Special Kids

The real root cause of ADD/ADHD has been looked at in our past articles is misdiagnosis. The bottom line of much of that was said is that it is very important to look deeper for other possible answers to the symptoms resembling ADD before just accepting diagnosis. This is because it is, sadly, often the case that those making a positive results have something to get from it. There are a few instances in which ADD/ADHD has been misapplied to a child because of an extreme cause such as a bacterial infection that causes similar behavior which we will discuss in more depth next week. Other situations have a root cause that is much more boring. This is perhaps nowhere more true than in the case of the...

If there were an identifiable cause of ADHD, then it would be infinitely easier to prevent and cure the condition. Unfortunately, there is no single, simple cause of ADHD. Western medicine believes that it is caused by a deficiency in key neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. When doctors make an ADHD diagnosis, they prescribe medications to temporarily correct this imbalance. However, ADHD is not simply a matter of a chemical imbalance, and to think that it can be simply cured by a pill is a very narrow, short-sighted view of the condition. A little known fact about ADHD is that it is a spectrum disorder - a condition that affects each individual in different ways. Every person diagnosed...

Most people think of a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as having a negative impact on the lives of those diagnosed with the disorder. While that sentiment is certainly true, there are people who are diagnosed with ADHD who also display characteristics that have a positive influence in every area of their lives including in their family, their social circle, and their career. What may surprise many people is that studies show one-third of all adults with ADHD become entrepreneurs. Due to their high level of energy, ability to think quickly, and to multi-task throughout the day, certain ADHD individuals are often able to start a business with good success. Moreover, their...

Is Omega 3 a natural remedy for ADHD? The simple answer is no. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that is absolutely vital for adults, hence the word 'essential' - for children of birth age until age two, it is even more important that they receive enough of the Omega 3 fatty acid DHA for the healthy construction of the brain. Beyond two years, they need EPA for the healthy function of the brain. So why is it not a remedy? It is not a remedy for the simple reason that it should already be included in the diet, and not simply as an afterthought to add it to the diet because the child or adult has ADHD. Does this mean that if you give a person with ADHD high-strength pharmaceutical grade fish oil in...

There is no specific or magical cure when it comes to ADHD. This illness, despite being one of the most researched and looked at for answers. No precise facts have been found on how this disorder is contracted, but available evidence suggests inherited genetic factors are likely to be responsible. It has also been observed that a mother who smokes, drinks alcohol or gets exposed to certain lead chemicals is generally at greater risk of her child being born with ADHD. A stressful family situation may contribute to a child's symptoms. A child may feel guilty because of his or her symptoms and the problems they cause, which can increase the risk of developing another condition, such as anxiety and...

ADHD being misdiagnosed is not an anomaly. These days we are only too quick to pin a label on everything. Unfortunately as a result, certain medical conditions may be overlooked or seriously misdiagnosed, with serious consequences. One disorder in particular that is shrouded in ignorance is ADHD. One of the major problems is that ADHD can often hide behind other childhood conditions; and when there are up to 30 such conditions, ranging from learning difficulties through to emotional problems within the family, it is hardly surprising that diagnosing and treating ADHD can be beset by so many problems. How much better would it therefore be to try and identify a disorder such as ADHD rather than...

A growing number of parents are turning to diet to help ease the symptoms of their child's ADHD. More often, ADHD-related diets are used as a way to either minimize dependence on medications or as the first step to manage ADHD symptoms before turning to drugs. But how effective are ADHD diets recommended by many experts in the field? ADHD is a common disorder in children and is often diagnosed in nearly 5% of children in the United States. Once diagnosed, children are often prescribed medications as treatment, leading to a triple increase in the use of ADHD drugs. While drugs have shown a lot of promise in helping treat the symptoms of ADHD, more and more parents are turning to diet as a way to...

Controlling ADHD without medication has been the subject of much controversy, but more and more parents are turning to alternative methods in order to avoid the potentially harmful side effects of traditional stimulant based treatments. And the health care and psychotherapy communities are responding with more options for medicine free treatment. The lack of concentration, hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness that characterize ADHD can make even the most common activities extremely difficult. Because ADHD children find it hard to concentrate and control their behavior, they can be particularly disruptive in the classroom. As a result, parents can become desperate to find some way to...

In my fifteen years of private practice working with children with ADHD, one of the common concerns that I observed by parents was the fear that they had done something, or failed to do something, that caused their child's ADHD. I guess it is normal to blame yourself when your child is having problems. However, it is important for parents to know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the result of "bad parenting" or obnoxious, willful defiance on the part of the child. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition, caused by genetic factors that result in certain neurological differences. Yes, a child may be willfully defiant whether he has Attention Deficit...

Many parents are beginning to realize that ADHD vitamin supplements help reduce the symptoms of ADHD just as well if not better than drugs. Since natural products do not have side effects, they are safer and gentler to give to children. In this article, you'll learn helpful information on treating your child's symptoms naturally. How ADHD Vitamin Supplements Help Children If you know anything about drugs, then you know that all drugs have side effects. Some children may be able to tolerate the side effects better of ADHD drugs better than others but for some, they're just not worth the small decrease in symptoms. For these children and for parents who do not want to medicate their kids with drugs...

If you thought there was an affordable way of treating ADHD without medication that would improve one or more of the following symptoms; inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, restlessness, learning disabilities, mood problems, anti-social behavior, and poor communication skills within six months would you be willing to give it a try? I think most parents of ADHD children and adults alike would answer with a resounding "YES!". REI has been around since 1993 and studied extensively since that time. Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention is nothing new having been used around the world for thousands of years but it wasn't until the early nineties that this technique, based on the premise...

Physicians regularly have parents show up in their office asking, "Is there a natural cure for ADHD?" Between today's increased use of homeopathic remedies and a growing awareness of the hazards presented by the drugs that parents have depended on for decades, the possibility of a natural cure for ADHD has become an intriguing one. When it comes to finding a natural cure for ADHD, there is good news and there is bad news. First and foremost, it's vital that parents and educators understand that there is no such thing as a "cure" for ADHD. It is tempting to hope for a "magic pill" that will completely eradicate the disease, but for the moment that pill doesn't exist (although researchers are working...

Many parents struggling to raise children with ADHD find themselves debating the importance of an ADHD support group, first because everyone today seems to make it their personal mission to stuff their schedule as full of work and activities as possible and therefore they couldn't possible have time, and secondly because they don't want to admit that they were "that" parent-the one that couldn't cope with their child's ADHD. What these parents don't realize is that when it comes to raising a child with ADHD, we're all "that" parent. There is no one on earth who is exempt from the stress of raising a child with ADHD, from the strain of having a child running on all four blasters all day long and...

Did you know that, as we throw all kind of protest against addictive drugs that are crumbling our youth, we are knowingly putting our children under harmful drugs? I am talking about the adhd prescription drugs that you are making your child addicted to. Did you know that over 8% of american population and over 6 million children are under these destructive prescription drugs? And these drugs are literally killing your children. It's time for you to wake up and have a look around for safe and healthy natural adhd remedies. This article will help you by providing safe and effective adhd natural remedies that can save your child. Children with ADHD are normally more intelligent and creative than...

Opinions about the effect of secretin when fighting autism are very mixed. While some say it has absolutely no effect on patients, other fervently sustain that the effects are dramatic if not curing the whole disease. Major studies have yet to be done and show any conclusive proof that this treatment either works or is a complete failure. Still, the general opinion is that the truth is somewhere in the middle. We will follow up now on a doctor's own little study on a number of patients with autism. Respecting protocols and rules he injected some 70 patients with secretin and observed the long term action and affects that this drug has both on the body and the disease. Families where also involved in...

Parents of autistic children can find searching out suitable treatment options can become a never-ending struggle. Indeed, the hardest part can often be figuring out which new treatments are the most effective, and which are merely speculative. With regards to music and autism, it is widely agreed that music is a great tool for treating autistic children, and can also help in the diagnostic phase. As has been widely documented, children with autism have difficulty with their ability to communicate, learn successfully, interact in a social setting, and develop new skill sets. But music has been shown to help all of these problems, due mainly in the way which it is structured. Basically, it is the...

Most people are not aware of the term phospholipid, but those who have autistic children may become familiar with the term very soon. There have been some recent studies that suggest autistic children are lacking in some of the essential fatty acids that are vital for proper brain processing and fundamental in development. The researchers found that by taking measurement of the plasma phospholipid levels in the cell membranes of red blood cells, deficiencies can be found in children with developmental delays. They think that phospholipid deficiencies in autism and related problems may be intertwined. In order for the brain to operate as intended, these phospholipids are essential components of the...

One of the most respected researchers on ADHD, William Pelham has now come out strongly against ADHD medications and asserts that research shows they are practically useless in the long term. This is just one of the facts about ADHD medications which may or may not get publicity, depending whose website you happen to be visiting. He also claims that fellow scientists were unwilling to acknowledge that there was evidence which showed that the usefulness of ADHD medications was somewhat limited over a number of years. Alarmed by the number of doctors giving psychostimulants and antipsychotic drugs to children with ADHD which was not strictly necessary, the state of Florida decided to ask the doctors...

Sounds are a part of our everyday life, and so when dealing with an autistic child who has sensory problems, sound is one of the first things you should learn to control, especially in a learning environment. Sound can both be hurtful and helpful for an autistic child. Because each autistic individual is different, you must closely observe him or her to find out what types of reactions you can expect from auditory sensory stimulation. Loud or frightening sounds may be the most difficult type of sensory stimulation in an autistic child's life. Many of our routine daily activities include such sounds, hurting the growth process. Autistic children can not and will not learn if they are frightened. For...

Autism Conferences There is autism, and there is the autism spectrum of diseases. They all own similar symptoms, but occasional sites that characterize one from the other. However, you don't seek to mistake them so too you don't create to administer the incorrect treatment for your autistic youngster inadvertently. Autism Conferences 1. Autistic children sometimes appear as though they are deaf because they don't respond to you or other people around them that are calling their names or making gestures. However, they may respond very aggressively to some specific sound, event or occurrence if it is one that they cannot tolerate too well. Autism Conferences 2. Autistic children often have a notable...

Several years ago we started having people tell us that they thought our third son was hard to understand. It seemed like different people who interacted with him at different times would mention that his speech was really difficult to understand. I hadn't really noticed it, but it was because we lived with him and were around him every day. With the different comments I started paying closer attention. Then we started noticing that he wouldn't eat with us and that he didn't really want to be around people. He was showing some anger and that he didn't want to listen to us. We started working with several different specialists to see what we could do to help him. I had one person ask me if I had him...

Experts are now getting better at recognizing the early autism signs. Infants as young as 6 months are now known to display some of these signs. Autism does not affect only the child, but the rest of the family as well. In one study, it was discovered that the siblings of an autistic child also had behavioral problems like aggressiveness, acting out, and attention deficiency. Autism experts encourage parents to observe their babies for signs that would indicate autism and other disorders. This will greatly help the development of the child as early programs and therapies will be conducted. Upon noticing the early autism signs, infants must be evaluated immediately by their doctors. Here are the most...

How is bilateral coordination important in Autism? A major attribute that places us humans apart from many other animals is our ability to use tools - our manual dexterity, our bilateral coordination. Along with primates, we have an opposing thumb and separate digits that allow us a greater range of grasp and manipulation of objects in our environment. We pay a great deal of attention to our baby's developing gross motor skills e.g. crawling, walking, climbing and running. They are our way markers, our important milestones. We pay much less attention to how our babies learn to use and coordinate their hands, their hand-eye co-ordination and the complex development of fine motor skills. Achieving...

Autism is a baffling disease that affects 500,000 children in the United States alone. Strangely enough, the incidence of autism has skyrocketed since the 1980s when only 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with the disorder, compared to 1 in 175 today. Scientists have yet to discover for certain what causes the disease, although there are several theories being discussed. The most controversial theory contends that mercury present in childhood vaccines may be one of the leading factors contributing to the development of the condition. It is known that people exposed to methyl mercury, which is found in thermometers and polluted environments, have incurred damage due to contact. A mercury spill in...

You will never meet a person with autism whose nature is similar to another autistic individual. The manifestation of autism differs from one constitution to another character. Hence, there cannot be a definite or generalized statement or indication to identify autism. Autism is a disorder of the system and therefore somebody may display very low level of autistic behavior whereas the other person may demonstrate high level of disorder. There is a set of troubles, which are moderately present in most of the autistic individuals like the occasional seizure problems, mental follies, digestive disorders, etc. The presence of these disorders may be due to the diverse types of autism caused by dissimilar...

Sadly, there is no "cure" for autism, a neurological disorder that causes developmental disabilities and usually appears in children by age 3. What there can be, though, is effective treatment for a child with autism, particularly when the autism is caught early. Each child with autism is different and will have different needs. As a result there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Many parents use a carefully structured behaviorally-based therapy plan, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), specifically designed for their child, starting with what the child does and does not know how to do. These behavior-based plans include clear instructions for the child to follow and prompting to do so as...

1. A Positive Attitude Will Help Today, marriages fall apart for a variety of reasons, and with an autistic child, however good and kind you may be in dealing with your child, it is exhausting and the result is that it will take its toll on your marriage. So you need to adopt a positive frame of mind, and come up with solutions that will help both you and your spouse to spend quality time together. You will need to rediscover yourselves, and dwell on how you first met, what attracted you to each other and try to remember each other?s good points. Also, the autistic child needs to interact with other people as well, like a qualified nanny or a grandparent, even an uncle or aunt. This will definitely...

The human body is made in such a unique way compared to animals. This is also applied in the food that we eat. Our digestive system is not made for a diet that contains too much wheat and dairy products. If you will observe, humans are the only ones who still drink milk even past the time of nursing. Also, we drink the milk of another animal, and this is uncommon for most animals. Added to this, individuals also increase their gluten consumption over the years. Humans are now eating more wheat compared to their consumption thousands of years ago. Gluten is a substance found in wheat, barley, rye, and even oats while the casein is found in all dairy products. Too much of these substances causes more...

To teach and develop self-control for your child with autism, you as parent(s), caregiver(s), must be ready to use different techniques and strategies, depending on the age of your child, and the amount of understanding, and independence your child requires. The more independence your child has, it will require you to teach and develop stronger self-control methods for your child who has the disorder of autism. The best time to teach and develop self-control in your child, is at an early age. Although there are various degrees, and levels of autism, you need to create a trusting relationship with your child, so he or she, will understand how to develop self-control that you are trying to teach. Most...

The Hug Machine It has been found that autistic adults and children look for pressure to calm them as their sharpened senses cannot handle sound and anxieties. Many times squeezes or hugs from anyone can be extremely stressful for the autistic person as they are incapable of communicating their desires through pressure. So, the person who is hugging them and the autistic person find that they are not able to express their feelings. The hug machine which is also called the squeeze machine was invented by a woman who had an autistic disorder. Basically, it helps the person to be in control of their situation. They seem to need pressure to relieve tension. The machine has 2 padded sideboards which...

Occupational Therapy Autism Neuroscientist and autism survivor, Jean Genet, has referred to as crystalline residence in the neural pathway that act as if developmental switches that connect the brain/computer to its mental, physical, emotional, and speech software. He believes that the symptoms of autism are created when these developmental switches are damaged by the chemicals present in vaccines. Once these switches are damaged they turn off and cannot make proper contact between the brain/computer and the software that directs the brain on how to properly develop speech, emotional contact, and mental focus thus creating the symptoms of autism. His research has identified specific brain wave...

If you'd like to learn how to treat ADHD naturally using a simple, three-step plan that will reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder without putting your child at risk, then take a moment to read this article. Before we take a look at the plan, let's take a quick look at why prescription medicines may not be the best option for your child. Although there are severe cases of ADHD that do respond best to medication, most informed parents consider ADHD medication a drastic step. This is because the side effects can be so severe. In addition to the potential for causing stomach problems, sleeplessness, developmental delays, aggression and even psychosis, stimulant drugs like...

People who have ADD or ADHD usually don't mean to be late. It's not like they wake up in the morning, determined to be late for school or work or an important appointment. Most people with ADD have a very hard time managing their time. People who don't have ADD rarely understand this, and so become angry when they perceive themselves to be a victim of someone who just doesn't care enough to be on time. Being late can cause problems in your family and harm your career. It can even cause problems between co-workers. For example, if you're in school, and you habitually forget to hand in your assignments or are late for class, your grades will drop. If you're late to work or lose track of time, making...

The day Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps broke the world record for gold medals in 2008, the world cheered; everyone loves a winner. The fact that he has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is even more inspiring for midlife ADHD women; perhaps it's time to take a few swimming lessons from Michael! Eight gold medal tips to find success as a midlife ADHD woman: 1. Find your passion No one makes it to the Olympics without deep passion for their sport. Michael found his as a child; revisit your childhood dreams to see if they still resonate for you. Granted, many ADHD women are so fascinated by life, they find it difficult to narrow their choices. Be without judgment as you 'try on' your...

Anger is a paradox. We all, except for saints, feel anger or think angry thoughts some of the time. When that road maniac buzzes past and cuts in front while I am patiently waiting my turn. I feel like ramming him. I'm angry; I want revenge. Most of us most of the time can inhibit the impulse to act on the wish. Anger is a reaction to a perceived injustice or injury; it feels manly and justified. It is so much more satisfying to retaliate than to turn the proverbial other cheek. They say it is better to express anger than to bottle it up. The paradox is that anger, like the A-bomb, is radio-active. The fall-out effects everyone within range. It damages relationships and lasts for years. Think of...

People with ADHD are very hard on themselves and spend a lot of time thinking about and doing what they aren't good at. However, the more time you spend working with your strengths and talents, (rather than battling with the things that are hard for you) you will notice not only will life be easier, your confidence and self esteem will increase, and your life will be much more joyful. If you have ADHD then it's highly likely that you undervalue your natural strengths. But remember, just because something comes easily to you doesn't mean that it's easy for everyone or it isn't a valuable strength. You might spend so much time focusing on your weaknesses that you don't even know what your strengths...

ADHD can be stressful; however, there are ways to both reduce stress and improve the negative effects of ADHD. Having ADHD is stressful! Forgetting important belongings, arriving late to appointments, always feeling like you are putting fires out, and no time to relax are just a few examples. It is also a catch 22 situation as when you are stressed your ADHD becomes worse. There is; however, good news. There is lots that can be done to both reduce the negative effects of ADD and reduce your stress. Here are 5 top tips to reduce your stress level. 1) Exercise Exercise is a great stress-buster. Not only does it relax the body and mind and reduce the chance of diseases; exercise helps your ADHD by...