Post by catatonic on Feb 19, 2005 12:58:35 GMT -5
Before beginning any form of treatment, get an ADHD behavioral checklist. Your pediatrician or neurologist can provide one, the Feingold diet introductory materials include one, and there are several available on-line. For example:
www.pediatricneurology.com/symptom.htm
Fill out the checklist as completely as possible, adding your own categories if you don't feel the form adequately addresses your specific concerns. You need a good, detailed record of your child's untreated behavior. This is important to do because as behavior gradually changes, you may not recall what you were originally dealing with. (i.e., you forget just how bad it really was!!)
The second step that's highly advisable to take is make sure your child recieves a thorough physical work-up. At a minimum, this should involve information on general blood chemistry (a CBC and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel), and ought to include specific tests for anemia, thyroid hormones, lead toxicity, and basic hearing and vision screening. A large number of easily treated physical problems can mimic ADHD symptoms. Don't pin your hopes on finding one of these, but do make the effort to rule them out.
Assuming you're now ready to try SOMETHING, the first place to start is with a good hard look at your child's diet. (See more detailed information on the "Diet" thread: millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095734277)
The clinical evidence is growing that food sensitivities are important etiologically to a number of neurological disorders, including ADHD, autism, and a host of others. We have had the most incredible success with the Feingold diet and I believe it's worth looking into. There are other programs as well that might be useful for you. Working with an allergist on developing a test elimination diet can also be helpful, as can allergy tests for both allergies and sensitivities (both food and environmental).
Some good starting points for dietary modifications are:
The Feingold diet:
www.feingold.org
The Failsafe diet (developed in an Australian hospital's allergy department):
www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
The gluten-free casein-free diet (shows particularly good results with autistm):
www.gfcfdiet.com/unacceptable.htm
Some good reading material on the subject of ADHD and diet:
"Is This Your Child" by Dr. Doris Rapp
"The ADD Nutrition Solution" by Marcia Zimmerman
"The Crazy Makers: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children" by Carol Simontacchi
Be sure to keep a diet diary with a detailed list of foods eaten and any symptoms observed. Periodically, fill in an updated behavioral checklist so that you can track your child's progress.
If you're lucky, you'll have a physician who is supportive of dietary interventions. (We're blessed to have such a neurologist.) But don't expect much support from your doctor. They're simply not educated about treatments that do not involve pharmaceuticals. I've found that if you simply ask for what you want, they'll go along with it, even though they may not agree with the necessity.
If you're interested in adding supplements, be sure to take a look at the "Magnesium" and "Omega-3" threads first, for general information on what they're used for and appropriate dosage. You might also want to look at a couple of books before beginning, such as:
"12 Effective Ways To Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" by Laura Stevens
"The LCP Solution" by Jacqueline Stordy
"The Magnesium Factor" by Seelig and Rosanoff
You might also want to consider visiting someplace like the Pfeiffer Treatment Center which specializes in detailed evaluation of nutritional status and individually tailored nutritionally-based treatments:
www.hriptc.org/
Or you can use an internet-based mail-order laboratory service such as Great Plains to obtain similar lab testing:
www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home.htm
Once you're ready to begin supplements, keep in mind that you need to do this GRADUALLY. It's tempting to run out and get all the important supplements so that you can start seeing results as quickly as possible. Don't do this. You need to add each supplement individually and wait several weeks to determine whether or not it is well tolerated. There is always the possibility that any supplement will make behavior worse -- sometimes due to the nutrient itself, but more often due to something they have added to it (like a flavoring or preservative). So start one at a time and watch for a while before adding the next one.
Generally the first thing you'll want to add is Omega-3 essentially fatty acids, in the form of fish oil. Take a look at the Omega-3 thread for specific information. ( millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095477771 )
Based on clinical studies, researchers speculate that Omega-3 deficiency is widespread among ADHD children, and that metabolic problems may play a role in the problem. (These metabolic issues make it wise to select fish oil instead of flax oil as your preferred form of Omega-3 supplementation.)
Fish oil must be taken with Vitamin E in order to protect cells from oxidative damage and to aid in the uptake/transport of the essential fatty acids. (Details on the Omega-3 thread.) So add Vitamin E to your shopping list.
BE PATIENT. It requires approximately 12 weeks to correct an Omega-3 deficiency. You will not see instant results. Somewhere in the 4-10 week time frame is typical. For us, obvious dramatic changes showed up at about the 6-week point.
The second item you'll probably want to add is magnesium. Clinical researchers have estimated that as much as 90% of ADHD children may be magnesium deficient. Magnesium is the neuronal gatekeeper, working in concert with calcium to regulate the opening and closing of the channels between neurons in the brain. (Magnesium also is critical to cardiovascular health, in addition to being essential to your brain.) The Magnesium thread has detailed information on magnesium supplementation ( millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1102134594 ).
The key points are...don't use magnesium oxide, do make sure you are giving enough, and build the dose gradually to avoid it causing an upset stomach.
You may wish to add a multi-vitamin. Nutritionally it's a good idea. However, make sure you are well-established on your other supplements and your dietary changes before you do this. Multi-vitamins contain so much stuff that they are a major risk factor in causing negative behavioral reactions. Many children will react poorly to the Vitamin B6 content. (Of course, an equally large number will show positive response to the B6. You just have to experiment.) Many will react to flavoring additives or herbals. Unflavored tablets or capsules are lower risk than flavored chewables or "designer" vitamins with lots of extra stuff. Look for a vitamin that also contains trace minerals to provide comprehensive supplementation. The "Vitamins and Minerals" thread has more information.
millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095478309
This is getting very long, and still isn't particularly comprehensive. If there's anything specific you think ought to be here, please mention it so we can add it. I'm sure OhMama will have some recommendations of her own to add as well.
www.pediatricneurology.com/symptom.htm
Fill out the checklist as completely as possible, adding your own categories if you don't feel the form adequately addresses your specific concerns. You need a good, detailed record of your child's untreated behavior. This is important to do because as behavior gradually changes, you may not recall what you were originally dealing with. (i.e., you forget just how bad it really was!!)
The second step that's highly advisable to take is make sure your child recieves a thorough physical work-up. At a minimum, this should involve information on general blood chemistry (a CBC and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel), and ought to include specific tests for anemia, thyroid hormones, lead toxicity, and basic hearing and vision screening. A large number of easily treated physical problems can mimic ADHD symptoms. Don't pin your hopes on finding one of these, but do make the effort to rule them out.
Assuming you're now ready to try SOMETHING, the first place to start is with a good hard look at your child's diet. (See more detailed information on the "Diet" thread: millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095734277)
The clinical evidence is growing that food sensitivities are important etiologically to a number of neurological disorders, including ADHD, autism, and a host of others. We have had the most incredible success with the Feingold diet and I believe it's worth looking into. There are other programs as well that might be useful for you. Working with an allergist on developing a test elimination diet can also be helpful, as can allergy tests for both allergies and sensitivities (both food and environmental).
Some good starting points for dietary modifications are:
The Feingold diet:
www.feingold.org
The Failsafe diet (developed in an Australian hospital's allergy department):
www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
The gluten-free casein-free diet (shows particularly good results with autistm):
www.gfcfdiet.com/unacceptable.htm
Some good reading material on the subject of ADHD and diet:
"Is This Your Child" by Dr. Doris Rapp
"The ADD Nutrition Solution" by Marcia Zimmerman
"The Crazy Makers: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children" by Carol Simontacchi
Be sure to keep a diet diary with a detailed list of foods eaten and any symptoms observed. Periodically, fill in an updated behavioral checklist so that you can track your child's progress.
If you're lucky, you'll have a physician who is supportive of dietary interventions. (We're blessed to have such a neurologist.) But don't expect much support from your doctor. They're simply not educated about treatments that do not involve pharmaceuticals. I've found that if you simply ask for what you want, they'll go along with it, even though they may not agree with the necessity.
If you're interested in adding supplements, be sure to take a look at the "Magnesium" and "Omega-3" threads first, for general information on what they're used for and appropriate dosage. You might also want to look at a couple of books before beginning, such as:
"12 Effective Ways To Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" by Laura Stevens
"The LCP Solution" by Jacqueline Stordy
"The Magnesium Factor" by Seelig and Rosanoff
You might also want to consider visiting someplace like the Pfeiffer Treatment Center which specializes in detailed evaluation of nutritional status and individually tailored nutritionally-based treatments:
www.hriptc.org/
Or you can use an internet-based mail-order laboratory service such as Great Plains to obtain similar lab testing:
www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home.htm
Once you're ready to begin supplements, keep in mind that you need to do this GRADUALLY. It's tempting to run out and get all the important supplements so that you can start seeing results as quickly as possible. Don't do this. You need to add each supplement individually and wait several weeks to determine whether or not it is well tolerated. There is always the possibility that any supplement will make behavior worse -- sometimes due to the nutrient itself, but more often due to something they have added to it (like a flavoring or preservative). So start one at a time and watch for a while before adding the next one.
Generally the first thing you'll want to add is Omega-3 essentially fatty acids, in the form of fish oil. Take a look at the Omega-3 thread for specific information. ( millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095477771 )
Based on clinical studies, researchers speculate that Omega-3 deficiency is widespread among ADHD children, and that metabolic problems may play a role in the problem. (These metabolic issues make it wise to select fish oil instead of flax oil as your preferred form of Omega-3 supplementation.)
Fish oil must be taken with Vitamin E in order to protect cells from oxidative damage and to aid in the uptake/transport of the essential fatty acids. (Details on the Omega-3 thread.) So add Vitamin E to your shopping list.
BE PATIENT. It requires approximately 12 weeks to correct an Omega-3 deficiency. You will not see instant results. Somewhere in the 4-10 week time frame is typical. For us, obvious dramatic changes showed up at about the 6-week point.
The second item you'll probably want to add is magnesium. Clinical researchers have estimated that as much as 90% of ADHD children may be magnesium deficient. Magnesium is the neuronal gatekeeper, working in concert with calcium to regulate the opening and closing of the channels between neurons in the brain. (Magnesium also is critical to cardiovascular health, in addition to being essential to your brain.) The Magnesium thread has detailed information on magnesium supplementation ( millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1102134594 ).
The key points are...don't use magnesium oxide, do make sure you are giving enough, and build the dose gradually to avoid it causing an upset stomach.
You may wish to add a multi-vitamin. Nutritionally it's a good idea. However, make sure you are well-established on your other supplements and your dietary changes before you do this. Multi-vitamins contain so much stuff that they are a major risk factor in causing negative behavioral reactions. Many children will react poorly to the Vitamin B6 content. (Of course, an equally large number will show positive response to the B6. You just have to experiment.) Many will react to flavoring additives or herbals. Unflavored tablets or capsules are lower risk than flavored chewables or "designer" vitamins with lots of extra stuff. Look for a vitamin that also contains trace minerals to provide comprehensive supplementation. The "Vitamins and Minerals" thread has more information.
millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Alternative&action=display&thread=1095478309
This is getting very long, and still isn't particularly comprehensive. If there's anything specific you think ought to be here, please mention it so we can add it. I'm sure OhMama will have some recommendations of her own to add as well.
