| In the past decade, prescriptions for Ritalin, a stimulant | | | | will develop faster than the other, and that's what's |
| medication commonly used for attention deficit | | | | happening in ADHD patients," says Dr. Melillo. |
| hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased five-fold, with | | | | Chiropractic neurologists are trained to identify the |
| 90 percent of all prescriptions worldwide consumed in | | | | underfunctioning part of the brain and find treatments |
| the United States. As many parents grow leery of the | | | | to correct the problem, to help that hemisphere grow. |
| traditional medical approach to ADHD, doctors of | | | | "On every patient, we perform a brain function exam," |
| chiropractic are offering promising results with non-drug | | | | says Dr. Frederick Carrick, president of the ACA |
| treatments that focus on postural muscles, nutrition and | | | | Council on Neurology. "We test visual and auditory |
| lifestyle changes that affect brain activity. | | | | reflexes through, for example, flashing light in the eye, |
| Some children may simply have difficulty learning | | | | or asking patients to listen to music in one or the other |
| certain subjects, but the current system-in a | | | | ear." |
| sense-prompts school officials to encourage their | | | | When the problem is identified, patients are placed on |
| parents to have the children diagnosed with ADHD, | | | | a treatment program-and most of the therapies can |
| says Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of the American | | | | be done at home. "Patients are asked to smell certain |
| Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on | | | | things several times a day ... or wear special glasses," |
| Occupational Health. "The higher the number of | | | | says Dr. Mark S. Smith, a chiropractic neurologist. "We |
| disabled kids in the school, the more funding the school | | | | also focus on their individual problems. Some children, |
| can apply for," says Dr. Bautch. | | | | for example, have difficulty with planning, organization, |
| Some teachers might also have difficulty with students | | | | and coordination-so they benefit from timing therapies. |
| who have a different style of learning, according to Dr. | | | | They learn to clap or tap to the metronome, perform |
| Bautch. If the child is a visual learner-and the teacher is | | | | spinning and balancing exercises." |
| not-perhaps the child is not being taught in a way he or | | | | Although currently no studies comparing chiropractic |
| she can learn. Before diagnosing the child with ADHD, | | | | neurological and medical treatment for ADHD are |
| Dr. Bautch recommends doctors talk to the child and | | | | available, chiropractic neurologists are compiling the |
| the parents: "Is the child too active? Bored? Has | | | | data. "We test children before they start the treatment |
| dyslexia or a different learning pattern? It can be a | | | | and then every three months," says Dr. Melillo. "Within |
| behavior problem, problems at home, or frustrations | | | | the first three months, the children get a |
| with the teacher's style," explains Dr. Bautch. "If we | | | | two-grade-level increase on average-which is pretty |
| went to a conference where the speakers taught in a | | | | dramatic. With children on medications, the |
| way we can't learn, we would be frustrated and would | | | | improvement in academic performance is short term |
| misbehave-we'd get up and leave or chat to the | | | | and lasts only as long as they take the medication. Our |
| person sitting next to us." | | | | programs change the brain function and the |
| The traditional medical model, however, seems to | | | | improvement doesn't go away." |
| follow the cookie-cutter principle. The diagnosis of | | | | While chiropractic neurologists have found success in |
| ADHD is based on a questionnaire. But this is not | | | | treating ADHD and learning disabilities by providing the |
| enough, says Dr. Robert Melillo, a chiropractic | | | | necessary brain stimulation, they also recommend |
| neurologist. "True ADHD patients have other signs - | | | | nutrition and lifestyle changes that may help correct or |
| tics, tremors, balance or postural problems, or unusual | | | | prevent biochemical imbalances that cause ADHD. |
| sensitivity to touch, movement, sights, or sounds." | | | | Parents are encouraged to: |
| Unfortunately, although medications can keep ADHD | | | | 1. Remove as many food dyes, sugar, preservatives, |
| under control, they don't cure it. Eighty percent of | | | | and additives from the diet as possible. 2. Focus on |
| patients have ADHD features in adolescence, and up | | | | natural, mostly organic foods with as few pesticides or |
| to 65 percent maintain them in adulthood. | | | | herbicides as possible. 3. Determine if there is an |
| Doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic neurologists | | | | allergy-usually starting with dairy and gluten and try |
| offer a non-drug and non-invasive treatment | | | | elimination diets. 4. Stop using pesticide sprays in the |
| alternative for ADHD patients that targets the | | | | house. 5. Avoid taking medications, nicotine, alcohol, and |
| underlying problems, not just symptoms. "Motor | | | | other drugs in pregnancy that may Farm the fetus. 6. |
| activity-especially development of the postural | | | | Find ways to relax during pregnancy. Stress on the job |
| muscles-is the baseline function of brain activity. | | | | may affect the unborn baby's health, as well. 7. |
| Anything affecting postural muscles will influence brain | | | | Breastfeed. The first months and years of a child's life |
| development. Musculoskeletal imbalance will create | | | | are critical to physical and psychological development. |
| imbalance of brain activity, and one part of the brain | | | | Breastfeeding mothers' diets are important as well. |