ADHD Helps

I thought I'd post to everyone in case there are others out there with kids with ADHD or sensory issues. I have a son who has ADHD and we've tried lots of alternative therapies in addition to a traditional approach. I thought I'd tell you what worked and didn't work for him, since we've tried so many ideas:

He did many hours of neurofeedback, which seemed to work at first, but didn't have any lasting effects that we could notice. It was also very expensive.He takes omega 3 fish oil, with a certain combination of EPA to DHA. You can google it for the data. They did lots of studies in the UK for it. I think it helps give him an overall calmness, but it's one of those things that's hard to pinpoint the benefits.

He started doing "Integrated Listening Therapy", which is a music program where the music is "treated" to bring out certain tones that stimulate areas of the brain where kids like ours are weaker. He wears special headphones and listens while he plays with legos or puzzles. He likes it and I have to say, this is probably the first alternative therapy that really seems to work. He is noticeably calmer after and can focus better. It's also good for kids who have sensory issues (like my son).

Cogmed- trained his working memory. Seemed to help him keep more information at his fingertips, but I couldn't really see a big change. Also expensive.

outdoor therapy- works wonders! Also one of the best "medicines". He's doing Wilderness Youth and this is fantastic for kids with ADHD. Nature is very calming and really helps with sensory issues and focus. Whenever he is unfocused or feeling too sensitive to do a task, we go outside and all is well again.

social skills training- helps a lot. He learns what is acceptable within a safe peer/facilitator group and learns things that are not instinctive to him.

I hope some of these ideas might help you!

Tags: ADHD

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Retta Slay on August 29, 2010 at 9:27am

ADHD kids were designed to MOVE, not to sit still, so if they're designed like that then I'd say there's nothing wrong with these children. Moving is the key. Create opportunities for plenty of movement. Studies show and are trying to tell everyone that movement is key to our health and longevity. So, these kids are on to something - a wake up call for the rest of us sedentary types :)

Here's a tip to get more movement into the day for all of us: I have a watch that beeps at the top of every hour. I use it as a reminder to move. We stop whatever we're doing and we move for 5 minutes. We usually do some kind of physical labor in order to be tackling 2 birds with 1 stone. Gardening, yard pick up, poop pick up, walking the dog, or any kind of exercise.
Studies show that moving regularly like that throughout the day is much better for your body and brain then sitting all day and working out at a gym for an hour & a half 3x/week! (ke)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Retta Slay on August 31, 2010 at 5:40am

I do not want to be an alarmist, but I feel it is important you know there is another aspect of ADD, and ADHD that has not yet been mentioned.

I learned in the past year that the Santa Barbara area has used organophosphate pesticides practically everywhere, in constructing most of the homes in the area, even used freely for ant spray, etc. Organophosphates are a neurotoxin. While these pesticides were banned in 2001 because of their toxicity to people, they are persistent and remain in our environments, in our homes. Those affected most by them are children. Babies in the womb are also vulnerable. We know first-hand that this pesticide is present in our home and are taking steps to clean it up.

I then stumbled onto a study that showed a link to this pesticide to ADD and ADHD. It was published in May this year in the journal of Pediatrics.

I know of things you can do to reduce your child's exposure to this pesticide, as I have been working with an environmental specialist. Some of the steps are easy to do. This specialist's own son was poisoned by organophosphates and became "catatonic" as she describes it. Unwilling to accept a toxicologist's prognosis that her 10-yr old son would never get well, she took steps to clean up his environment and he is now a reconnaissance pilot for the Navy. An extreme case, but you get the picture. You can also Google organophosphates and ADD, ADHD to learn more. (m)

Retta Slay said:

ADHD kids were designed to MOVE, not to sit still, so if they're designed like that then I'd say there's nothing wrong with these children. Moving is the key. Create opportunities for plenty of movement. Studies show and are trying to tell everyone that movement is key to our health and longevity. So, these kids are on to something - a wake up call for the rest of us sedentary types :)

Here's a tip to get more movement into the day for all of us: I have a watch that beeps at the top of every hour. I use it as a reminder to move. We stop whatever we're doing and we move for 5 minutes. We usually do some kind of physical labor in order to be tackling 2 birds with 1 stone. Gardening, yard pick up, poop pick up, walking the dog, or any kind of exercise.
Studies show that moving regularly like that throughout the day is much better for your body and brain then sitting all day and working out at a gym for an hour & a half 3x/week! (ke)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Retta Slay on August 31, 2010 at 5:48am

I know that my daughter sometimes displays more severe issues and I've never understood why. Perhaps there is a fluctuating environmental issue affecting her that I have never considered. For anyone else who is interested, I found this list of brand names of organophosphates from the following Santa Barbara Grower's Guide available on the internet:
http://www.countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/SantaBarbaraGrowersGuide09.pdf

Organophosphates and carbamates are cholinesterase inhibitors. Exposure to pesticides

containing organophosphates or carbamates can affect nerve function. Some common

pesticides containing cholinesterase inhibitors include, but are not limited to:

Carzol®, Def®, diazinon, dimethoate, Dursban®, Folex®, Furadan®, Guthion®,

Imidan®, Lannate®, Lorsban®, malathion, Monitor®, Nemacur®, Sevin®,

Supracide®, Temik®, Thimet®, Vydate®

Now, we just need to figure out how to determine what pesticides are used in our respective areas. I clicked on the link http://www.countyofsb.org/agcomm/ and found another link for a public information request, which is a form you can complete to request information from the Agricultural Commissioner's Office. It looks like you can only view documents for no charge and must pay for copies. if am filling one out for Lompoc, if anyone else fills one out for the Hidden Valley area, where we used to live, let me know. Thanks! (b)

Here is another useful link that has pesticide use reports from 2008 and earlier. Honestly, just looking at what is used on the fruits and veggies really makes you want to ALWAYS go organic!
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/purmain.htm

I have to correct myself. Organophosphates in general have not been banned in SB. I was referring to dursban or diazinon in particular, which have been banned but linger in our water and homes. Sorry about that. There are over 80,000 synthetic chemicals in our everyday environment, and less than 20% have been tested for toxicity. I have a hard time keeping track of all we've been learning.

I actually requested a 2-mile radius map of organophosphate use around my home (off of Walnut & Hollister). It took only a phone call request, but that was 4 years ago. The SB Agriculture Commissioner's office said it is rarely used anymore because of the resulting down time from workers having to stay away from the site during or after spraying. Amazingly the map did not reflect that. It is used all around my area, primarily in the nurseries (stores and growing fields). I also do not take my children down the garden supplies aisle or nurseries for that matter anymore because I can smell the stuff in the air. (It makes me sad I feel I can't do this, but this is our chemical world.) (m)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Retta Slay on September 8, 2010 at 2:27pm

I highly recommend the book The Gift of Dyslexia as well! And just a note that oftentimes there are misdiagnoses of ADD and ADHD due to a child who learns best by moving, visual-picture and hands-on modalities while expressing themselves as inventing and/or performing types. This is the way they were made and they NOT broken, nothing is WRONG with them...they just don't fit the mold that traditional schools focus on which is a visual-print learner that likes to sit still and produce things for others. Nothing wrong with that child or that model of learning, but that type of child will thrive in that more traditional learning approach. Home schooling allows for the flexibility to think outside the box and apply learning to the child's unique make-up! If you are yourself a producing person who is a print-learner, this comes more difficult to you, but if you look to the needs of others and you apply that to your student, then you are required to start thinking outside the box and learn the tools and techniques that can help them in the way they can learn best. (k)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Retta Slay on November 24, 2010 at 7:55am

Dear CHADD Members and Guests,
Please join us next month on Thursday, December 2nd for our next CHADD meeting. Our guest Speaker will be Educational Therapist, Angela Valente. Angela will talk about working with children to create their own self-study of their sleep pattern while incorporating breathing and visualization exercises to help children with insomia fall asleep.

Please let us know if you are able to attend by November 26, 2010.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in December!

Jana Garnett & Anika Kitson (CHADD Co-Chairs)

*Please note the details below for CHADD meetings*

NEXT UPCOMING CHADD MEETING: Thursday, December 2, 2010

TIME: 6:30-8:00 p.m.

TOPIC: “Teaching ADHD Children with Insomnia Techniques to Help Them Fall Asleep"

VENUE: CIELO (Center for Improvement, Esteem, Learning & Opportunity)

ADDRESS: 4213 State Street, Suite 201

CONTACT: Jana Garnett or Anika Kitson at 805-964-1086 or email Karin Durflinger at karin@cielosb.com

CHADD MEETING DATES: First Thursday of the Month (Every Other Month)