The Priest at our Church recently told me that there is another family who attends our Church who have a child about 10 who has ADHD and they have had alot of luck using some type of natural remedy with their child. He said he would talk to them for me and find out exactly what it is they are using.

Do any of you use any type of special diet, or maybe have taken some certain foods out of your childrens' diets and that seems to have benefited them?

At my son's next appt, with his Psychiatrist we might be discussing beginning medication, which I am willing to do anything if it will help him, but my first instinct is to maybe try this route also.

There's no evidence that any of these reduce symptoms of AD/HD.

The anecdotes are most likely placebo effects.

Treatments for AD/HD have been EXTENSIVELY studied and the only treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness are stimulant medications. Some SSRIs (like Strattera) have also, but there is less information because they are newer. Also, behavior therapy doesn't hurt.

Good luck!!

We have tried a couple different things with our son, and to be honest, nothing. We finally decided to see if he could get put on Adderall XR. It works so much better. The Strattera didn't do much for him.

Therapy and medication are the two techniques that have been proven to help. All others make claims, but they have not been able to prove efficacy.
Medication, especially stimulant medication, is very quick to work, and just as quick to quit if it's causing problems. It's effectivness and relative ease of use are the primary reasons it's the first thing physicians try.
Don't let all the fear mongering that occurs in the press scare you. It's mostly BS and scientology. Trust your doctor.

Greg,

I couldn't have said it better...lol :)

Thanks:)

I do not think that "therapy" has shown any benefit to ADHD other than helping with the secondary symptoms. From what I have read, the only two accepted methods are Behavior modification and medication.

However, I am a bit skeptical of the "behavior modification" theme.

You really need to get your child evaluated for the various leaning deficiencies that often go along with ADHD. The stress from school coupled with the unaddressed learning deficiencies are what really affected my child. The biggest part of their life is school, and if that is difficult it will affect all aspects of their life.

I am going to say it one more time, because it is not stated often enough on this board. You need to find out what learning deficiencies your child has. A diagnosis of ADHD is not enough information.

Also, you need to remember the basics, even if there is no study supporting it. Healthy diet, low sugar, low refined foods, a lot of vegetables, no sugary drinks, protein, etc. A lot of excercise. That is one pet peeve of mine with Western Medicine. "Doc;Your kid has this and this and this wrong with him, so take this medicine" "Patient; but my kid has fast food for breakast lunch and dinner, plays video games all afternoon and evening, then goes to bed at 11pm and can't sleep well. Is that a problem" "Doc; why didn't you tell me?"

When was the last time your doctor asked you what time your kids went to bed? How about your doctor asking what your kid had for breakfast? It does not happen often enough.

Diet, excercise and SLEEP! Not an eccentric prescription, but WAY underprescribed. (not a cure all either - I know)

I do not think that "therapy" has shown any benefit to ADHD other than helping with the secondary symptoms. From what I have read, the only two accepted methods are Behavior modification and medication.

However, I am a bit skeptical of the "behavior modification" theme.
Behavior modification is a form of therapy, and I'm sure it's what Robert was referring to.

Behavior mod is really the only form of psychotherapy that is supported with evidence of effectiveness (although most other forms are extremely difficult to test because the patient will always know they're "in therapy"). But, it works best for anxiety disorders, which are the most common type. You're right that it doesn't do much for ADHD, but it's still recommended (epecially for kids) because of its effectiveness with things like organization and anxiety. It does nothing for mood disorders, btw.


You really need to get your child evaluated for the various leaning deficiencies that often go along with ADHD.
Great advice!


"Doc; why didn't you tell me?"
I can kind of understand that part of "western medicine". It seems that there is so much information out there on proper nutrition and exercise (a lot of it is actually good info, too, although it's tough to weed out the c***) that I can see how they might think that's a given.

SLEEP!
TOTALLY undervalued today!

Behavior management for ADHD-C & H-I types has been shown to work.

Often times, many people associate behavior mod with punishment.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Behavior Management program for ADHD is specifically a rewards based/home token economy that balances rewards w/ natural & logical consequences.


P.S.

I've said this before as well, a healthy diet, plenty of rest and excercise is absolutely essential for everyone.

One more thing,

An evidenced based ADHD asseessment includes both cognitive & academic screenings.

(Research supports an avg. of 50% of ADHD kids as having LD's).

For me personally, I have a severe LD in Math to go along with my ADHD-C type.

Evidenced based ADHD assessments don't rely on test scores to either confirm or r/o the dx.

Oh yeah, while we're on the subject, I get a nice Christmas card and an occasional invitation to the local hospitals Sleep Lab; as I'm one of their main referral sources for children.