Inattentive type of ADHD is characterized by a behavior that is not overtly active. The children suffering from the inattentive type of ADHD are not disruptive and hence parents and teachers find them are easier to manage. As a result, it becomes very difficult to diagnose this condition. Apart from this, not many scientific studies have been conducted that specifically examine the response to ADHD treatment of children who have been diagnosed with this type of ADHD.

The earlier researches on ADHD have proven that lack of concentration, coupled with apparent lack of effort on part of the child are the main characteristics of the inattentive type of ADHD. As a result, generally such children may be earmarked as slow learners. These children normally are underachievers and it is ironical that no one is aware of their true potential. Such children are also shown to have social problems. It has been observed that the children suffering from the inattentive type of ADHD generally do not have the knowledge of the social skills. As a result, such children have a problem with handling daily social interactions and hence may be rejected by their peers.

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By Tess Thompson

Although it is commonly believed to be a condition that primarily affects children, it is estimated that 12 to 15 million American adults also suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But because child ADHD treatment and symptoms can differ slightly from adult ADHD and treatment, and because research into adult ADHD is still in its early stages, many adults do not know how to evaluate whether they are suffering from the disorder.

There is no single test that will identify ADHD, and there are no specific genetic or biological indicators that will lead to a diagnosis. Instead, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will conduct a comprehensive evaluation which will include extensive examination of past behavior, and should also include a physical exam to rule out any other possible source of the symptoms.

ADHD symptoms differ from person to person, but according to the American Psychiatric Association ’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is often used in ADHD research studies, they can include:

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Even though the prescribed medications help in providing relief from the symptoms of ADD, child ADHD treatment is not complete until you consider and include various kinds of natural treatments in the overall scheme of cures. A holistic approach is likely to benefit your child to a much larger extent teaching adaptive techniques along with alleviating the symptoms of ADD. Although natural treatment for ADD, include therapy, lifestyle homeopathy and mind-body techniques, nutrition management is one of the most accepted and well-researched ADD treatment being used today. This helps in augmenting and complementing the prescribed medication without really interfering in the process.

This nutritional alternate therapy comes in handy especially with children who are at a higher risk to exhibit side effects due to prescribed medication. There are two aspects of this nutrition management €€œ diet restriction and supplementation. In an observation study conducted as early as 1975, it was shown that a large proportion of children showed signs of improvement in symptoms of ADD when artificial food coloring and flavors along with naturally occurring salicylates were eliminated from their diet. In a recent clinical, children were administered a placaebo and tartrazine and their behaviors were observed over time. It was noted that when children were given tartrazine, about 50% of them showed signs of irritation and restlessness.

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As per the estimate of Surgeon General of the US, ADHD occurs in three to five percent of school going children. It is more common in boys than in girls. One of the most common ADHD treatments is the use of pharmaceutical drugs, though more and more people are willing to try out natural medicines for ADHD. Experts opine that for a maximum benefit, ADHD treatments should be have a combination of drugs with behavior modification techniques.

Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs and it is also one of the most extensively studied drugs prescribed for children. It has been around for more than fifty years and it is estimated that seventy to seventy five percent of children who are administered this drug benefit from it. Ritalin is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is supposed to amplify the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, thereby improving €˜attention ‘ and €˜focus ‘. What this means is that the brain can then focus on one thing at a time, thus reducing distraction. It is also supposed to improve the motor skills. It is a short acting medicine, which begins to work within fifteen minutes and its effect lasts for about four hours.

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ADHD, a condition long associated with children, is also known to affect adults. Experts believe that this condition does not have an onset in adulthood. According to the Harvard Health Letter, it is estimated that about eighty percent of children who are suffering from ADHD will continue to be afflicted with this condition even as adults.

The symptoms of ADHD in adults are similar to those exhibited in children. Impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattentiveness are the three main characteristics of ADHD that are exhibited in adults as well. However, in adults, these characteristics are manifested in a different form that can range from problem with time management, planning for future, and persistence to achieve a goal. These adults get bored with repetitive tasks and generally procrastinate a lot. Experts believe that with increase in maturity levels that comes with age, the hyperactive behavior reduces.

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Do you know what you’re hoping to get out of your ADHD child’s treatment? Do you have a treatment plan that shows you how and why you’re working on a specific ADHD problem?

There are several important goals to strive for in ADHD treatment. Here are a few.

1. You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard. It feels awful to be “different,” and ADHD is about as different as you can get without having some noticeable physical difference.

2. You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers. I know I was, and my son is.

3. You want to help your ADHD child follow home and classroom rules. Being in trouble all the time is a part of ADHD, and we all know being in trouble feels miserable.

4. You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they’re often lonely. Just making one or two good friends can make a world of difference.

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Our knowledge of ADHD has grown manifold in the last few decades. The developments include the areas of ADHD treatmentsand it includes natural medicines for ADHD also.

One of the new phenomenons that is being seen with people across the world is the willingness to try out alternative therapies, for example natural remedies for ADHD and it includes the use of herbs. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the pharmaceutical drugs have a lot of side effects and at the same time, with the advancement in the field of information technology like the Internet, people now have access to different types of information, including the information on herbs that have medicinal benefits. Some of the benefits that the herbs are supposed to provide are that these are completely natural, do not have any withdrawal effects, no side effects and are not addictive.

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With the incidence of attention deficit disorder increasing many people resort to various drugs the ADD treatment. The irony of the situation is that there is no fool-proof method of diagnosing ADD, and many a times there are normal children who have been diagnosed and stamped as ADD and being given child ADHD treatment while they may be normal children with maybe a slightly higher need for attention or slightly hyperactive.

With such children and those that genuinely suffer from an attention deficit disorder, most physicians use drugs like Ritalin and Prozac or Zoloft. These medicines only serve to reduce the symptoms of ADD for a certain period of time and have numerous side effects that are harmful in the short and the long term. The dangerous side effects of Ritalin that have been observed include possible seizures, suppression of growth, angina, blood pressure fluctuations, insomnia, loss of appetite, headaches and much more.

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There are many reasons that can lead to the occurrence of ADHD in children. Most of these factors have been studied in detail. One of the causative factors that have been postulated to have a profound impact on ADHD is lack of proper nutrition. A growing number of scientific studies have linked nutritional deficiencies like deficiency of essential fatty acids and amino acids has been linked to ADHD. Also, intake of some ingredients found in foods has been linked with the onset of ADHD.

If this does not convince you let us look at the results of some of the studies conducted in different parts of the world. The first study that linked ADHD with lower levels of essential fatty acids was conducted in 1981. A similar study conducted in 1983 found lower levels of essential fatty acids in children with ADHD. In an independent study conducted in Oxford, researchers reported that ADHD symptoms improved in children who received essential fatty acids in their diet. In 1996, researchers at Purdue University reported that boys with low levels of omega 3 fatty acids had higher incidence of ADHD. It is postulated that consumption of a diet that is high in protein content helps in alleviating symptoms of ADHD.

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The role of vitamins cannot be denied in the proper growth and development of children. We all study the issues and problems that specific vitamin deficiency can cause and probably have learnt that vitamin A is good for the eyes, deficiency in vitamin C causes scurvy and deficiency in vitamin B causes beriberi. But not many of us know that a vitamin deficiency can cause many other issues as well.

There are some studies that show that adequate amounts of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine are required to allow for normal brain development in children. Vitamin B ensures that brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are synthesized so that normal development of the brain can occur. A study proved that pyridoxine is more helpful than the most common stimulant that is used for brain disorders in certain cases. However, the issue is that these results were no significant and have not been replicated enough for it to be considered standard ADD treatment.

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