Taking a dose of Ritalin or Adderall at school is a daily ritual for many students in the United States. That shouldn’t be a surprise because the number of cases of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), also called Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is up 43 percent among children and teenagers over an eight-year period, according to a recently published study by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. Today, roughly 12 percent of children and teens have the diagnosis. Roughly 4 percent of children diagnosed will continue to face the disorder into adulthood.
Medication isn’t the only alternative for treating ADD/ADHD. Focusing on natural treatments and the diagnosis type can produce great results, said Daniel Amen, M.D., a clinical neuroscientist and brain imaging expert who also is the Founder of Amen Clinics, which treat patients at six locations around the country. Amen has also written numerous books, including Healing ADD and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.
“Through our work with over 20,000 ADD/ADHD patients over the last three decades, using a powerful brain-imaging tool called SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography), we discovered that ADD/ADHD is not a single or simple disorder; there are seven different types,” Amen said. “In addition, many natural treatments can help all the ADD/ADHD types. I always prefer to start with the least toxic, most effective treatment.” That doesn’t mean medication is never right. “For some [people] medication is the best option,” Amen said. “But whether they are on medication or not, there are several lifestyle changes that can help all types.”
He suggests considering the following four nonmedical interventions, all which can be helpful in adult ADD/ADHD as well.
“Parents shouldn’t automatically discount medication as a way to treat children with ADD/ADHD,” Amen said. “But they also need to be mindful that medication isn’t their only option.”
Nutrition: The right diet can have an impact. Amen said to focus on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet that is relatively high in healthy fat. The reason: Such a diet has a stabilizing effect on blood sugar levels and helps with both energy level and concentration.- Meditation: Parents should teach their children (or themselves) how to meditate because research shows that meditation can calm stress and enhance brain function. Help the child find a quiet spot where they can sit comfortably, then tell them to gently close their eyes and focus on their breathing. Amen suggests starting with just a few minutes and working up to 10, 15 or 20 minutes.
- Exercise: Parents need to make sure their children aren’t just sitting around watching TV. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, the brain included. That, of course, is particularly beneficial to people with ADD/ADHD. Exercise also increases the availability of serotonin in the brain, helping to calm hyperactivity.
Neurofeedback: This is a specialized treatment that uses computer technology to balance and optimize the brain. During each session, patients play a video game using just their brain. Amen said it’s both fun for the child, and also helps strengthen their brains “to a healthier, more focused state.”
Daniel Amen, M.D., (www.amenclinics.com) is a clinical neuroscientist and brain imaging expert who heads Amen Clinics, which are located in Orange County, Calif., Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City, Washington, D.C., and the Seattle area. Dr. Amen also has appeared as a guest on such TV shows as The View and was a consultant for the movie Concussion.
