Another Daily Dose

Have you ever had a look at the major websites for prescription medicine for ADHD medicine? If you do, you will be struck by the very upbeat tone of their information, their flashy widgets and also, of course, a whole range of experts who will advise on any aspect of ADHD from lack of attention, problems with homework and ways to cope with hyperactivity. It is, quite frankly difficult to find any disadvantages with taking these ADHD drugs. What is the problem? The problem is that these sites are sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies making these drugs so their information is not complete and is at best biased.

Did you know that some of the companies have put their profiles on Facebook and other social networking sites and have thousands and thousands of followers? They offer advice to parents and teachers of ADHD children. They have a massive presence on the Internet.

A few facts will suffice to realize that all is not well in the ADHD drugs market. The first problem is that the prescription medicine for ADHD, if given to a child over a number of years, will not cure the child. The child is still left struggling and may be at risk of drug abuse and he will also be pestered by schoolmates to sell his drugs on the school parking lot. These drugs merely relieve symptoms of ADHD (inattention, fidgeting, lack of concentration and so on) and there is a lot of doubt in some medical circles about the long term effects of these medicines on the child’s brain.

When we talk about ADHD we are merely describing a chemical imbalance in the brain and that the neurotransmitters are not sending out the right signals for the child to perform fairly elementary tasks like focusing. Ask an adult with ADHD and the most frequent problem is lack of ability to stay on task and to finish projects and meet deadlines. The prescription medicine for ADHD may affect the child’s mental development and also physical growth.

Prescription medicine for ADHD is a powerful lobby and its tentacles have penetrated the medical profession from researchers, lecturers, care providers, paediatricians and doctors. There is a wall of censorship about the long term effects of this type of medication and the lobby has made sure that only certain information is getting through from clinical trials.

ADHD natural remedies such as herbal and homeopathic treatment is hardly mentioned but parents are becoming more savvy. They know now that these natural ADHD cures are much safer, have no side effects and there are no risks at all in the long term. Compare the effects of the prescription medicine for ADHD which can play havoc with a child’s appetite, sleep and growth. Wiser parents are looking further than the first page on Google and are being rewarded.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what are the alternatives to prescription medicine for ADHD .
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting tips on
child behavior problems

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/the-darker-side-of-prescription-medicine-for-adhd-1261509.html

There is a lot of talk nowadays about how ADHD behavioural therapy is probably one of the best treatments for ADHD.certainly treating ADHD without meds is an appealing proposition. Then there are advocates of the so-called ADHD diet and others who swear by Ritalin which is an amphetamine and a powerful mind altering drug. Others swear by homeopathic remedies for ADHD as there are no side effects nor any risk of drug abuse. It is sometimes hard to know which way to turn and everybody is very persuasive. If I knew the answer, I would not be writing this article but would be sunning myself on an exotic beach !

I do not believe that there is an ADHD diet but I do believe that Omega 3 fatty acids can help a child to concentrate and can lessen the symptoms of ADHD. Why do I believe this ? I have been reading up on the research carried out by the Inflammation Research Foundation. In one experiment they gave ADHD children ( admittedly a very small number of them) large doses of Omega 3 fatty acids which are normally found in fish and fish oils. The children were typical ADHD kids in that they had problems of concentration, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Normally kids with ADHD have very low levels of these fatty acids also known as EFAs (essential fatty acids). Well, after two months on these high doses of Omega 3 supplements, the kids were found to have higher levels of the fatty acids and their ADHD symptoms were much improved. Their inattention levels were almost halved and their hyperactivity scores fell as well. There have been other experiments too and all point in the same direction so I always tell parents just to add these supplements to their children’s diets as one of the best ways of complementing any of the treatments for ADHD they may be following.

Treatments for ADHD are normally regarded through a pharmacological approach but pills will not teach children behavior, nor social skills . neither will they help them to grow up to be responsible caring and tolerant adults. The work of Dr. Gregory Fabiano is particularly interesting in this context. Dr. Fabiano was awarded a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) by the White House and his work shows conclusively that in the long term behavior modification together with some form of medication or even without it, is one of the best treatments for ADHD.

Let us say that your ADHD child has temper tantrums and meltdowns, is aggressive, obnoxious and acts out at school. In addition he may be a defiant child and full of the victimisation syndrome which these kids often have. How do you teach them to be responsible for their actions ? That is precisely what parents learn in a behavior modification program and it is sometimes used as the only way of treating ADHD without meds, although I personally do not agree with that.

I am convinced that teaching children to be responsible for their actions is one of the best ways of disciplining any kid whether he has ADHD or not. It is also one of the best treatments for ADHD out there. It is no accident that the British government is setting funds aside to teach parents of problem kids, these very skills. When this is combined with ADHD homeopathic remedies, there are often much more successful outcomes, than with psychostimulants alone.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover more about treatments for ADHD .
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting Tips to help you cope with
child behavior problems

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/treatments-for-adhd-a-few-home-truths-1261521.html

If you or your child has ADHD, it could be that the wiring in your brain is out of sync. It is as simple as that but the treatment is another matter altogether as experts argue and the pharmaceutical companies become richer and richer. Let us have a look at whether treating ADHD naturally is a valid alternative. Not only is it perfectly feasible but treating ADHD without meds is becoming more widely accepted as doubts and concerns about the meds themselves increase.

The key brain regulator is dopamine and that acts as a sort of traffic regulator in the brain so if that is affected, then lack of concentration, impulsivity and hyperactivity may all be present to a greater or lesser degree. Moreover the dopamine neurotransmitter is the one which plays a key role in how we actually perceive rewards and therefore our motivation is affected. Now, if this is not working properly, you can imagine that staying focused and on task is going to be really difficult. This is the result of research carried out by Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The next time your ADHD child has difficulty in finishing their homework, keep this in mind.

So, how do we go about treating ADHD naturally and avoiding medications which are powerful mind altering drugs which can lead to drug abuse and many other problems. Can brain training help? There are now programs available which can help the brain to develop through a series of ever faster exercises where the timing is counted by a metronome. This is not just for ADHD kids but for anybody who needs a faster more efficient brain. It is especially useful for people with ADHD and autistic children.

Many parents ask about homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies as other possibilities of treating ADHD naturally. The main ingredients in a homeopathic remedy are Tuberculinum, Arsen iod and Averta alb which can control fidgeting, soothe nerves , control hyperactivity and reduce temper outbursts.

There are some great advantages in using a gentle non-intrusive remedy like this. First there are no risks at all of side effects nor risks of drug abuse in treating ADHD naturally. Secondly, the cost is much more reasonable so this is a factor if you have problems with your health insurance. Thirdly you can find a product which is not only manufactured in a FDA registered facility but also offers guarantees on the purity of the ingredients used. Treating ADHD without meds is now a real possibility and one within the reach of any parent.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover the secrets about treating ADHD naturally .
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting tips on
child behavior problems

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/treating-adhd-naturally-a-quick-guide-for-parents-1261538.html

Is your child not concentrating? There could be several reasons for this. If he or she is diagnosed with ADHD, this is one of the classic symptoms together with a general lack of focus. To put it very simply, a child’s lack of concentration is caused by a lack of signals carried by neurotransmitters in the brain. Rather like a weak signal when you are on the cell phone. That is what is happening to the child and therefore the ability to concentrate and focus is very feeble. He also has to compete with sensory messages flooding in, not to mention distractions such as the environment he is in.

A child’s lack of concentration can play havoc with schoolwork, homework and even family life at home. I can remember being fidgety at school. Many parents think it is quite normal but when a lack of focus interferes with schoolwork to such an extent that the child falls behind, then the parents need to take action.

Parents need to be aware of the following factors though, in not merely blaming it all on ADHD. There are other contingent factors which come into play. Some kids I know do not concentrate because they are extremely bright and are just plain bored so to keep themselves amused, they fidget and squirm. Other kids suddenly stop concentrating when their parents are going through a divorce and this is just one of the consequences of a difficult home environment. Other children are not getting enough exercise or green time.

Diet can affect a child’s lack of concentration. Any foods which can increase the levels of dopamine in the brain will help them concentrate. Putting an emphasis on protein foods rather than carbohydrates at breakfast can help concentration levels. A sugary carbohydrate breakfast will spike sugar levels and when they crash, the child feels sleepy and has difficulty in concentrating .

Sometimes , setting tasks such as putting things in alphabetical or numerical order can help concentration levels too. This can be applied to schoolwork as well as simple household chores such as setting the table for meals. There are also lots of board and card games too to help with this.

If your child has ADHD, then you will want to seek out a type of medication which will not make him sleepy or irritable. Gentle homeopathic remedies for ADHD are well known for calming children and helping them focus. Many ADHD prescription meds such as Strattera and Ritalin will help reduce a child’s lack of concentration but they also have nasty and sometimes dangerous side effects. If your child is not concentrating and has been diagnosed with ADHD, why not give give him the safest and most effective remedy ?

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Learn mopre about how to cope with a child not concentrating are available.
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting Tips to help you cope with
teen behavior

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/child-not-concentrating–what-parents-need-to-know-1261551.html

A report just published by the Pediatrics journal shows that rate of abuse of ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall has kept up with the increase of drug abuse! The period they are talking about is from 1998 to 2005. ADHD drug prescriptions rose by about 80% while abuse of the meds for the same period rose by 76%. You can draw your own conclusions. Now if your child has ADHD and lack of focus is one of the symptoms, think twice before putting him on amphetamines because that is basically what these powerful mind altering drugs are.

College kids are now misusing Adderall to get the edge on their peers and getting high on these drugs is rather old fashioned as other drugs have taken their place. Just because your child has ADHD and a lack of focus, why risk compromising his future by putting him on these doubtful meds. The shocking thing about this report from the pediatricians is that these figures may be just the tip of the iceberg.

The U S Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York State has just issued a report showing that ADHD children seem to lack a protein in their brains which would account for ADHD and lack of focus, together with inattention. This protein has a profound effect on the way the brain deals with dopamine which in turn affects reward and motivation. While this does not help us in finding the key to ADHD treatment, it does however help to explain why ADHD sufferers are more prone to drug abuse and obesity.

These two reports should give us some food for thought because it seems that the risk of drug abuse in using psychostimulants for ADHD and lack of focus is far too great for the problem we are facing. After all, there are ADHD homeopathic treatments which are perfectly safe and non addictive. ADHD and focus or the lack of it are not going to turn the world upside down but we should ponder carefully the options open to us.

ADHD behavioral therapy is one way of approaching child behavior problems and fits in perfectly well with ADHD natural remedies. Why not click on the link to find out what these cures actually involve and the guarantees that come with them.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what is the BEST way to deal with ADHD and lack of focus .
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting tips on
problem kids

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/adhd-and-lack-of-focus-shocking-pediatrics-report-1261569.html

Before we look at some useful ways of parenting an impulsive child, let us look at what causes this impulsivity. Basically any child with ADHD has a chemical imbalance in the brain. It simply means that he or she does not have all the elements to organize thoughts and actions such as concentrating, focusing and lots of other tasks that we do every day automatically. I know one specialist who has likened it to a child being blindfolded and there is just one hole in the blindfold. The child is confronted with making a decision or acting and has a limited vision of the situation. The child lashes out or grabs a toy or hits another child or dashes across the road. The chemicals he needs to look at the bigger picture, to enable him to think about any consequences of his actions are all missing or patchy and therefore his choices are extremely limited.

Here are some useful strategies for parenting an impulsive child and treating impulsive behaviours.

1. Be aware that some strong emotions can trigger impulsive behaviours and try to reduce these to an absolute minimum. These can range from the excitement of getting a new toy, a critical parent or teacher or an irritating sibling.

2. Organise plenty of activities which can provide a harmless outlet for impulsive actions. These can range from listening to music, sports, physical exercise and video games. Also activities such as a freeze dance can teach them more body control which helps in controlling impulsivity.

3. Talk to the child immediately after the impulsive action and in a non-threatening or belligerent way. Try to reason with the child and you will have to adapt your approach depending on their age. Make sure that you have system of rewards and consequences in place and the child knows and understands these. These are all essential elements in parenting an impulsive child.

4. Try to teach the child to learn to count to ten, take a deep breath before he loses it. This is also useful for parents too! In fact deep breathing and relaxation techniques should be part of the physical education program in the school curriculum.

Some parents are convinced that a good dose of psychostimulants (Ritalin, Strattera and Vyvanse) can do the job of treating impulsive behaviours just as effectively or simply they do not want to have to make the effort. But the National Institute of Health has issued several warnings about these drugs and have stated that “It is well known that psychostimulants have abuse potential” In addition there may be damage to the central nervous system and the heart.

But have you considered ADHD homeopathic treatments which have had enormous success and in combination with ADHD behavior modification can be one of the most effective ways of parenting an impulsive child? The ingredients like Hyoscyamus, Arsen Iod and Verta Alb can act on the child’s brain and help him to calm down more and focus. There are no side effects and no risk of addiction at all. Why not learn more about these treatments here?

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover some more techniques for parenting an impulsive child .
Smart parenting is the key to successful ADHD treatment and the problem child. Sign up for FREE Parenting Tips to help you cope with
problem behavior

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/useful-strategies-for-parenting-an-impulsive-child-1261587.html

What do you do when a child dashes across a road or jumps into a swimming pool in winter fully clothed?
Although you cannot do much at the time, there are ways to lessen the chances of this happening. First let us look at what impulsive behaviors involve and then look at ways of treating impulsive behaviours.

ADHD impulsive behavior is well documented and usually consists in acting without thinking of the consequences and that can range from blurting out answers out of turn, interrupting and grabbing toys from other kids and a whole lot of other impulsive actions which can endanger the child and sometimes, those around him.

How do you go about treating impulsive behaviors or better still in preventing them from happening? Even from a very young age, you can impose consequences for impulsive behavior. You can ask the child to explain what he has just done and why he did it without thinking. Then you can impose the consequences quickly and immediately. Similarly if a child has not grabbed a toy, he can be rewarded and this again should be done immediately.

Another way of preventing this type of behavior is to reduce to an absolute minimum the situations where strong emotions such as excitement, anger or even hunger can lead the child to act impulsively. Parents can usually forestall these situations and thereby reduce the risk. Learning how to control their bodies is important too so activities like the freeze dance are great for treating impulsive behaviors.

Some parents think that ADHD medication like Ritalin can calm a child down and this may be the best way in treating impulsive behaviors. This may happen in some cases but the side effects are too much of an unknown and some parents want an alternative. Actually the real aternative is parenting an impulsive child intelligently is by using ADHD behavior modification and I have indicated just a few techniques in the examples above. The second way is to take a look at ADHD homeopathic remedies as these are far safer and gentler and have no side effects at all. This is probably the safest way in treating ADHD and combined with behavior modifcation is probably the best technique of all in parenting an impulsive child.

"The success of autism therapies depends on the amount of time it takes to perform and the amount of money required to participate," says neuroscientist Jean Genet.

Genet feels that at times, the cost of autism programs is not in line with the benefits received. It seems the more desperate the parents are for a solution the more costly the therapy is to the point that some therapies run up to $60K a year with only minimal return in speech development, emotional balance, or mental focus. Most therapies are an average of 14 days and cost over $2800.

Genet believes that the amount of time it takes to perform the therapy is crucial to its success.

Autistic Survivor Helps Pull Kids Out Of Autism

"I’m probably one of the only neuroscientists that I know of in the field of autism that has actually suffered from autism."

Since therapists have not experienced autism, or for that matter come home to a child with autism, it would be hard for them to develop an autism program that connects to the inner reality of an autistic mind or knows the amount of time a parent should spend in administrating in-home therapies to be successful.

Mainstream Requirements

Some programs for autism require the parent to spend a minimum of eight hours a day in therapy sessions. This usually requires one parent to quit work which limits the amount of income into the home which adds more stress to the family structure.

Genet feels that it is important, before taking on a new therapy, to determine the time it will take to support the therapy,

For Example:

Travel Time to Therapist

Length of Stay at Therapist

Length of In-Home Follow Up Support

Overall Cost

What Not To Do

You shouldn’t go into debt or borrow to participate in therapy. If you are performing the therapy yourself in a home setting, determine the amount of time you will have to give up to follow through with the program and how much time it will take away from other members of the family.

Plus, you don’t want more family stress by spending too much time with one family member and neglect the others.

Can This Be Done?

As a researcher, Jean Genet believes that it is very difficult to develop therapies that fall within the guidelines that he thinks are so important.

"I started in 1969 developing the therapies that I employ now. It took me over twenty years to get the therapy technologies to the point that they were not only affordable, but would take the least amount of time to perform for the most amount of benefit for the child."

Also, Genet thinks that most parents employ too many therapies at one time. "I suggest giving any particular therapy time to work before moving on to another".

Also, remember that each therapy is giving the child’s brain certain instructions to follow. If there are too many therapies employed and the brain receives too many conflicting instructions it will shut down.

"Most important to remember," says Genet, "if the promises are too good to be true it probably is."

The Answer

So, can his guidelines of not going into debt, borrowing money, getting positive results in the least amount of time and avoiding other family sacrifices be achieved?

He has hundreds of parents who have been able to follow his autism program with great results, so the answer is Yes!