Are you tired of punishing your ADHD child for impulses that he or she cannot control? Most parents who have impulsive ADHD children are often at their wits’ end. Children with ADHD hyperactive/impulsive type are not only unable to learn from past mistakes; their tendency to act before they think often gets them into trouble or places themselves and others in dangerous situations.  Besides natural ADHD treatments like neurofeedback, what else can you do to teach their child control their impulsivity?

[More...]

You’ve probably told your child to sit still and focus so that he or she can get homework done.  Anyone with ADHD is no stranger to well-meaning statements like, “If you try hard enough and concentrate, you can become whatever you want to be.”  However, relying on mind over matter can be frustrating and downright discouraging for someone with ADHD; after all, their distractible and inattentive brains aren’t exactly their biggest assets. But what if there was a way to use fidgeting as a means to improve focus?

[More...]

Current research shows a direct relationship between learning problems, developmental delays, and many symptoms associated with ADHD. In fact, a report from the National Academy of Sciences shows that mercury and heavy metal poisoning can account for as many as 3% of childhood neurological disorders in the United States. Children are particularly vulnerable to these toxic metals, not only because they have smaller bodies but also because they have not developed immune defenses against many of these toxins. The smallest exposure can do significant damage to a child’s developing nervous system. It’s not surprising that these toxins can cause ADHD-like symptoms, as well as chronic muscle pain, mood swings, chronic infections, and migraines.

There are many tests that can determine a heavy metal exposure, including nutrient element analysis and toxic elements test. Treatments for heavy metal poisoning vary according to the amount of exposure. Some can be addressed by zinc supplements, but more acute cases require advanced treatments like chelation therapy.

[More...]

Kids with ADHD can be very difficult to buy presents for. Like many parents, you are probably at a loss as to what to get for your ADHD child this holiday season. If you buy an expensive toy, there’s a high chance that they’ll accidentally break it or lose interest in it after a few days. But if you get them something too simple, they may not even glance at it, leaving the present to gather dust at the back of a closet.

Before you head out to go Christmas shopping for your ADHD child, take the time to know your child and what hobbies or topics is he or she interested in. Children with ADHD may be fickle and easily bored, but they only behave this way when faced with tasks or subjects that do not interest them. But give them a present related to their real interests, and you’ll find that your child is actually capable of sitting still and staying quiet for hours – and using your present until it naturally falls apart. Here are some gift suggestions that might help you decide what to get your kids this Christmas.

[More...]

For many kids with ADHD, the biggest challenge they confront everyday is the inability to pay attention – in the classroom, while doing their homework, sometimes while watching a movie. Of all the human faculties, attention used to be one of the least understood. It’s neither a skill nor a talent; it seems to be an inborn ability that cannot be taught or acquired. However, the latest developments in neuro-imaging and genetics provide us with a wider and more sophisticated understanding of how attention works. Studies show that attention is critical to more practical life skills, like the ability to organize things, make deep connections with others, even developing a conscience. More importantly, researchers have discovered that people can be taught how to pay attention, even if they suffer from ADHD.

Brain retraining programs are designed to correct old habits of thinking that lend itself to distractibility, inattention, and lack of focus. Using imaging technology and foundations in neuroscience, brain retraining programs are an alternative treatment that can target the same deficits ADHD medications seek to correct. Although these technologies have not been around long enough to determine if their benefits will last, kids and adults who have tried them found that brain retraining helps in the here and now. The following brain retraining programs are particularly helpful for children with ADHD, but they come with their own drawbacks and limitations.

Neurofeedback

What it does: Neurofeedback is based on the principle that individuals with ADHD have abnormal brain wave pattern that are either over-stimulated or under-stimulated. Beta waves should appear in tasks that require concentration and focus, but individuals with ADHD usually have large theta wave patterns, which indicate a state of daydream. Neurofeedback can retrain the brain until they emit beta waves, thus eliminating symptoms of inattention and distractibility.

How it works: The practitioner will take the medical history of the child and identify the symptoms that need to be treated. Then electrodes will be strapped on to the child’s head while he or she performs a cognitive task like reading out loud. The brain wave activity will be mapped out so the practitioner can figure out the abnormalities in the pattern – which is the theoretical source of the child’s ADHD symptoms. Through a computer game, the child’s brain will then be retrained. The computer game will only work if the child concentrates and emits beta waves. If there are too many theta waves, the game stops working and will only resume when the child concentrates once more. The positive benefits of neurofeedback training remain for months and years after the last session. After a year of therapy, patients tend to reduce their medication dose by 50% or stop taking them altogether.

Costs and drawbacks: The sessions are only 30 minutes long and completely painless. However, the average cost of a treatment course can range anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. Neurofeedback practitioners are also only available in certain areas. Finally, neurofeedback can only address the inattention issues of the ADHD spectrum and should be used in combination with other treatments.

Bottom line: If you can afford to pay for the neurofeedback treatments, it seems to be worth a shot, especially if your child cannot concentrate on schoolwork.

[More...]

If you are reading this blog, you’re probably well aware of the serious side effects caused by Ritalin and other ADHD medications. Fortunately, medicating your child is not the only ADHD treatment option out there. Today, there are a number of natural ADHD treatments that are safe, effective, and easy to purchase. Although certain approaches like ADHD diets can demand a lot out of your time and energy, homeopathic remedies can provide the convenience of taking medication without their side effects. One of the leading homeopathic remedies for ADHD is a product called Vaxa Attend, an herbal formulation specifically designed to boost central nervous system functions and the neurochemical deficits that are thought to cause the symptoms of ADHD.

How Attend works

Attend has over 70 active homeopathic ingredients that target the brain’s Reticular Activating System, which is responsible for consciousness, receiving stimuli from the spinal cord, and control of focused attention. Children and adults with ADHD usually have enough stimuli for conscious thought, but not for attention or focus (inattention). If the Reticular Activating System is receives too much stimulation, the person finds it difficult to stay still and control impulses (hyperactivity and impulsivity). Specific homeopathic ingredients in Attend (carbonicum and lithium bromatum) complement the chemical activity of the Reticular Activating system while directing and regulating attention. Aside from that, the herbs in Attend can stimulate neuron growth and reduce brain fatigue from prolonged mental exertion. And unlike ADHD medications, Attend can produce these useful effects without dulling the overall cognitive abilities and functions of the brain, which is a long-term side effect of stimulant drugs.

[More...]

A new study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry has revealed some frightening results for children taking Ritalin.

The researchers have found that children taking Ritalin and other psychostimulants had a 7 times greater risk of suffering from suddent unexplained death !

Don’t take the risk with your child. Look into natural ADHD alternatives.

Dr. Pauli