A very Contoversial post. What do you think?

The Present & the future: The Dangers of Ritalin

After reading the post that I've linked to above, I'm left with very mixed feelings. Part of what was written resonated with me and I found myself almost shouting out loud "That's not true" to other parts of the post.

I do agree that Ritalin is overprescribed and as Dr. Peter Breggin -who is quoted in the post- says that sometimes doctors seek easy solutions to behavioral problems which may have more complex causes.
I also agree that Ritalin is not a magic bullet to the proble with ADD.

But where I start to differ is when the very existence of Attention Deficit Disorder is questioned. The reason for the questioning of wheteher ADD exists or not is based on the fact that there are no measurable, scientific tests that can prove conclusively the existence of ADD.

Instead the diagnosis of ADD relies on a series of diagnostic questions that are answered by the child's parent, the medical practitioner and perhaps the teacher. And these can be highly subjective. But that does not mean that ADD / ADHD doesn't exist.

I also feel that the diagnostic criteria listed in the post are inaccurate. Where is any mention of a limited attention span. Or any mention of a child who is hypepractive? The post focuses on the behavioural aspect of ADD, which may or may not be present in someone who has ADD / ADHD.

The premise of the post is that doctors and parents are using medication to control their out-of-control kids That may be true in some cases, but I certainly wouldn't label all parents who choose to medicate their child with such a heartless label. To Dr. Breggin and "The Doctor" who made the post ADD is simply a child with lots of anger.

I know from personal experiance that ADD & ADHD exist. And reading any forum on attention deficit disorder will put you in contact with hundreds of caring parents who want what is best for their kids, not lazy parents who want to drug their kids into behaving better. And you'll see the pain, anguish and suffering that ADD causes is real.

He also points out some pretty scary side effects of Ritalin, including stunted growth, shrinkage of the brain, possible addiction and so on.

I have chosen not to medicate my children (I have 2 boys with ADHD), NOR to take medication myself (I have ADD) because I feel the side-effects are too high a price to pay.

Instead I have chosen to use a combination of beahvior modification, brainwave entrainment and a healthy, wholesome diet to treat the ADD & ADHD, and I must say that I'm pleased with the results.

Parents need to be made more aware of alternative treatments once their kids are diagnosed so that they can make an informed decision, and I think all parties concerned (parents, teachers, doctors and other health care providers) should fully educate themselves on all avaliable options. I would also urge parents to consider medication as a final resort and not a quick-fix. You'll be surprised at what a positive difference some small simple changes to a child's diet or daily routine can make.

That's why I've put together a free report entitled "10 Ways to Increase Your Child's Attention Span & Improve His Behavior Without Drugs" and "The Dark & Deadly Truth Behind Ritalin & Other Drugs." to make parents aware of the side-effects and dangers of Ritalin that your doctor may be unaware of.

What do you think? What has your experiance been? Have you ever used Ritalin? Or is your child on Ritalin? Or are you against Ritalin? What do you think of Dr. Peter Beggin's claims? Share your opinion by posting a comment and let's get a discussion going about this very controversial opinion.

My Child Has Been Diagnosed With ADD, Now What? - The first steps after diagnosis

When my son was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I felt a plethora of mixed emotions:

relief, remorse, fear,disappointment or frustration.

You may feel the same way. But whatever you feel, do not forget that your child's situation is not out of control.

There are a number of ways in which you can help your child use his talents, and deal with ADD.

The first and most important step is to learn all you can about ADD/ADHD and to educate yourself about all the treatment options.In this way you can make an educated decision and will not fall prey to the myths and misinformation that is so rife.

You would also become more aware of the popular treatments, and be more prepared to face what might come next. It should also be helpful in preparing you to work with the doctor for managing the disorder successfully. This blog as well as the links on the right hand side of the blog are a great way to start. You can also get the 2 free reports about ADD here.

Deciding to medicate your child or not is an entirely personal one. According to some parents, being able to provide their children with means to lead a normal life is the best opportunity that they can give.

But, for others,as was the was for me (and thousands of others) medication is not a good choice. However, no matter what you decide, you should be sure of it and well informed about your choice.

You need to be aware of the variety of treatment options available, and even if your child is taking medication, some behavior modification techniques, properly and consistently implemented will make a positive difference in your child's behavior and academic performance.

These prepare your child with lasting skills to provide them with help in becoming efficient and productive. The strategies for your child's actions and the consequences should be set by you.

My son with ADHD responded best to well defined limits set on his actions and consistent discipline. This wasn't (and isn't ) always easy, but it's well worth the additional effort it takes.

Remember, that as the parent, you are your child's best supporter, and must encourage him every step of the way.

Work as a team with your child's doctor and teachers to ensure steady progress in all the key areas of your child's life.

And most importantly accept, love and cherish this unique human being.

Build his self-esteem and focus on the positive things he does.

Join a good support group and reach out to other parents who have been through what you are now experiencing.There are many excellent forums and discussion groups on the internet and you are sure to learn a lot from the experiences of others.

And don't loose heart. Having ADD or ADHD, whilst certainly a challenge , is not the end of the world.

In fact, it's the beginning of a new and exciting future for your child. One where he can become the unique, talented and wonderful human being he was born to be.

10 Ways To Increase Your Child's Attention Span - Part 5

10 Ways To Increase Your Child's Attention Span - Part 5

Tip # 5

Use brainwave entrainment to focus and calm the child down. This is a powerful way to calm down an entire class at once and is a very useful tool for teachers.

Parents can use it at home as well, to help a hyperactive child to calm down and focus on tasks like homework or studying.

Brainwave Entrainment is almost like rewiring the brain to function at it's peak capacity. An ADD Child's brain is very low in Beta Brainwaves - This is the brainwave pattern in which we are alert and can concentrate and focus easily. It is almost as if they are in a sort of 'mental-fog'

Listening to a brainwave entrainment CD helps to increase the Beta Brainwave Pattern and makes the child more alert, increases their attention span and allows them to remain focused on the tasks at hand.

Best of all, brainwave entrainment is simple and easy to use. No specialized knowledge or fancy equipment needed. All the child has to do is listen to a special audio soundtrack once or twice a day.

To find out more click the blue link below:
attention deficit disorder treatment

10 Ways To Improve Your Child's Attention Span - Part 4

10 Ways To Improve Your Child's Attention Span - Part 4

Tip #4

Discover Your Child’s Learning Style.

The are 3 types of learning styles – visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Visual learners absorb information best through the sense of vision and do best learning through books, videos etc. They need to see something in order to fully and easily understand it.

Auditory learners learn best by hearing the information. Oral instructions, lectures, audio books etc. are all good choices with

this type of learner.

Kinesthetic Learners learn best through movement and doing. Most (but not all) ADD/ADHD children fall into this category.

Movement and ‘doing’ need to be incorporated

Into their learning if they are to reach their full potential.

Traditional Schools cater mainly to visual and auditory learners. Kinesthetic learning requires much more time and e

effort on the part of the teacher and many of these types of learners are deemed slow or learning disabled, when the only thing ‘wrong’ with them is their learning style.

Finding out and understanding your child’s learning style will go a long way to helping him to unlock the dormant potential within.

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span -Part 3

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span -Part 3

Tip #3

Enroll your Child in a martial Arts Class. Learning Martial has a number of benefits for the child:

· It increases a child’s self-esteem by empowering them to defend themselves if the need arises,

· It is a skill that is highly regarded amongst the child’s peers

· It improves physical co-ordination

· It teaches respect for others

· And it burns off some of the excess physical energy that the child has.

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span - Part 2

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span - Part 2

Limit TV & Video Games to no more than an hour a day on weekdays and 2 hours a day on weekends. Eliminate any violent programming or games as far as possible, as these encourage the development of violent tendencies.

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span - Part 1.

10 Ways To Improve Your ADD Child's Attention Span - Part 1.

Lack of focus, poor concentration and short attention spans are core symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. 'He doesn't listen' or 'He doesn't pay attention' are common complaints voiced about the ADD child.

What can you as a parent or teacher do to help the ADD Child focus and pay attention. In this 10 part series I will be discussing 10 simple ways to Increase an ADD Child's Attention Span.

Tip #1
Start each day with a healthy breakfast that is high in protein and low in refined carbohydrates.
That means that sugar coated breakfast cereals and donuts are out!!
Smoothies made with low fat milk/yogurt and fruit, cheese on wholewheat toast, eggs etc are better alternatives. These foods provide the brain with what it needs to function at it's peak.
Studies have shown that kids who ate breakfast regularly demonstrated significantly higher reading and math scores, lower levels of hyperactivity, better school attendance, had longer attention spans and fewer behavioral problems than those who didn't eat breakfast.