ADD alternatives?

[hmdavis02]

Does anyone out there have any ideas or experience helping a child overcome ADD tendencies? My daughter is extremely smart but has such difficulty focusing!

 

Let me say that I will not address it through the medical community because I do not want to put her on medication, and I firmly believe that all children have some potential for an ADD diagnosis. Also, I recognize that as little as 50 years ago all these things were addressed as behavioral and personality traits, and I'm not sure that was a wrong way to go about it. After all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, right? So we each have our struggles and my job is to help them identify and learn to cope with theirs... <climbing down off my soapbox...>

 

So all that being said, I would love to glean from the experience/advice of others! A classic example of her type of inattentiveness is this: We told her to pick up Toy A and Toy B and put them away. She bent over and picked up Toy A, whereupon my husband said, "And Toy B." She looked down, bent to pick up Toy B and dropped Toy A in the process (not deliberately, but as if it ceased to exist in her mind). She has tons of stories and ideas flying through her mind and is always writing/drawing/etc. But she is never, ever, ever cleaning up behind! At 7, her table manners closely resemble a 7-month-old's, and she is perpetually forgetting things that are important to her as well as daily tasks and chores.

 

I would be interested in trying dietary changes and especially in behavior coaching to help her work on her weakness. I don't really know where to start, short of making her stay within arm's reach of me for several days. . .

 

Thanks for listening and thanks in advance for all advice!

[WishboneDawn]

Also, I recognize that as little as 50 years ago all these things were addressed as behavioral and personality traits, and I'm not sure that was a wrong way to go about it.

 

Just want to point out that having parents who had struggles related to ADD and LDs as kids in the 40s and 50s I've heard the same thing. However, their take on the success of addressing "all those things" as behavioral and personality traits is anything but positive.

[Renee in NC]

Try occcupational therapy. My ds who seemed to be off the charts ADD had great success with OT. His issues turned out to be sensory in nature.

[Kristine in VA]

I thought my ds was ADD when he was that age. He is now 14. Anyway, we cut out artificial colors and flavors and started him on fish oil. It definitely made a difference. I could tell when he had something artificial.

 

Also, we had him tested for allergies. He had never had any allergic reactions per se but he did have an upset stomach fairly regularly. It turns out he has food sensitivities which by themselves wouldn't be a problem, but all together made him act like he had ADD and be difficult sometimes. During the elimation diet I felt like I had another child.

 

Best of luck,

Kristine in VA

[Lisa in Jax]

We use diet (not meds) for ADHD symptoms. For us, diet has made a TON of difference. Watch for foods your daughter craves. If she's addicted to a type of food (carb/dairy/etc.), try eliminating that category for a couple of weeks. That's a big job, though, so if that kind of change seems overwhelming, you might want to start smaller.

 

I believe that the computer adage "garbage in, garbage out," applies to food/behavior, too. So, before trying a true elimination diet (gluten-free/dairy-free, for example) try starting with an overall healthier diet. Feeding your daughter healthy, WHOLE, unprocessed foods may significantly improve her "output" (behavior/learning).

 

A whole foods diet means eiminating chemicals, preservatives and colors, especially high fructose corn syrup, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, MSG, FD&C blue, red, yellow, etc. Shop the outer aisles of the grocery store. Instead of chicken nuggets, serve baked chicken. Instead of fries, serve mashed potatoes. Instead of fruit leather, serve strawberries, etc.

 

In addition to a "whole foods," no chemicals/colors diet, if you add essential fatty acids (fish oil, etc.) and zinc, you may see a HUGE difference.

 

In no particular order, here are some things to research:

 

1. Fish oil supplements

2. Zinc supplements

3. "Feingold" diet (removing chemicals and artificial colors)

4. Gluten-free diet (and, possibly, a dairy-free diet)

5. "Is Your Child's Brain Starving?" (a book that is HIGHLY recommended)

6. Attend (a homeopathic remedy for focus by Vaxa)

7. Sensory Integration Disorder (the table manners make me wonder if she has sensory integration issues)

8. Neurological Reorganization therapy (helps with focus and sensory stuff)

 

 

HIH,

 

Lisa

[LibraryLover]

It's a challenge. But remember, kids 50 or more years ago were first & foremost seen as lazy, behavior problems and 'dunces'. They were not well-accomodated within most school systems. They were not seen as intelligent. They might have been able to get through a play kindergarden program (which are more rare today), but after that, many struggled terribly, maybe even labled 'retarded'. In the days of corporal punishment in all schools, these children were more likely paddled more often...which did not nothing postitive for their academic, cognitive, or emotional needs. I'd be careful about putting a postivie spin on the past in this way.

 

Ok. I think fish oils are worth exploring; there seems to be quite a bit of good data out there suggesting they can help with focus. I would also keep a child in protein throughout the day as that is more sustaining and helps avoid/limit blood sugar -crash tantrums and spaciness. I would ditch any and all HFCS. I would also be very specific in giving directions at this point. 'Please pick up the doll. Put it on the toy shelf'. Only when that's been done would I request the next thing. Keep your requests specific and limited. Make a list on a white board or chalk board with the day's activities on them. Check off as you go. etc. Keep it simple. Remember she is 7, and in general, 7 year olds are *very dreamy*. It's a normal part of the age for the majority of kids. Waldorf people have written much about this 'dreamy' period of childhood.

 

I think most kids are better able to handle a more formal academic program (which is not a suggestion to do nothing...more of a suggestion to do as suggested in WTM , which is to 'fill their heads with stories.') after this 'dreamy' period of childhood passes, which is around 8, maybe 9 for boys. Which is also, not surprisingly, when most children start reading without so many frustrated tears.

Edited July 27, 2010 by LibraryLover

[Jen in PA]

What has worked very well here is lots of omega-3s (fish oil and flax daily), lots of physical activity, and always pairing carbs with protein. Consistency seems to be a big issue, and I definitely notice that when we have routine changes or I am very busy, things can go downhill rapidly.

[Beth in OH]

Arm yourself with solid information about how the ADD brain works, and it will help you to shift your strategies. An excellent foundational book, if you haven't already read it, is Driven to Distraction, by Hallowell and Ratey. Although the book does include information on modern medical treatment for ADD, it doesn't advocate for such treatment. The book simply provides information. I have a dd who wasn't diagnosed with ADD until she was an older teen, and I have found knowledge to be my greatest ally in helping her manage her condition.

 

Beth

[gingersmom]

Try occcupational therapy. My ds who seemed to be off the charts ADD had great success with OT. His issues turned out to be sensory in nature.

 

 

:iagree:

[MotherGoose]

This may seem bizarre, but when I worked in the mental health field, one of the telling things to diagnose ADHD was if the child drank a Coke or coffee or whatever, (caffeine), instead of hyping her up, it would calm her down. The ADHD medications are stimulants too, just like caffeine is. Your daughter does not sound hyperactive, but if you don't have a problem with it you might give it a go. Checklists might help her to keep track of basic things. Like tasks she has to complete each morning and check off. And keeping directions very short and brief. Toy a & B might be too much for her now, just toy a alone and when she does that, then b.

[mamapjama]

You may also want to do a search on ADD and chiropractic treatment. Also Cranial Sacral Therapy. We have used both and were very impressed with the treatments.

[Laurie4b]

What you are describing is a problem with working memory. There is actually research-based treatment for this called Cogmed. (This has been tested in double-blind studies on people with normal working memories, ADHD population, etc. and is currently under study to see if it helps kids whose chemo has impacted their working memory. It is a computerized program administered only by professionals, but done at home. It expands working memory, which is the most difficult thing about ADD. In fact, current thinking has moved from the hypothesis that attention deficits cause memory problems to the thinking that the low working memory capacity causes what appear to be attention problems.

 

Working memory is the amount of memory accessible to you on your "workbench." Say that the average person can keep 7 items on their toolbench. They have 4 or 5 things on there and there is an interruption/distraction. They deal with the interruption and then come back to their workbench and all the other stuff is still there. A person with ADD may be able to keep only 1 or 2 things on the workbench. So a distraction/interruption comes along and knocks something else off the workbench. WHen the distraction is over, what's left on the workbench? Possibly nothing. (That's exactly what you described with your dd)

 

 

You can also search the special needs boards. search Natural ADD and you'll get a lot of threads.

 

Quoting you: Also, I recognize that as little as 50 years ago all these things were addressed as behavioral and personality traits, and I'm not sure that was a wrong way to go about it. After all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, right? So we each have our struggles and my job is to help them identify and learn to cope with theirs...

 

50 years ago, a stomach ulcer was viewed the same way--as a personality/behavioral issue. We now know it's caused by bacteria. I'm going to be blunt and hope that it is helpful: If you believe that it should be addressed as a personality/behavior problem, I think you'll deeply regret decisions you make based on that belief a couple years from now. If you believe your dd is fearfully and wonderfully made then I'm guessing you're coming from a Christian tradition and also believe that when sin entered the world, the whole order was upset and other things such as sickness, genetic defects, environmental toxins, etc. also entered the world. If you do some research, you'll find quite a lot about the neurological differences inherent in ADHD that makes it different from "all kids have potential for an ADD diagnosis." You don't have to use meds--there are other ways to address it sometimes (though many parents find meds helpful and sincerely wish they had started earlier).