According to Duke University Medical School’s ADHD program, “ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed disorder of childhood, estimated to affect 3 to 5 percent of school-age children, and occurring three times more often in boys than girls.”
ADHD Diagnosis and ADHD Symptoms
While attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be suspected by parents struggling with the challenges of a child exhibiting hyperactivity, ADHD diagnosis is based on a multiplicity of data. The most common signs for health care professionals in determining the diagnosis of an ADHD child are:
- The health care professional observes ADHD symptoms like fidgeting, inability to sit still, impulsiveness, lack of focus or over-focus on tasks.
- Anecdotal input from parents and teachers regarding observed behavior is collected and analyzed.
- Diagnostic tools like the Connors Global Index are used to supply hard data for ADHD diagnosis.
The Connors Global Index (CGI) is a rating tool designed by C. Keith Connors. It is designed to assess and identify attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. The CGI is reliable and commonly used by health care professionals when ADHD symptoms are exhibited.
Homeopathy versus Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate (MPD) is the traditional drug of choice for ADHD treatment, but more parents are becoming worried about the effects of stimulant drugs such as MPD. Some common side effects of MPD are: allergic reactions, uneven heartbeat, and sky-rocketing high blood pressure. Because of their small body masses, preschoolers are at higher risk for possible side effects from MPD.
Because of these concerns, many parents of ADHD children are turning to homeopathic treatments for ADHD children. Is a homeopathic treatment safe or effective as an ADHD treatment? According to the British Homeopathic Journal, “homeopathy is a valuable alternative to MPD.”
In controlled clinical trials, homeopathic treatment for ADHD children led to measurable improvement in CGI scores while reducing ADHD symptoms like impulsiveness and distraction. One such study is referenced in “Research Evidence for Treating ADHD in Children Using Individualized (Classical) Homeopathy, and reports a “clinical improvement rating of 73%” for a group of children being treated with homeopathic methods.
Homeopathic Treatment versus Traditional Treatment
Homeopathic treatment helps ADHD children without resorting to potentially harmful drugs. What steps should you take before deciding to use homeopathic treatment for an ADHD child?
- Confirm the ADHD diagnosis with appropriate evaluations: medical and CGI.
- Research all available treatment options – both conventional medicine and homeopathy.
- Evaluate the benefits and risks of treatments and select the treatment best suited to your child.
- Choose credible reputable professionals with demonstrated success in treating ADHD children.
- Form a team consisting of your family, health care professional, and homeopathic practitioner.
- Write a contract committing the group to work together for specified goals for helping the ADHD child.
- Evaluate treatment results regularly – every six months is a good milestone.
- Modify treatment plans as necessary to achieve the desired results for your ADHD child.
ADHD Treatment Recommendation
The healthiest treatment plan for ADHD children is combining homeopathic remedies, diet modifications, and behavior management techniques. A single therapy approach such as MPD does not yield the benefits of homeopathy, and poses the risks of side effects and unknown long-term drug use effects.
The information provided in this article is not intended to substitute for medical advice from a health care professional. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating health problems.
Sources:
Center for Psychological Studies, “Connor’s Rating Scales – Revised”, accessed 02/03/2010
Duke University Medical School ADHD Program, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed 03/03/2010
British Homeopathic Journal, 10/2001, “Treatment for hyperactive children: homeopathy and methylphenidate compared in a family setting”, accessed 02/03/2010
Hpathy, “Research Evidence for Treating ADHD in Children Using Individualized (Classical Homeopathy), accessed 02/03/2010
Donna Cosmato - Donna is a Certified Image Consultant, author and public speaker, whose first book Buying Your First Home? will be available in bookstores ...
