by Akshay Banker, Nina Banker and Jhanvi Banker
We see so many children who are diagnosed with ADHD, and parents and people caring for children find it very difficult to manage them; and they respond very well to homeopathic treatment. So we thought of writing about ADHD.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been called attention-deficit disorder (ADD) in the past. But ADHD is now the preferred term because it describes both of the primary features of this condition: difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. In some children, signs of ADHD are noticeable as early as 2 or 3 years of age. It is a chronic condition that affects millions of children. It is seen more often in males than in females.
Symptoms: Difficulty paying attention; Frequently daydreaming; Difficulty following instructions and not listening; has problems organizing tasks or activities; forgetful and loses needed items, such as books, pencils or toys; fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks; Easily distracted; Frequently fidgets or squirms; Difficulty remaining seated and seemly in constant motion; Excessively talkative; interrupts or intrudes on others’ conversations or games; has trouble waiting for his or her turn;
Most healthy children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at one time or another. It’s normal for preschoolers to have short attention spans and be unable to stick with one activity for long. Even in older children and teenagers, attention span often depends on the level of interest. The same is true of hyperactivity. Young children are naturally energetic. Some children have a higher activity level than others. Children should never be classified as having ADHD just because they’re different from their friends or siblings.
Children who have problems in school but get along well at home or with friends are likely struggling with something other than ADHD. The same is true of children who are hyperactive or inattentive at home, but whose schoolwork and friendships remain unaffected.
Cause – The Exact cause is not clear. It can run in families. Risk factors for ADHD may include: Blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with ADHD or another mental health disorder; Exposure to environmental toxins — such as lead, found mainly in paint and pipes in older buildings; Maternal drug use, alcohol use or smoking during pregnancy; Maternal exposure to environmental poisons — such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — during pregnancy; Premature birth; Sugar is a popular suspect in causing hyperactivity; vaccinations were also considered a possible factor to cause ADHD.
ADHD can make life difficult for children. They often struggle in the classroom, which can lead to academic failure and judgment by other children and adults; Have poor self-esteem; Are more likely to have trouble interacting with and being accepted by peers and adults; Are at increased risk of alcohol and drug abuse and other delinquent behaviour.
ADHD doesn’t cause other psychological or developmental problems. Children with ADHD are more likely to also have conditions such as: Learning disabilities, including problems with understanding and communicating; Anxiety disorders with worry, nervousness; Depression; Bipolar disorder with manic behavior; Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD); Conduct disorder, antisocial behavior such as stealing, fighting, destroying property, and harming people or animals.
Diagnosis – For a diagnosis of ADHD, a child must have six or more signs and symptoms from one or both of the two categories: Inattention and Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. Children preschool age or younger suspected of having ADHD should be evaluated by a specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, speech pathologist, or developmental paediatrician.
Treatment: Standard treatments for ADHD in children include medications, education, training and counselling. These treatments can relieve many of the symptoms of ADHD, but they don’t cure it. It may take some time to determine what works best for the child.
Children with ADHD often benefit from behaviour therapy and counselling.
Behaviour therapy, Counselling, Psychotherapy, Parenting training skills, Family therapy, and Social skill training play a very important role along with medication.
The best results usually occur when a team approach is used, with teachers, parents, and therapists or physicians working together.
Homeopathic medicines have provided very good results in treating ADHD. Homeopathic medicines have an added advantage of having no side effects and can be taken for a long time, and the medicines taste sweet,t which is liked by children. Homeopathic medicines are not given as a stimulant to the brain, but are given for the development of brain functions in a normal way. Homeopathic medicines can also be taken along with other medicines without producing any reaction with these medicines.
A homeopath takes a detailed history of the child, which includes his present symptoms, past illnesses, family history of illness, his mental, emotional, psychological symptoms, etc and then decides what medicine to give. This medicine will help his mind and body to grow and try to bring all the functions of the body and mind to normalcy. So, the hyperactive mind, inattention, destructive behaviour, maniac behaviour, oppositional nature, etc, all can be pacified and he can start behaving normally as other children. Any anxieties, depression, fear, worry, restlessness, or nervousness can be treated. Children usually start showing interest and concentration in activities at school as well as at home. So, there is an overall growth and development of the child. The parents and family need to learn to behave and manage such children, and this can be achieved through parent and family therapy.
Homeopathic medicines are effective in any type of disease or condition in children of any age, including newborns. Please talk to us and see if homeopathy can be of help.