Help for ADHD without medication?
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Anonymous
| Our 6yo DD just got diagnosed with ADHD combined type and we would like to use meds only as a last resort. Through research we have read the following may help: martial arts, meditation, eliminating gluten, refined sugars, dyes and chemicals, counseling and cognitive training (we've looked into Cogmed specifically). We were hoping we could receive feedback on the effectiveness of any of the methods or combinations of methods and if there is anything else that we should try that isn't on the list that has been effective. Thank you. |
Anonymous
| as an adult with ADHD who prefer's no meds since I was a kid- you have some great suggestions to work from. I have seen the diet stuff help kids (former teacher) and structured activities like martial arts are good. But make sure it is something you child shows a specific interest in. It wasn't until I found something I loved and was interested in it that I was able to start making accommodations for myself in school. More than likely your child is very bright, but needs to find an appropriate outlet to be able to channel it- so maybe hockey over tae kwon do is more your child's speed. Or drums... but then you might suffer... |
Anonymous
| FTR, almost every parent I know did drugs for ADHD as a last resort. Every child is different and you have to just try different things to see what works for your child. It takes time and it takes effort. Things change as the grow older. So there is periodic tweaking. |
Anonymous
| What grade is your DD in? How does the ADHD affect her functioning? Does her teacher have concerns about ADHD in the classroom? |
Anonymous
|
neurofeedback was the only effective thing we did.
Ds is 14, off meds. |
Anonymous
| Cut out gluten and dairy and all processed foods. Nothing in a box, can or bag, EVER! It is hard to do at first, but works. Also buy Nordic Naturals (DHA & EPA kids supplement sold at Whole Foods) and try to give lots of blueberries. Take child to a naturopathic doctor. Medication is totally unnecessary in most cases. ADHD is a food and/or environmental allergy. Also get the naturopathic doctor to do a delayed allergen blood test (IgG food intolerance test) through Neuroscience Labs and cut out everything in the moderate and/or severe category when you get the results. Follow these steps and you will have a new child trust me |
Anonymous
Oh. my. god. Let the lunacy begin.... |
Anonymous
Do you have a naturopathic doctor that you would recommend? I had been wanting to do that allergen test you mentioned anyway, as she has also been having tummy issues on and off for a while. |
Anonymous
I tried this stuff--I tried it seriously and consistently to the satisfaction of a DAN doctor--and it didn't work for us. Of course, food/nutrition is a logical first step but it doesn't always work. We were very healthy eaters to begin with. Meds aren't an option for us for medical reasons. I am also thinking about neurofeedback though reviews on it are mixed, so we haven't gone for it given the cost. So far what works best for is 1) having a very structured and predictable routine throughout the day 2) lots of exercise 3) lots of organizational support and coaching from me. Child is doing very well in elementary, happy and getting top grades. |
Anonymous
|
My kids go to a martial arts class. There are several young men and kids in there who have ADHD. One of them is now 17, a black belt, and a student athlete. He is an awesome guy and very centered.
The other ADHD kids are a little squirrelly, but they are learning to center themselves. You can see them making progress. I can't recommend it highly enough. |
Anonymous
|
We do use meds, but I can also tell you ...
Therapy has been a wonderful help to DD. Her therapist uses a combination of cognitive behavior therapy and regular talk therapy. Tutoring helped a lot. DD's reading was poor because she couldn't concentrate on more complex texts, and a lot of the studying and reading strategies she learned helped (although it took her years to really implement some of them!) A hobby, sport or activity the kid loves that develops concentration, focus, and self esteem while helping develop friendships. Martial arts is a good one; theater can be both an outlet and a place to find an accepting peer group. A lot of people say swimming is good, and horsebackriding. A good 504 or IEP plan, ideally developed with the help of an educational consultant who knows ADHD accommodations well. You may really need them and it's important to have something official in place. You might have an understanding teacher one year and a completely inflexible one the next. |
Anonymous
Shut up. Did you forget your drugs are supposed to be a last resort? Those CHADD "support" groups are supported by big pharma. |
Anonymous
Not PP. But can we attempt civility here? "Shut up"? Let's all try to model what we would teach our own children about controlling impulses. We are all in challenging circumstances and make different decisions based on them. Everyone here is aware of dofferent factors in these situations and we are all doing what we can to keep our own heads above water whole still trying to teach pur children to swim. Please no more insults and disparaging language on this particular forum. Many of us find it very helpful and supportive. Please for everyone's sake, let it continue to be so. |
Anonymous
That's not fair PP, and we don't respond that way on THIS forum. Different things work for different people. Your statement was ignorant and hateful. |
Anonymous
Honestly, I think if these things work, the child doesn't have ADHD, but rather an allergy. ADHD is a neurological disorder. There are lots of things that have similar symptoms but are caused by different things. |