Is it A.D.D. or Activity Deficit Disorder?

A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. is everywhere today.  The pharmaceutical companies, psychologists, and doctors are making an huge profit on the “deficits” and “disabilities” of our children.  Granted, there certainly is a need for the services of professionals for some children, and those services are a life-line to many families.  But, are we throwing  medical solutions at children that can be helped with a different approach?  My professional and personal experience says YES.  I recommend four effective tools that can help students who have difficulty focusing and learning.  And, I recommend that parents commit to each for a minimum of 8 weeks to determine possible effectiveness. 

1.  Activity - Kids were made to be active!  Our bodies were designed to move, but never in history have children been more sedentary than now.  When I was a child, I walked (about a mile) to school in the morning.  At mid-morning I had a 20 minute recess.  At lunch I had another 20 minute recess.  At mid-afternoon, another 20 minute recess.  And, after school I walked the mile home again.  These regular doses of physical activity produced the seratonin, endorphins and dopamine that I needed to focus on school work.  Please note that these are the very brain chemicals that anti-depressants and A.D.D. medications are designed to provide in the brain.  Our kids can get these brain chemicals for free with regular and vigorous physical activity.  The more “hyper” a child is, the more activity he needs.  The results are in. Learning is enhanced when preceded by exercise. Physical activity is a proven method to maintain a healthy weight AND it generates cognitive and academic stepping stones for youth.  Physical activity can actually improve the learning and emotional and physical well-being of students, improving focus and reducing anxiety.

In our workplace here at Gymco, adults take activity breaks when we lose focus.  We jump on the trampoline, go for a fast walk, play catch, or a variety of other activities to “reboot” our brains.  We also sit on exercise balls instead of chairs to keep our backs healthy and our brains working.  It works for us and it can work for your child too.  The sad thing is that many schools today have reduced or eliminated physical activity from the school day.   To combat this, parents can work with their school to design an activity plan for their child.  It is less expensive than medication, and MUCH better for the health of your child.  Take control and try it for two months!

2.  Nutrition- There is no question that processed foods, dyes, and chemicals affect the function of our brains.  And, for kids who are sensitive to these additives, the results can be A.D.D. symptoms.  I know a family who recently changed the diet of their son.   Their A.D.H.D. son had been taking medication for about three years and still struggled in school.   The family had already increased his physical activity, so they tried a nutritional change.   The whole family switched from a “normal” American diet to a macrobiotic one.  The results were nothing less than miraculous.   This boy was able to discontinue his medication, and is now earning all A’s and B’s in school.  He has told his parents that he feels so much better, and that school now is easy for him.  A macrobiotic diet is an extreme approach, but it is not difficult to improve diet.  The easiest plan is just focusing on whole foods in their natural state.  Lean meats, fresh vegetables, fruit, and whole grains are easy to prepare and taste good.  Make your own treats at home from wholesome ingredients and buy organic if you can.

3.  Individual Learning Style- Research has shown that lecture -style teaching and memorization is the least effective way for most people to learn.  Yet, it is still widely used in many schools.  There are MANY styles of learning including kinesthetic (hands-on), musical, verbal, logical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical/rhythmical, naturalist.  I encourage you to research various learning styles and discover how your child learns.  Then, make sure that his teacher knows and adapts to the way your child best learns.  My own child is a kinesthetic learner.   When we discovered this and adapted to her learning style, she jumped from B’s and C’s to A’s and B’s in school.  It was an incredible relief for her and for us.

4.  Caffeine - Adults drink coffee at work and at meetings because it helps them to focus.  Well, it does the same thing for kids!  The nice thing about coffee is that it works as well as medication without the side effects, and it is processed out of the body in about 6 hours.  When our daughter was in high school we began sending her to school with a travel cup of coffee (in consultation with her pediatrician) and it worked like a charm.  She was able to focus like never before, and her teachers were delighted.  There are various forms of caffeine – from pills to soda to dark chocolate.  You can experiment and discover what is effective for your child.

Certainly, medical treatment can be helpful for some children.  But it should be a last resort, not a first one.  All parents want to raise healthy children and give them the best chance possible for success.    Remember that there is no one who loves your child as much as you do, and who can be a better advocate for them.   To learn more, use the vast resources available in your community and on the Internet.  Empower your child by celebrating their gifts and helping them use them!