Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD)
What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobehavioral or developmental disorder that is primarily characterized by attention problems with or without hyperactivity, difficulty with concentration, focusing and impulsivity. Symptoms typically are present before seven years of age, and must be out of the normal range for a child’s age and development to be considered ADHD.
Depression, lack of sleep, learning disabilities, tic disorders, and behavior problems may be confused with, or appear with, ADHD. Every child suspected of having ADHD should have a careful evaluation to determine what is contributing to the behaviors that are causing concern.
Symptoms of ADHD in children are generally grouped into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.
Inattention – A child with ADHD:
- Is easily distracted
- Does not follow directions or finish tasks
- Does not appear to be listening when someone is speaking
- Does not pay attention and makes careless mistakes
- Is forgetful about daily activities and has problems organizing daily tasks
- Avoids or dislikes activities that require sitting still or a sustained effort
- Often loses things, including personal items
- Tends to daydream
Hyperactivity – A child with ADHD:
- Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
- Does not stay seated and is always moving, i.e., running or climbing on things
- Has difficulty playing quietly
- Talks excessively
Impulsivity – A child with ADHD:
- Has difficulty waiting for his or her turn
- Blurts out answers before the question has been completed
- Often interrupts others
Adult symptoms differ from those in children and include chronic lateness and forgetfulness, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, difficulty controlling anger, impulsiveness, substance abuse/addictive behavior, poor organization skills, procrastination, low frustration tolerance, chronic boredom, difficulty concentrating when reading, mood swings and relationship/employment problems.
Who is Affected?
ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood. It affects about three to five percent of school-aged children and is diagnosed much more often in boys than in girls. The disorder affects adults, as well – it is estimated that 4.7 percent of American adults have ADHD.
ADHD may arise from a combination of allergic sensitivities, immunologic, allergic and digestive dysfunction that begins with damage to the child’s immune system early in development.
What are Options for Treatment?
At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, we look for triggers of ADHD such as biologic, nutritional and environmental factors that may be contributing to this condition. It’s not enough to simply cover up symptoms with prescription medications. We take an individualized, therapeutic approach to managing the disorder. Since ADHD can reflect altered brain and central nervous system function – which have been shown to result from an overload of environmental toxins, abnormal immunologic reactions, impaired detoxification and often severe gastrointestinal dysfunction, we utilize diagnostic and treatment techniques that address the intestinal, immunologic and metabolic problems usually associated with behavioral abnormalities.
We test for allergies and sensitivities to food, including gluten and casein. If identified, we utilize sublingual desensitization to manage allergies, and modify a patient’s diet to eliminate food triggers and to treat Candidiasis in the event of an overgrowth of yeast. At the Magaziner Center, we also utilize nutritional supplements and Probiotics to combat any vitamin and nutrient imbalances (including that of amino and fatty acids) and to regulate intestinal flora and bowel bacteria, often resulting from “Leaky Gut” syndrome, a condition which affects food sensitivities and neurotransmitter balance and can result in behavioral problems.
Because many patients with ADHD cannot break down and excrete toxins as well as others, we look at chemical triggers and toxicity to heavy metals and utilize various detoxification methods including chelation therapy to eliminate mercury, lead and other heavy metals, which has been shown to dramatically improve behavioral symptoms.
Lastly, we utilize ONDAMED®, a non-invasive, painless biofeedback technique to detect and repair areas of cellular imbalance. This technologically-advanced system uses pulsed electromagnetic frequency to help put the body back in energetic balance, thus contributing to a general feeling of relaxation and clearer thinking. At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, we use ONDAMED® in conjunction with other natural therapies to help manage ADHD in both children and adults.