does persist in one form or another into adulthood for many people. Adults with ADD may be highly disorganised, prone to outbursts of anger, and feel they are not adequate to cope with the stresses of life. Other problems may surface that include low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and inappropriate behaviour on social occasions. Left untreated it can manifest into problems with drugs, alcohol and personal relationships. Anyone feeling this should not hesitate to consult a mental health professional whom they trust because such symptoms, if ADD driven, may be easily resolved and their entire lives can take on a new and happier perspective. We are not taking hours of therapy here. Often the application of the natural supplements mentioned earlier will take care of things. Two good books on the subject for parents and adults are: “Driven to Distraction” and “Answers to Distraction”, by Drs. E. Hallowell & J. Ratey from Simon & Schuster.
A last thought in passing, nowadays Winston Churchill would almost certainly have been diagnosed with ADD, because as a child, and for much of his adult life he was thought by many to be dysfunctional. Fortunately for us all, a suitable subject to obsess about came along in his old age.
ParacelsusAsia
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