Children with ADHD are by no means easy to deal with, even when they’re already taking ADHD treatments that will help them focus or keep them calm. When the treatments don’t quite deliver the results they promise, families and teachers get frustrated and feel at a loss as to what to do next. Let’s examine five reasons that explain why ADHD treatments sometimes fail.
Going back to school might be hard for ADHD children, but it’s even harder for the parents – after all, mom and dad are the ones who have to make all the necessary arrangements for their little ones. Not only do they have to deal with enrolment procedures and taking the kids to school, they also have to manage the inevitable temper tantrums of a child who simply just doesn’t want to go yet.
The back-to-routine blues can be so overwhelming, it’s easy to forget a few important steps needed to ensure a smooth transition from the bliss of a long break to happy days with teachers and friends at school. For parents who have trouble keeping track of everything, here are three of the most important tips in getting ADHD kids back to school:
A parent recently posed a very interesting question – are sickly children more likely to have ADHD than healthy ones? Before her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, she had frequent asthma attacks and was prone to ear infections. When she compared notes with a fellow parent who has a son with ADHD, she discovered that the boy also suffers from chronic allergies and experienced upper respiratory tract infections on a regular basis.
Most doctors would say that there is no connection between ADHD and these illnesses; after all, ADHD is a neurological problem while these common childhood illnesses are caused by environmental irritants, genetics, or bacteria. But if you look beyond the superficial symptoms and asses the body as a whole, you’ll find that these health problems are no coincidence.
One of the most difficult parts about natural ADHD treatments – besides figuring out which ones work best for your child – is the support or lack thereof of the people around you. An ADHD treatment program is only as successful as the people who reinforce it, and there are many times when people allow your child to break the rules you’ve set for him or her. One such problem is the issue of relatives and grandparents who slip the occasional cookie or forbidden food to a child on an ADHD diet. Here’s what you can do when this happens.
If there is one ADHD symptom that creates awkward social situations and hurt feelings, it has to be the lack of tact. It’s normal for children of all ages to say what’s on their mind, but those with ADHD are even more likely to have no sense of control over their speech. Regardless of whether or not your child was speaking the truth (and chances are, he or she is probably right), every parent needs to deflect these inappropriate statements. Once the words have been said, someone is bound to get offended and you, the parent, might feel helpless or embarrassed.
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A medical diagnosis should never view the disorder in terms of black and white, especially with a condition as complex as ADHD. What I mean by this is that the ADHD diagnosis should not be made after checking a list of symptoms, because there are many similar disorders that are characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. Additionally, there are hundreds possible reasons behind your child’s behavior, and if these causes are not treated properly, your child’s problems will continue to persist. A wrong diagnosis is just as harmful as no diagnosis at all. Not only is your child not getting the help needed, but he or she is being treated for a condition that isn’t there and needlessly suffering the side effects of this treatment.
So when should you get a second opinion? Here are a few instances.
Is there a smoker in the family? Here’s one more reason to kick the habit. Researchers from the United States examined nearly 3,000 children, and discovered that those with highest concentrations of cigarette chemicals in their blood were more likely to have mental health issues and behavioral problems. The presence of ADHD symptoms was particularly strong in these kids.
In the 1960s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold uncovered a relationship between ADHD and artificial food additives. He observed that upon ingesting foods with these additives, the children’s bodies reacted adversely and became hyperactive and aggressive. Some estimates suggest that the consumption of artificial additives doubled since the 1990s, which can explain the increase behind ADHD cases in recent years.
Anyone who has ever taught, lived with, or spent time with an ADHD child has noticed that the disorder is more than just the three core symptoms. They are correct in this observation; inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are just the tip of a large iceberg. What lies underneath its surface?
The most popular ADHD natural treatments involve changing the way kids with ADHD think. After all, a child’s brain is still very malleable and can form new neural pathways to alter the way it thinks and responds to certain situations. Wouldn’t it be better to just teach a child’s brain how to focus instead of using strong stimulants that cause serious side effects? Neurofeedback and Cogmed Working Memory Training are just some examples of brain therapies that help ADHD kids control their impulses. Another option is the cognitive training programs from the Brain Potential Institute, which can now be done through the Internet.