What Does ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Mean?
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(ADHD) is a common diagnosis or "label" for children today. Most children I see in my office have received this label from another doctor, counselor, psychologist or teacher. However, ADHD is a group of symptoms not a disease. The symptoms on which the diagnosis is based are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a psychiatric diagnosis manual. This makes ADHD officially a psychiatric diagnosis. The diagnosis for ADHD is completely subjective as there is no objective medical test that can identify it or prove it exists. In the 13 years I have been practicing, I have never seen a child in my office who actually had ADHD. Although a child may have attention and behavior problems, I find that when I do a comprehensive history, physical examination, allergy testing and lab tests, I find an underlying health, nutritional or learning problem causing the symptoms.
Typically, a child who has been given the ADHD label is prescribed a drug to treat the symptoms. These drugs may have an immediate positive effect on the child's behavior and ability to pay attention. However, for many of the children I see in my office, this positive effect does not last. When the drug stops being effective, the drug is increased, another drug is tried or added to the last. Once again, positive results may occur. This scenario can continue for years with new drugs being tried and added. I have seen children on as many as four psychotrophic drugs at one time.
Drugs such as Ritalin, Adderal, or Dexadrine are commonly used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Most of these drugs are stimulants and carry a risk of abuse. This is why they are considered controlled substances. Ritalin has similar properties to cocaine. Studies indicate that Ritalin goes the same receptor sites in the brain as cocaine.
For many children, the drugs work immediately to help control the child's behavior and help him or her focus. For children who do not respond to an initial drug treatment, higher doses and combinations of powerful drugs are prescribed. Yet studies show that drug therapy does not fix the problem. When the drug is discontinued, the symptoms return. Some physicians have considered keeping children on these drugs for years. Unfortunately, there are no studies identifying the potential side effects that may result from long-term use of these drugs in children.
Some day, an estimated six million children in the United States will tell us what long-term use of these drugs has done to them. Today's children are the unwitting participants in an uncontrolled drug study. When I see a child struggling emotionally and physically with the ADHD label and current drug treatment, I wonder if ADHD actually stands for "Another Devalued, Helplessly Drugged" child.
Allergies, Diet, Hypoglycemia, Different learning styles
My approach is to look for and treat, whenever possible, the underlying causes of attention and behavior problems rather than using drugs to cover the symptoms. There are many different causes, but the most common I see in my office offer yet another meaning to the diagnosis of ADHD: Allergies, Diet, Hypoglycemia, Different learning styles
Allergies and sensitivities can cause learning and behavioral problems. The irritant can be a variety of factors. For example, the parent of one child who was having trouble in school discovered that the teacher wore heavy cologne. The child had even more problems when the teacher, trying to help, moved the student to the front of the class, closer to her. When the teacher stopped wearing the cologne, the child's problems were resolved. Sometimes foods cause a reaction. When it is a food, it is usually the food the child eats the most, likes the best, and would least likely want to give up.
Avoiding the irritant is recommended but it is not always possible. Many patients undergo allergy treatments. It is important for parents to find a physician who understands the relationship between foods and environmental factors and behavior. All allergists do not. There are some very effective allergy and sensitivity treatments available today.
Another definition of ADHD might be A Demand for a Healthy Diet. Our bodies need many nutrients to function properly. Our current diet too often consists of foods that are laden with chemicals and pesticides. Sometimes our foods are not really even foods, but synthetics products made from artificial ingredients. In addition, our bodies must work harder to eliminate the many pollutants in our environment, putting an even greater demand on our nutritional balance. For all my patients, I recommend a healthy diet consisting of organic and natural foods whenever possible, glass-bottled or filtered water, and a daily supplementation of vitamins and minerals.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can cause many behavioral and learning problems. When a child does not eat frequently enough, eats foods to which he or she is allergic, eats too many sugary foods or has difficulty processing sugary foods, blood sugar levels can drop dramatically. To pull these levels back to normal, the body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline triggers the "fight or flight" response. It's good to have high adrenaline levels if one's life is in danger, but it's extremely hard to sit still, listen, and behave when adrenaline release occurs while in the classroom. I recommend that my patients eat every two to three hours, include protein at each meal or snack, and eliminate refined sugars to help balance blood sugar levels throughout the day.
We all learn differently. Most of the children I see who have been diagnosed with ADHD are tactile learners. They like to touch things to learn. However, learning in school requires that a child be able to look and listen. that is, look at the board and listen to the teacher. Tactile learners have difficulty with this. They may do things such as tap their pencils, tug on another student's shirt, or get up and move around. They may disrupt the class and get in trouble, when all they are trying to do is learn the best way they know how. I usually recommend to these children that they hold onto something such as a soft squeeze ball while studying or working in the classroom. But more importantly, I recommend that they develop their auditory and visual abilities. There are various programs available that can be very effective in accomplishing this.
Many factors can lead to attention and behavior symptoms. I've discussed the ones I see most commonly. It is important to identify health, nutritional and learning problems while children are young to give them the brightest future. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to fulfill his or her potential without the restrictions of negative labels and drugs. It is our responsibility as adults to help our children do this. Each child has wonderful talents and abilities. It is up to us to nurture them. That's why when I see any child, especially a child labeled with ADHD, I only see an
"Adorable, Dynamic, Huggable, Delightful" child.
