If you have a child who suffers from attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder, (AD/HD), you may feel especially concerned about how to best navigate
your child through the joyful but still rather stressful holiday period. AD/HD
is characterized by difficulty in concentrating, hyperactivity and
impulsiveness, and/or a combination of symptoms. AD/HD is common among children
and is on the rise, affecting 3% to 5% of school-aged children.
Conventional treatment for AD/HD generally combines drug therapy with various
types of behavioral interventions such as support groups, social skills
training, parent training, and psychotherapy. Helping your child tap into
strengths (intensity, energy, expressiveness, joy) that go along with AD/HD can
help you and your child gain some perspective on the AD/HD behavior. In addition
to conventional therapies, there are currently a number of promising
alternatives. Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies may be
beneficial for mild cases, possibly reducing the necessity of drug therapy
altogether, or, in more serious cases, lowering the dosage of medication. Diet
and nutrition are among those CAM therapies that have shown promise for AD/HD
sufferers.
Numerous studies document the importance of diet, in some children with
AD/HD, especially those with other allergies. For children with asthma, eczema
or hives, you might consider eliminating from their diet dairy products,
peanuts, corn citrus and tomatoes, all of which are common allergens. Other
potential problem foods include chocolate, highly sweetened foods and food
additives.
Supplementing your child's diet with essential fatty acids (EFAs) may be
beneficial. Children with AD/HD have been found to have low levels of EFA in
their blood. Cold water fish like trout or salmon is a good source of EFAs. EFA
deficiency is often accompanied by dry skin, increased thirst, frequent
urination, eczema and asthma. Other symptoms include headaches, stomachache,
diarrhea, constipation, and difficulty sleeping.
Vitamins and minerals
A multivitamin/mineral supplement may help to improve a child's academic
performance. Calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and zinc are especially
important.
Because AD/HD is often misdiagnosed and mistreated, the most important step
is solid medical diagnosis. Your doctor's evaluation should assess all aspects
of your child's life (bio-psycho-social) through observation of your child,
extensive interviewing and history taking, including input from the parents and
teachers in order to make the most helpful and accurate intervention.
Information on diet is extremely important; you and your doctor may be able to
identify foods that trigger AD/HD behavior in your child and to develop dietary
strategies for alleviating some of the symptoms.
