The first line of treatment for the millions of kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often drugs.
But is medication the best answer or might there be a less drastic, natural alternative to treating ADHD? ADD/ADHD ranks among the most widespread neurological disorders among American children. It is estimated to affect up to 7 percent or as many as 5 million children at any one time. These statistics translate into at least one child in every classroom in the United States. While it is not itself a specific learning disability, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) interferes with concentration and attention, making it difficult for a child to do well in school and in social situations.
The Cause of ADD/ADHD
The exact cause of ADD/ADHD remains unknown, however the American Psychiatric Association lists fourteen signs, of which at least eight must be present for a child to be officially classified as ADD/ADHD.
The exact cause of ADD/ADHD remains unknown however the American Psychiatric Association lists fourteen signs, of which at least eight must be present for a child to be officially classified as ADD/ADHD. These fourteen signs are:
- Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated.
- Having difficulty remaining seated when required to do so.
- Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
- Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities.
- Often blurting out answers before questions are completed.
- Having difficulty in following instructions.
- Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
- Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another.
- Having difficulty playing quietly.
- Often talking excessively.
- Often interrupting or intruding on others.
- Often not listening to what is being said.
- Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities.
- Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences.
However, Joel Lubar, PhD has published over 100 articles and participated in 25 research studies on this topic. He suggests that a better indicator for identifying ADD/ADHD is in measuring the Theta/Beta wave ratios from an EEG.
The Drugs Used to Treat ADD/ADHD
are Derived From The Same Family as Cocaine
Did you know that the drugs used to treat ADD/ADHD are derived from the same family as cocaine? Although the cause of ADD/ADHD remains unknown, the foundation of conventional treatment of ADD/ADHD is medication. This usually includes stimulant medication such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), Desoxyn (methamphetamine) or Cylert (pemoline). When stimulants are not effective, children may be given tricyclic antidepressants. While these drugs may provide some short term benefits in reducing some of the symptoms associated with ADD/ADHD, they have harmful side effects. These effects include social withdrawal, decreased responsiveness to parents and other children, clinical depression, fatigue, loss of humor, increased compulsive behavior, appetite suppression, impaired growth, and the risk of addiction.
Brainwave Imbalance – A Possible Theory
Despite the fact that there is no proven cause of ADD/ADHD, there have been observations regarding the differences in brains of patients with ADD/ADHD versus non ADD/ADHD patients. For instance we know that the brainwaves of people with ADD/ADHD are typically slower than the rest of the population. These means they are producing Theta slow waves (4-8Hz) when they should be producing Beta fast waves (12-21Hz).
The patient with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compensates for the increased Theta production with hyperactivity. For example, have you ever driven down a road late at night and found yourself becoming sleepy? What do you do? Open the window, turn up the volume on the radio, or tap the dashboard? You make yourself hyperactive to stay awake! The ADD/ADHD patient that is producing too many slow waves is in a perpetual state of fogginess and is constantly trying to stay awake – hence the hyperactivity. This concept of increased slow wave production is the basis for the medical approach of administering stimulants such as Ritalin to people with ADD/ADHD. The stimulant drug or amphetamine speeds up the brainwaves and the problem is temporarily solved. But of course, it is not solved at all! Not only does the medication not fix the problem, but it also has undesirable side effects and long term consequences are unknown.
Neurotherapy: ADD/ADHD Natural Treatment and Relief
It’s no wonder that millions of parents across the United States are overwhelmed and feeling trapped within a very bad situation: Not only have their children been diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD, but the prescribed treatment usually consists of powerful stimulant drugs. Chances are that if you are reading this webpage you probably know everything already mentioned with regards to medications; the fact that you found this page is because you are searching for ADHD natural treatment. Neurotherapy provides ADD and ADHD natural treatment for natural relief of the devastating symptoms associated with these conditions.
For ADD/ADHD patients, the goal of Neurotherapy is to teach the individual how to increase the production of fast Beta waves on their own. Over thirty years of university based medical research has proven that this natural ADHD therapy creates new circuits in the brain that can be accessed as needed by the individual providing ADHD natural relief. The creation of this new circuitry speeds up the brainwaves without the need for dangerous medications.
A Typical Session
In a typical Neurofeedback session, the doctor attaches surface sensors to your scalp using a small dab of a special paste. The sensors send information about your brain waves back to a computer where each brain wave is displayed for the doctor. The computer is programmed to reward you – the more you are able to control your brainwaves. The reward may be in the form of a video, pleasant sound or a computer game such as Pac Man. In this way, the Pac Man game is actually controlled by your brain. Over several training sessions your brain learns how to produce those waves on its own. Your brain develops new circuitry that allows you to produce the desired waves at will. So now the child that was producing too many slow Theta waves during focused activities can now produce the more appropriate Beta waves instead. Now the brain can take a more active role in focusing and problem solving. This leads to an alleviation of most of the associated Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In this way neurotherapy provides ADD and ADHD natural treatment alternatives for ADD and ADHD natural relief of symptoms..
Adult ADD and Adult ADHD
Neurotherapy is also an effective natural alternative for adult ADD and adult ADHD. If you or your children have been diagnosed or display symptoms of ADD or ADHD, we encourage you to take control of your life and call for an evaluation with one of our Doctors today!
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