Functional
Definition
ADD
(Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder) are labels given to a child who manifests one
or more symptoms voted into existence by a show of hands at a
psychiatric convention.
There
are no chemical or neurological tests that scientifically validate
the condition or verify the existence of ADHD.
As
a matter of fact the person who first coined the term was fined in a
European court for contempt when he ate his research notes rather
than produce them in court and be proven a fraud.
This
and the fact that no cause has been established for the condition and
therefore no cure has led many people to denounce the labeling of
children as having ADHD as being a scam.
This
in no way invalidates the manifestations observed but to use those
observed manifestations to diagnose and label a child then treat the
child with drugs that have been proven to do more harm than good is
criminal!
Causes
Medical
professionals and scientists cannot objectively test for and
determine a cause of ADHD. Many of the manifestations that lead to
the diagnosis disappear with less drastic treatments than mind
altering drugs.
For
instance removal of sugar, artificial colours, flavours and
preservatives from the diet can yield remarkably substantial changes
in behaviour. Which led someone to create the above graphic.
There
are also certain study conditions that can cause a student to be
distracted. For instance, have you ever read a sentence or two in a
text then not been able to remember what you had just read? That is a
question to which I almost universally get a yes when I ask it of
people. And it is just a manifestation of never being properly taught
the technology of study. If you are interested in learning more about
this, drop me a line.
Prevention
This
pretty much comes down to find out what exacerbates manifestations
for your child then keeping the heck away from those factors as much
as possible.
Remedies
For
people diagnosed with ADHD, phosphatidylserine has been shown to help
by increasing mental focus, promoting memory and cognition, boosting
the mood, and relieving stress through a reduction of cortisol
levels.
PS has been shown to encourage increased brain activity through the
neurotransmitters, thus improving the ability of ADHD sufferers to
focus, control impulses better and learn without becoming easily
fatigued.
A
2014 study published in theJournal
of Human Nutrition and Dietetics wanted
to figure out whether or not supplementing with soy-derived
phosphatidylserine can improve ADHD
symptoms
in
children. This randomized, double-blind study had 36 children, 4 to
14 years of age, who had not previously received any drug treatment
for ADHD take either a placebo or 200 milligrams of PS each day for
two months. The researchers found that supplementing with PS
significantly improved ADHD symptoms as well as short-term auditory
memory. They conclude that PS might be “a safe and natural
nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young
children suffering from ADHD.” From
https://draxe.com/phosphatidylserine/
~~~~~~~~~~
There
is a web site
(http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/adhd/50-conditions-that-mimic-adhd)
that lists a large number of conditions that can be responsible for
some of the symptoms. I have reproduced them here so that if the site
becomes unavailable for any reason you still have access to the list.
Meaning
of Codes
!
– Conditions most over looked.
* – Other good possibilities to
check for.
** – Definitely check if there is a family history of
the condition.
*** – General problems you can think about
yourself and check if you see fit.
Rare – Rare conditions but
still good to check for and know about.
-
(!
1.) Hypoglycemia (Low Blood sugar) Low blood sugar can stem from
thyroid disorders, liver or pancreatic problems, or adrenal gland
abnormalities, or even an insufficient diet. Hypoglycemia can
display the same ADHD like symptoms.
-
(!
2.) Allergies: 15 to 20 percent of the world has some type of
allergy. A person can be allergic to nearly anything so check for
all forms. Food is one of the primary causes of allergic reactions.
Just like the Car and human analogy stated above. If a child eats
food they are allergic to, the body will not run properly and that
may affect behavior. Everyone has different sensitivities to
allergens so just because you aren’t affected does not mean your
child won’t be also. (Some examples, Allergic reactions to food dye,
milk, chocolate, and grains, etc.)
-
(!
3.) Learning disabilities: If the primary place of behavior problems
is at school, learning disabilities may be the cause of ill
behavior. One of the main things that affect a child’s self-esteem
is how well they do in school. If a child has an undiagnosed
learning disorder that makes school much harder and sometimes
impossible. Children with undiagnosed learning disabilities are
labeled as lazy, stupid, and many other downgrading opinions that
affect self-esteem. And many times when a child’s self-esteem is at
jeopardy they try to make up for it in other sometimes-nonproductive
ways such as acting out, bullying, or becoming the class clown.
-
(!
4.) Hyper or hypothyroidism: An imbalance in metabolism that occurs
from an overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones. This
imbalance may cause a variety of behaviors and may affect all body
functions.
-
(!
5.) Hearing and vision problems: If a child can’t see or hear
properly, school and daily things in life are nearly impossible and
it may cause ADHD like symptoms especially in educational settings.
-
(!
6.) Mild to high lead levels, even in the absence of clinical lead
poisoning: research shows that children with even mildly elevated
lead levels suffer from reduced IQs, attention deficits, and poor
school performance. Lead is the leading culprit in toxin-caused
hyperactivity..
-
(*1.)
Spinal Problems: Some spinal problems can cause ADHD like symptoms
because if the spine is not connected to the brain properly nerves
from the spinal cord can give the brain all of signals at once
making a child rambunctious and always on the go.
-
(*2.)
Toxin exposures: Children are more vulnerable to toxins than adults.
Such as pesticide-poisoning (Eating vegetables and fruit not washed
thoroughly, they can be exposed to them by playing outside on the
ground), also by gasoline fumes, and herbicides. Inside there are
also many toxins. Disinfectants, furniture polishes and air
fresheners are toxins that can affect some children’s behaviors.
Beds and carpets are one of the most dangerous places in the house
because they are full of different types of dust, and other toxins.
Toxins can cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, irritability,
and learning problems.
-
(*3.)
Carbon Monoxide poisoning : Thousands of children each year are
exposed to toxic levels of this gas each year. Sources include gas
heaters, and other gas appliances such as fireplaces, dryers, and
water heaters.
-
(*4.)
Seizure disorders: The most overlooked is the absence Seizures.
During an absence seizure, the brain’s normal activity shuts down.
The child stares blankly, sometimes rotates his eyes upward, and
occasionally blinks or jerks repetitively, he drops objects from his
hand, and there may be some mild involuntary movements known as
automatisms. The attack lasts for a few seconds and then it is over
as rapidly as it begins. If these attacks occur dozens of times each
day, they can interfere with a child’s school performance and be
confused by parents and teachers with daydreaming.
-
(*5.)
Metabolic disorders: They reduce the brain’s supply of glucose, the
bodies fuel and can cause ADHD like symptoms.
-
(*6.)
Genetic defects: Some mild forms of genetic disorders can go
unnoticed in children and display some of the same symptoms of ADHD.
Mild forms of Turner’s syndrome, sickle-cell anemia, and Fragile X
syndrome are some examples. Almost any genetic disorder can cause
hyperactivity or other behavior problems, even if the disorder isn’t
normally linked to such problems. Many genetic diseases disrupt
brain functions directly, through a variety of paths. A simple blood
test can rule out genetic disorders.
-
(*7.)
Sleeping disorders or other problems causing fatigue and crankiness
during the day.
-
(*8.)
Post-traumatic subclinical seizure disorder: It causes episodic
temper explosions. These fits of temper come out of the blue for no
reason. Some of these seizures can be too subtle to detect without a
twenty-four-hour electroencephalogram (EEG).
-
(*9.)
High mercury levels: One of the most interesting things regarding
high mercury levels is that it can relate to dental fillings.
Children who have mercury amalgam fillings in their mouth and grind
their teeth are at risk of high mercury levels. American dental
associations are defensive on the subject of mercury fillings but
many European countries have discontinued the use of them because of
side effects. There are also other causes of high mercury levels.
-
(*10.)
High manganese levels
-
(*11.)
Iron deficiency: Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the
oxygen carrying pigment in the blood. Iron is normally obtained
through the food in the diet and by the recycling of iron from old
red blood cells. The causes of iron deficiency are too little iron
in the diet, poor absorption of iron by the body, and loss of blood.
It is also caused by lead poisoning in children.
-
(*12.)
B vitamin deficiencies: Many experts believe that one of the main
causes for inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, temper tantrums,
sleep disorders, forgetfulness, and aggression are caused by faulty
neurotransmissions a problem with the neurotransmitters in the
brain. Vitamin B-6 is a necessary vitamin used in the making of
neurotransmitters that affect behavior. A lack of this vitamin or
really any other vitamin can cause a child to act inappropriately.
-
(*13.)
Excessive amounts of Vitamins: Excessive amounts of vitamins can be
toxic to the body and may cause the same ADHD like symptoms. It is
possible to overdose when taking vitamins so make sure you contact a
physician and check for vitamin deficiencies before taking extra
vitamins.
-
(*14.)
Tourette’s syndrome: Tourette’s syndrome is a rare but disruptive
condition. It involves multiple tics (small, repetitive muscle
movements), usually facial tics with grimacing and blinking. Tics
may also occur in the shoulders and arms. This is usually
accompanied by loud vocalizations, which may include grunts or
noises, or uncontrollable (compulsive) use of obscenities or short
phrases. The tics are worse during emotional stress and are absent
during sleep. The cause is unknown. It occurs most often in boys,
and may begin around age 7 or 8 or not until the child is in his or
her late teens or early twenties. It may, at times, run in families.
This disorder can be mistaken for not being able to sit still or
impulsive behavior.
-
(*15.)
Sensory Integration Dysfunction: Sensory Integration Dysfunction is
the inefficient neurological processing of information received
through the senses, causing problems with learning, development, and
behavior. These children are over-sensitive or under-sensitive
dealing in touch, taste, smell, sound, or sight. For example, some
of these children crave fast and spinning movement, such as
swinging, rocking, twirling, and riding the merry-go-round- without
getting dizzy. These children may move constantly, fidget, enjoy
getting into upside down positions and be a daredevil. These
children may become overexcited when there is too much to look at
words, toys, or other children. They may cover their eyes, have poor
eye contact, be inattentive when drawing or doing desk work, or
overreact to bright light. These children often act out in an
attempt to cope with their inability to process sensory information
such as acting out in crowded or loud places.
-
(**1.)
Early-onset diabetes: Symptoms include aggression, depression, and
anxiety. If you have a family history of diabetes checking for this
is a must.
-
(**2.)
Heart disease: It affects blood and oxygen flow to the brain
affecting brain function that in-turn affects behavior.
-
(**3.)
Cardiac conditions: It can reduce the supply of blood, oxygen and
nutrients to the brain. Defective blood vessels between organs to
the brain.
-
(**4.)
Early-Onset Bi-Polar disorder: Also know as child-like Bi-polar. The
experts state that 85% of children with child-like Bi-polar also
meet the criteria for ADHD. The symptoms are extremely close. Most
people when they think of Bi-polar disorder, think of Adult like
Bipolar which mood swings happen over a somewhat long period of
time. In child-like Bipolar, the mood swings can happen many times
within a twenty-four hour day, known as rapid cycling. At one moment
they’re calm and the next minute they could be in a full fledged
temper tantrum. Some of the symptoms are Distractibility,
Hyperactivity, impulsivity, separation anxiety, restlessness,
depressed mood, low self-esteem, and many more. Early-Onset Bi-polar
should be ruled out before ADHD is considered mainly because they
are treated with different medications if you choose medications
that is. ADHD is treated with stimulant medications which will make
a Bipolar child worse possibly psychotic.
-
(***1.)
CAPD (Central Auditory processing Disorder) will sometimes occur in
children who have had a history of ear infections and/or PE tubes.
Symptoms include distractibility, inability to follow a set of
verbal instructions, “space out”, etc.
-
(***2.)
Worms: Such as Pinworms lay their eggs in the anal area, causing
tickling and itching, which are most bothersome at night. The lack
of sleep from this type of infestation can cause crankiness or bad
behavior during the day. When asleep, nightmares may be present.
This problem is mostly found in very young children preschool to
kindergarten because of primitive toileting skills, they tend to put
their fingers in their mouths, and they participate in a lot of
hands-on activities with other kids and with pets. Roundworms,
hookworms, and tapeworms are other examples that can make a child
display ADHD like symptoms. Worms cause hyperactive behavior,
learning problems, depression, or attention deficits by making
children miserable on the inside.
-
(***3.)
Viral or bacterial infections: When a child is affected by an
infection that might cause problem behavior.
-
(***4.)
Malnutrition or improper diet: Many children in the United States do
not eat a well balanced diet. A proper diet is necessary to growing
children. An improper diet can affect a child’s behavior in an ill
way.
-
(***5.)
Head injuries: Such as the post-concussion syndrome. Some of the
symptoms include Irritability, emotionality, memory problems,
depression, and sleep disturbances. A concussion can disrupt brain
functioning causing ADHD like symptoms.
-
(***6.)
Dietary Factors: (For example too much caffeine and sugar) At doses
as low as 250 milligrams a day, a level many American children
exceed- caffeine can cause rambling speech, attention and
concentration problems, agitation, heart palpitations, insomnia, and
hyperactive behavior. In a way, it is true we are what we eat.
-
(***7.)
Some disorders such as anemias reduce oxygen to the brain causing
disturbance in the brains chemistry causing ADHD like symptoms.
-
(***8.)
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or Fetal alcohol effects (FAE): FAS is
a name that doctors use to describe the damage done to childrens’
brains and bodies when their mother drink heavily during pregnancy.
It is the leading form of mental retardation today. Prenatal alcohol
impairment, however, also comes in a milder form called fetal
alcohol effects (FAE). Children with FAE often don’t look disabled,
and they tend to score in the low-normal or even normal range of
intelligence. But these kids arent normal. Their mal-developed
brains cause them to exhibit a wide range of behavior problems,
including hyperactivity, attention problems, learning disorders, and
ethical problems such as stealing, lying, and cheating.
-
(***9.)
Intentionally or unintentionally sniffing materials such as modeling
glue or other house hold products.
-
(***10.)
Some drugs:, (both prescription and illegal) can cause the brain to
atrophy, leading to disturbed cognition and behavior. If your child
routinely takes prescription or over-the-counter medications for
asthma, hay fever, allergies, headaches, or any other condition,
consider the possibility that the drugs are causing or contributing
to behavior problems.
-
(***11.)
:A beta-hemolytic streptococcus:(better known as “strep.”)
Although these bacteria are most commonly thought of as the cause of
strep throat. Left untreated, strep can cause rheumatic fever and a
movement disorder called Sydenham’s chorea. Moreover, recurrent
infections can lead, in susceptible children, to a group of symptoms
collectively known as PANDAS (Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric
disorders) Some symptoms of PANDAS include obsessive-compulsive
behavior, Tourette’s syndrome, hyperactivity, cognitive problems,
and fidgeting.
-
(***12.)
Lack of exercise: “Hyper Couch Potatoes” are children who
aren’t moving enough. Some children because of lack of exercise may
seem as though they are always in motion, but often that motion is
in fits and spurts: leaping up from a chair, spinning around in the
lunch line, bouncing in a chair while watching TV. Quite a few
hyperactive children actually do not get enough sustained, strenuous
exercise to stay healthy mentally and physically. Exercise can make
people happier, less anxious, less hyperactive, and less depressed.
One reason is that exercise increases serotonin levels in the brain
exactly what Prozac, Elavil, and similar drugs do.
-
(***13.)
Gifted Children: Gifted children often display ADHD like symptoms
because most of the time they are bored with what other kids their
age are doing. Behaviors associated with Giftedness are poor
attention, boredom, daydreaming, low tolerance for persistence on
tasks that seem irrelevant, their judgment often lags behind their
development of intellect, their intensity may lead to power
struggles with authorities, and they may have a high activity level.
They may need less sleep compared to other children, and they may
question rules, customs, and traditions. If your child scores above
average on IQ tests, aces exams, has no trouble with homework, has
no apparent learning disabilities, and primarily exhibits his or her
problems mostly at school, maybe seeking a more challenging class or
school would help.
-
(***14.)
Emotional problems: Kids who are experiencing emotional problems
most often display ADHD like symptoms. For example, kids who are
constantly subjected to bullying at school can display ADHD like
symptoms. These are normal kids that act out because they are
scared. They experience sleeping problems, sadness, and they develop
physical symptoms, especially if they think those symptoms will keep
them home from school. Often they can’t concentrate in class, partly
because they are worried and partly because they are suffering from
sleep deprivation. Really any emotional problem at school or home in
which a child is having trouble coping with can result in ADHD like
symptoms.
-
(***15.)
Some kids are spoiled and undisciplined: A number of children
labeled hyperactive are merely under-disciplined children. They tend
to run their household and get away with anything. Dr Sydney Walker
stated this problem best of why parents under-discipline their
children. He stated that he blamed not the parents but on the
psychological experts who have counseled parents for several decades
that children are fragile, easily traumatized little flowers who
could be ruined for life by a cross look or a scolding which is very
untrue. Children need firm discipline and strict rules not abuse but
setting rules and standards and demanding those standards be met,
and giving consequences when your rules are broken. Labeling
undisciplined kids as ADHD who are not gives them an excuse for
their misbehavior, which will often make it worse.
-
(***16.)
Spirited children: When dealing with spirited children the problem
usually does not lie with the child but with society’s perception of
what normal childhood behavior is. Many normal children, according
to some people, display ADHD like symptoms not because they are
hyperactive or lack sufficient attention spans but because the
person forming the opinion has unrealistic standards of how a child
should behave.
-
(***17.)
Lack of understanding and communication skills: One of the main
reasons why a child acts out and throws temper tantrums when they
have a problem is because of their lack of understanding of a
problem and lack of expressing how they feel. Children do not have
the vocabulary or know how to express their emotions like adults do,
that’s why many act out when they are in a difficult situation. They
are not able tell you something is wrong so they show you instead.
This is one reason why any emotional or medical problem can cause
acting out behavior in children.
-
(Rare
1.) Early stage brain tumors: Found rarely in children but should
still be considered. Statistically, this diagnosis may not be
important but to individual families, they assuredly are.
-
(Rare
2.) Brain cysts: Another rare cause of hyperactivity but should
still be considered when searching for the reasons behind displayed
ADHD like behavior.
-
(Rare
3.) Temporal lobe seizures: The Temporal lobe is a part of the
brain. Any brain malfunction can cause inappropriate behavior.
That’s why conducting brain scans is a must when trying to figure
out behavior problems.
-
(Rare
4.) Klinefelter syndrome: A Genetic disorder in which a male has an
extra X chromosome (XXY). Many individuals experience learning,
behavior, and social problems. A degree of subnormal intelligence
appears in some affected individuals. Many affected individuals are
skinny and taller than most of their peers. A simple blood test can
rule this disorder out.
-
(Rare
5.) Genetic Disorder XYY: The extra Y chromosome has been associated
with antisocial behavior.
-
(Rare
6.) Porphyria: A hereditary enzyme-deficiency disease. Enzymes are
very important to our body’s chemical reactions. Really nothing
occurs in our body without enzymes. A lack of enzymes causes body
malfunctioning which can cause ill behavior.
-
(Rare
7.) Candida Albicans infestation (Yeast Infection) : Candida
infestations cause hyperactivity in children. Most children who do
suffer from Candida infestations have some underlying problem
frequently an immune disorder, or a disorder affecting carbohydrate
metabolism and thus altering blood sugar levels. So immune disorders
can cause other problems that also have the same symptoms of ADHD.
-
(Rare
8.) Intestinal parasites: Parasites rob the body of needed nutrients
which in-turn affects behavior.
20
Conditions, The Symptoms Of Which Mimic ADHD
1.
Hypoglycemia
2.
Allergies
3.
Learning Disabilities
4.
Hyper- or Hypothyroidism
5.
Hearing and Vision Issues
6.
Lead Poisoning
7.
Diabetes
8.
Heart Disease
9.
Anemia
11.
Spinal Problems
12.
Toxin Overload
13.
Metabolic Disorders
14.
Sleeping Issues
15.
Infections
16.
Diet
17.
Taking Prescription Medications
18.
Brain Disorders
19.
Intestinal Imbalance
20.
Lack of Exercise