ADD and ADHD: Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

If your child has received this diagnosis or you wonder if your child might be affected here are some thoughts:

Our society as a whole seems to be hyperactive.  Many of us live life at a frantic pace.  We have a multitude of activities, pressures, demands, responsibilities and feel we are multi-tasking all the time. How many of us can honestly say we have time to rest, reflect, relax and rejuvenate.  When is the last time you and your child lay on your back on the grass and watched clouds, or walked on the beach, or just talked?

Attention Deficit is not an accurate description.  It is not that these children (or adults) have a deficit in their attention - the problem is that they are paying attention to too much.  They are constantly distracted by colours, sounds, movement, people and their own thoughts.

If you would like to help your child (or yourself), here are some non-medical factors you can change that will lower stress and address the symptoms:

1) Eliminate or vastly reduce screen time:  TV, computers, and especially video games.  The frenzied pace of this media and its two-dimensional nature cause changes in brain pathways that reduce the ability to sustain attention on one thing.  If you choose to give your child access to screen time during the school week, ensure it is turned off one hour before bedtime so their brains have time to relax before sleep.

2) Reduce driving or transportation time as much as possible.  Walk when you can, save errands for one trip, and eliminate activities that require a big commute. If you drive to school, park a block away and walk in with your child.

3)  Go outside every day, rain or shine.  Walk in the park, play in the woods, in a stream or by the ocean, build a fort, walk the dog, make a garden, roll down a hill, run for the joy of it, fly a kite, just play - use your imagination.  Have fun!

4)  Reduce the amount of organized activity outside home and school (eg. music lessons, tutoring, language school, sports, recreation, groups) to one or two times per week.  Leave time in each day for quiet self-directed activity (playing games, music, building things, reading, praying, artistic activities).  “I’m bored” doesn't mean you need to turn on the TV.  It means that something wonderful is just around the corner if you use your imagination.

5)  Eliminate junk food, soft drinks, artificial flavours and colours, sugar, fried foods and most white food from your diet.  Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods, and cold water fish.  Dr. Andrew Weill recommends supplementing your diet with Omega oils and Evening Primrose oil, both of which have been shown to improve mental functioning and heart health.

6) Provide a homework or study place that is quiet, bare, and fully stocked with necessary materials (pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, dictionary etc.).  Set a regular time for homework or study and homework must be completed before other activities occur. Take a one minute "action" break as needed.

7)  Have a regular, structured (but not rigid) routine in your home for getting up, organizing the day, meals, cleaning up, homework, chores, bedtimes etc.  If children know what to expect life is less frantic and a lot more fun.

Even if no-one in your family is affected by ADD or ADHD, these changes will improve family life and health.  Try them for a month, and see if you notice a difference.