Attention Deficit Disorders– ADD & other behavior disorders
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD a.k.a. hyperactivity) affects thousands of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. It shows up as abnormalities in behavior like hyperactivity, learning disorders and communication problems in early childhood with some remission occurring before birth and that, left untreated, continue to suffer from the condition into adulthood.
As infants, hyperactive babies are often colicky, sleep poorly or very little and cry or scream a lot. In childhood, they look restless and fidgety and eat poorly. In the more severe cases they may be “rockers” or “head bangers” rejecting affection and mothering. As the child becomes older, there is a very noticeable rushing from one thing to the next, a shortened attention span and easy distractibility. Behavior can become destructive with poor coordination and general clumsiness. Some hyperactive children have trouble integrating what they see and hear due to visual perception abnormalities which, in turn, leads to inabilities to understand basic concepts.
Other conditions that have been documented to occur in many ADD children are eczema, asthma, chronic infections, hay fever, headaches, stomach aches and fungal infections of the scalp, skin and nails.
Symptoms In Infants and Young Children
- excessive crying
- inconsolably screaming
- restlessness poor or little sleep
- difficult feeding
- refuses affection and cuddles
- head banging or rocking fits or temper tantrums
Symptoms in Older Children
- impulsiveness, clumsiness, constantly moving destructive or disruptive behavior
- accident proneness, bouts of fatigue, weakness and listlessness
- aggressiveness, poor concentration ability, vocal repetition and loudness
- restlessness, school failure despite normal or high IQ
- poor sleep with nightmares
- poor appetite and erratic eating habits
- poor coordination
- irritable, uncooperative, disobedient, self-injurious nervous
Causes of ADD
There are many causes or more appropriately contributing factors that lead to ADD which may include: genetic abnormalities, birth injuries, hormonal imbalances, psychological or emotional problems, biochemical imbalances caused by toxic heavy metals (lead or cadmium excesses), food allergies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, amino acid deficiencies toxins from chronic infections with bacteria, fungi (e.g. candida overgrowth) and parasites digestive enzyme or stomach acid deficiencies, environmental hypersensitivities, especially to food dyes, chemicals and additives multiple food cravings and delayed (Type II-IV) allergies dyes, chemicals, inhalants, and other irritants hypoglycemia or sugar hypersensitivity
ADD children should be thoroughly tested and treated by diet changes and nutritional supplements before resorting to amphetamine-like drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) which have a long list of extremely dangerous side effects and don’t serve to treat the root cause of the disorder.
Overall, it’s more important to focus on the root cause and what are the underlying mechanisms that are causing the condition rather than just treating it symptomatically. Each person is encouraged to seek out a qualified nutritionist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutrients, herbs, homeopathics and natural remedies; in which combination; in what proportion are right for the particular individual and are intended at treating the root cause rather than just a symptom.
