ADD Attention Deficit Disorder - Syracuse

Attention deficit disorder is defined as a syndrome, usually diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention span, and often hyperactivity, interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social performance.  In addition to ADD there is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also known as ADHD.  Here are hyperactivity is the predominant symptom.  Previously ADD was referred to as a learning disability and ADHD as hyper kinesis.

The turns ADD and ADHD came into general use with the more recent prescription of stimulant drugs for treatment.  Pharmaceutical treatment of the child or adult diagnosed with ADD or ADHD leads to considerable controversy.  The proponents of stimulant drugs cite research primarily done by the pharmaceutical companies.  Indeed stimulant drugs to quiet the hyperactive child and make them more manageable, at what cost?

Those against drug treatment site animal and other research that shows the frontal brain becomes sluggish and the animal's enthusiasm for life diminishes.

Attention Deficit Disorder

ADD and ADHD have overlapping characteristics; often the terms are used interchangeably.  This discussion will be directed towards ADD as it pertains to mental functioning as manifested in children and adults.  In children it is often considered a learning disability.  And adults it can be seen in as lack of concentration.  The adult may have failed to learn the educational basics that are now causing inability to progress at a satisfactory level.

In children the problem may be first identified by poor grades generally poor attention in school, difficulty reading or doing mathematics.  The disability may be noticed by the parents or brought to their attention by teachers.  The first consideration is how to deal with the situation.  A common approaches the current drug oriented society is to prescribe stimulant medication - ut is this the best approach?

Almost all of the stimulant drugs used for ADD are scheduled to drugs is classified by the drug enforcement administration.  They have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.  Included in scheduled to drugs are morphine, cocaine, methadone, and methamphetamine.

Schedule 1 drugs are the only higher level of pressure to drugs.  They also have a high potential for abuse but currently have no accepted medical use.  Included are heroine, methaqualone, and LSD.

Drug or Evaluate the Condition

People classified as having a learning disability often have an acquired failure of optimal nervous system function.  An evaluation should be made to determine if there is a reason for the disability.

A general health examination is the first step.  Conditions such as anemia, hearing and visual acuity deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and other general health problems could be underlying cause of the disability.  Usually, school systems have programs to find sight and hearing deficiencies.  Most pediatricians will find anemia and other specific disease processes that might be affecting a child.

After ruling out general health problems, which almost any physician can do, a more specialized evaluation is done.  Many Applied Kinesiologists treacly athletes to enhance performance.  This is accomplished by optimizing the nervous and glandular systems as well as other controlling mechanisms of body function.  In a similar way a person's mental ability can be improved if this function is found in the controlling mechanisms of mental function.  Let's look at the causes of dysfunction.

Neurologic Disorganization

 from the time of conception, a child's nervous system goes through various stages of development and organization.  This development can be considered an education of the nervous system, enabling it to carry out the demands of the system efficiently and effectively.

For many reasons one or more stages of a child's neurologic organizational development can be skipped or not satisfactorily completed, creating this organization within the nervous system.  Whatever action is dependent upon the face of organization will not be performed at optimal level.

As examination and treatment advance in natural health care, it is observed that everything in the development, adaptation, and growth of a child has a specific purpose.  For example, when a child crawls around the living room floor, bilaterality in the nervous system is being developed; in other words, he or she learns to use two sides of the bike together and harmonious manner.  If this crawling stage is interrupted before bilaterality develops, the child goes into the next stage before he or she is ready this can create many thematic problems, such as poor athletic coordination or poor coordination between the two eyes and ears.

The normal pattern of development can be interrupted by well-meaning parents who try to force their child into the next stage of development to rapidly.  Unfortunately, it seems to be the general believe that a child who walks early is a smart, achieving individual; consequently, parents and other adults have a tendency to force a child to walk before he or she is actually ready.  This puts the child into another stage of development before he or she completed the crawling stage.  Children will automatically begin to walk when they are ready, by pulling up on the coffee table, couch, or some other handy piece of furniture.  Forcing a child to walk too early a similar to trying to teach algebra before basic masses weren't.

 Neurologic disorganization can occur and a child even though he or she has the proper neurologic development in early life.

Neurologic disorganization can be the result of illness or injury.  The nervous system interpret sensory information and directs motor control and unpredictable, uncoordinated manner when neurologic disorganization is present.  This is revealed when applied kinesiologist examines a patient with this condition.  The examination findings may change from test to test even though no treatment is being administered.  This unpredictable pattern has become known in switching.

There are many signs indicating that switching, or neurologic disorganization, is present in a child.  The classic textbook symptom of neurologic disorganization is mere image reading or writing.  Here, the child reverses in his mind what he sees with his eyes.  The word saw is read as was.  The sentence on the blackboard, CJ and Ron is written in reverse in the lower right-hand column of this paper.  The child thinks he or she is reproducing exactly what is seen on the blackboard.  This classic textbook pattern is not frequently seen.  The paragraph more subtle evidences are not uncommon, such as reversing the letter d to b, p to q, or writing other letters backwards.  Crossing the tea at the bottom is also an example.

Parents may observe disorganization and daily activities.  This is the child who does exactly opposite what a parent says to do.  The parent may think the child is being obstinate and stubborn, but the child's mind is understanding the parents instructions exactly opposite what is actually told to him or her.

There are several specific evaluations be applied kinesiologist will use to examine and treat the condition.  The correction might be very simple reflex stimulation, or it could be more complicated exercise procedures to develop the nervous system through its normal stages.

Cranial Sacral Primary Respiration

A very common cause of neurologic disorganization is dysfunction of the craniosacral primary respiratory system.  Lack of normal motion of the cranial and pelvic sharpshooters places tension on the dural covering of the brain, spinal nerves, and spinal cord.  Disturbance in this system may begin with birth trauma from difficult presentation of the head.  Head trauma from falls as well as other causes from disorganization within the body may cause craniosacral faults.  Many doctors are not familiar with the examination and treatment of these problems.

Blood Sugar Handling Stress

 blood sugar is the fuel for many body functions - especially the nervous system.  The brain cannot carry out mental determinations without properly regulated blood sugar.  The incidence of children with inadequate blood sugar regulation is becoming more common, probably because of the greatly increased use of refined white sugar and flour.  Blood sugar stress occurs when the blood sugar level goes through highs and lows, causing periods of poor thinking ability.  This condition is easily diagnosed and treated, usually with very good results.

Important, but often neglected in sugar handling stress, his evaluation of the nervous system and other energy patterns that correlate with regulation of the bodies glandular balance.  Dietary regulation in nutritional supplementation may help regain glandular balance.  Diet change treats a certain portion of the condition and is helpful, but it is not result in optimal health.  All aspect of the condition must be examined and treated, if necessary.

What is the outlook for a child with a learning disability?

The prognosis, or Outlook, for a child who has a learning disability varies considerably with the stage during which the condition is examined and treated.  If a blood sugar handling problem or neurologic this organization is treated early, the prognosis is good in return to normal is rapid.

Regaining normal function when the condition has been present for a long time presents different problems.  The child may have failed to learn basics and education necessary for learning foundation.  He or she may have been passed through grades even though unsuccessful and educational endeavors.  If this is the case and the child is in the sixth grade, he or she is handicapped in learning the material due to lack of basic background material usually obtained during the first five years of education.  Now ketchup is necessary even though normal function returns rapidly after treatment.  Correction of a functional learning disability often allows a child to excel beyond our wildest dreams.  Some of these children have accomplished fantastic feats of perseverance and dedication with their handicaps.  They may have survived in the jungle of education by memorizing material from other children's recitations. Correction of the functional disorder provides the opportunity for rapid development and achievement.