|
 |
Dr. Santosh Yadav (M.D.)
Consultant Homeopath |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). |
|
|
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a problem with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for the child's age and development.
ADHD affects school performance and interpersonal relationships. |
Parents of children with ADHD are often exhausted and frustrated.
Neuroimaging studies suggest that the brains of children with ADHD are different from those of other children. These children handle neurotransmitters (including dopamine, serotonin, and adrenalin) differently from their peers. ADHD is often genetic. Whatever the specific cause may be, it seems to be set in motion early in life as the brain is developing. |
|
|
Depression, sleep deprivation, learning disabilities, tic disorders, and behavior problems may be confused with, or appear along with, ADHD. Every child suspected of having ADHD deserves a careful evaluation to sort out exactly what is contributing to the behaviors causing concern.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, affecting an estimated 3 - 5% of school aged children. It is diagnosed much more often in boys than in girls. Most children with ADHD also have at least one other developmental or behavioral problem. |
| Types of ADHD |
1. ADHD – Inattentive type is defined by an individual experiencing at least six of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Individuals with ADHD may know what to do, but may not consistently do what they know because of their inability to efficiently stop and think prior to responding, regardless of the setting or task.
Characteristics of ADHD have been demonstrated to arise in early childhood for most individuals.
This disorder is marked by chronic behaviours lasting at least six months with an onset often before seven years of age. At this time, four subtypes of ADHD have been defined.
These include the following characteristics:
a) Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
b) Difficulty sustaining attention.
c) Does not appear to listen.
d) Struggles to follow through on instructions.
e) Difficulty with organization.
f) Avoids or dislikes requiring sustained mental effort.
g) Often loses things necessary for tasks.
h) Easily distracted.
i) Forgetful in daily activities.
2. ADHD – Hyperactive/Impulsive type
It is defined by an individual experiencing six of the following characteristics:
a) Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
b) Difficulty remaining seated.
c) Runs about or climbs excessively (in adults may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness).
d) Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
e) Acts as if driven by a motor.
f) Talks excessively.
g) Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
h) Difficulty waiting in turns taking situations.
i) Interrupts or intrudes upon others
3. ADHD – Combined type
It is defined by an individual meeting both sets of attention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.
4. ADHD – Not otherwise specified
It is defined by an individual who demonstrates some characteristics but an insufficient number of symptoms to reach a full diagnosis.
These symptoms, however,
a) disrupt everyday life.
b) Children and adults who have ADHD exhibit degrees of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that are abnormal for their ages. This can result in serious social problems, or impairment, of family relationships, success at school or work or in other life endeavors.
c) Children and adults can exhibit other psychiatric disorders, along with their ADHD symptoms. Most commonly, these include oppositional defiant or conduct disorder, along with or separate from internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression. |
| Causes of ADHD |
Experts have investigated genetic and environmental causes for ADHD.
Some children may inherit a biochemical condition, which influences the expression of ADHD symptoms.
Other children may acquire the condition due to abnormal fetal development, which has subtle effects on brain regions that control attention and movement.
Recently, scientists have uncovered research based on brain imaging to localize the brain areas involved in ADHD and have found that areas in the frontal lobe and basal ganglia are reduced by about 10 percent in size and activity in ADHD children.
Recent research based on genetic mechanisms has focused on dopamine as the primary neurotransmitter involved in ADHD. Dopamine pathways in the brain, which link the basal ganglia and frontal cortex, appear to play a major role in ADHD. |
| How is ADHD treated? |
There are two modalities of treatment that specifically target symptoms of ADHD. One uses medication and the other is a non-medical treatment with psychosocial interventions. The combination of these treatments is called multimodality treatment.
Treating ADHD in children requires a coordinated effort between medical, mental health and educational professionals in conjunction with parents. This combined set of treatments offered by a variety of individuals is referred to as multi-modal intervention. A multi-modal treatment program should include: . Parent training concerning the nature of ADHD as well as effective behavior management strategies . An appropriate educational program . Individual and family counseling, when needed, to minimize the escalation of family problems . Medication when required
Behavior modification techniques have been used to treat the behavioral symptoms of ADHD for more than a quarter of a century. A summary of the literature on trials that have validated the efficacy of this approach shows that, in many cases, behavior modification alone has not been sufficient to address severe symptoms of ADHD.
Classroom success for children with ADHD often requires a range of interventions. Most children with ADHD can be taught in the regular classroom with either minor adjustments in the classroom setting, the addition of support personnel, and/or special education programs provided outside of the classroom. The most severely affected children with ADHD often experience a number of occurring problems and require specialized classrooms. |
| What services does foundation provide for management of ADHD |
Clinic provides integrated care. Our multidisciplinary team of homoeopath, psychologist, occupational therapist and counsellor work in coordination for the management.
Homoeopathy is a science and plays a vital role in the management of ADHD.
Well selected homoeopathic remedies
- Help in calming down the behaviour, reduces the restlessness
- Help in reducing impulsivity, tantrums
- Acts as immunodulators
- Bring about moderation in sensitivity disturbances
- Help to manage underlying neurological disturbances
- Do not have any adverse or depressing neurophysiological side effects.
- What other therapies / techniques are helpful for children with ADHD
- Along with Homoeopathy, children greatly benefit from
- Behaviour modification therapy
- Play therapy
- Water therapy
- Family counselling
- Children with perceptual difficulties may need remedial education.
|
| Homeopathic Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
Treatment begins with awareness
Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is currently the most commonly diagnosed childhood behavioral disorder (affecting an estimated 3 to 5% of children), ADHD is far more common among adults than people generally recognize.
It is believed that more than 8 million adults have the disorder and the vast majority have not been diagnosed.
Homeopathic way of treatment
Through a number of trials, homeopathy has shown to be effective in reducing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorer symptoms of restlessness, inattentiveness and impulsiveness.
The main treatments that most people know about and that most people with ADHD are using are allopathic stimulant medications.
This Stimulants provide only short term superficial healing and do not in any way treat the root cause of the problem.
The effect of stimulants last only for 4 to 8 hours.
Stimulants do not treat all the symptoms manifested in children who suffer from ADHD.
Stimulants seem to be effective only in 70% of the children with ADHD.
Stimulants can cause side effects such as appetite loss, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, tics and stomachaches.
Parents of some children with ADHD who were administered these stimulants report other side effects such as increased heart rate or BP, drowsiness, social withdrawl, irritability and moodiness, and involuntary movements or sounds.
Stimulants get children into the habit of taking drugs.
Stimulants may need to be taken throughout life as they do not address the problems from root cause. |
| But homeopathy takes a different approach |
Unlike allopathic stimulant drugs homeopathy does not try to suppress elements of an individual behavior, rather it aims to redress any imbalance in the body naturally without altering the body with drugs. This has the outcome of reducing the symptoms of ADHD without changing or altering the personality or physical elements, one of the main side effects of stimulants.
Homeoapthy reviews a person in their entirety, so practitioners will take detailed medical histories so they can address all the ailments that may be effecting a person.
So, rather than focusing only on the ADHD, they might look at why a child always has a cold or a reccuring ear infection and so on. Treatments are always individualized and the risk of side effects is nil if the treatment has been accurately chosen and the dosages are correct.
If the child is already on stimulants and homeopathic treatment is being considered, the child can continue the stimulant medication while taking homeopathic remedies. The allopathic stimulants can be slowly reduced under the recommendation of the child's doctor.
The selection of the homeopathic remedies that will act deeply enough to change the child's behavior permanently is difficult and can take some time. The patient and the parents need to be good observers and good historians.
Homeopathic treatment sets off a process of self healing. It does not always produce instant relief of symptoms but it works slowly and steadily and its effects last much longer than allopathic treatment. Homeopathy requires patience and a willingness to put lots of efforts into the treatment process.
The homeopath will try to find the most unique symptoms of the child, and that often requires a process of consultation and review over a period of several months.
We see some children who have been taking Ritalin for a period of time, and when they begin to withdraw this drug, we may have to deal with rebound symptoms for a while.
There are various homoeopathic remedies which give great relief in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathic doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient.
Medication and behavior therapy should be started.
When treatment has not met the target goals, evaluate the original diagnosis, the possible presence of other conditions, and how well the treatment plan has been implemented. Systematic follow-up is important to regularly reassess target goals, results, and any side
effects of medications. Information should be gathered from parents, teachers, and the child. |
| Prognosis of ADHD: |
| ADHD is a long-term, chronic condition. About half of the children with ADHD will continue to have troublesome symptoms of inattention or impulsivity as adults. However, adults are often more capable of controlling behavior and masking difficulties. Statistics show that there is an increased incidence in juvenile delinquency and adult encounters with the law among individuals who had ADHD as a child. Every effort should be made to manage symptoms and direct the child's energy to constructive and educational paths. |
| Role of Homeopathy in ADHD: |
Homeopathy acts deeper in to the personals life.
Effects of homeopathic medicine are more on the life giving energy, the vital force than on the body and its parts.
Homeopathy acts on that energy in our body which acts on genes and DNA. Right time of understanding the problem in personals life and starting the treatment has far greater out come with homeopathy.
ADHD child may have genetic cause and there may be functional and structural alteration in the brain of the child to suffer from ADHD, but strength of Homeopathy lies in influencing such illness by virtue of its actions on those channels in our body which directly or indirectly governs the function and structure of our body which is much beyond the level of not only cell but even the genes and DNA and RNA. Because these genes are also powered by the basic life energy. This life giving energy is dynamic and so are the Homeopathic medicines. We can't see the power but we can experience its presence when we examine a living cell and dead cell.
In cases of ADHD significant improvement is observed in the behavioral and intellectual performance of the child. Constitutional homeopathic treatment is the best possible approach which gives satisfactory results in cases of ADHD.
Along with Homeopathic management following care should also be taken
Limit distractions in the child's environment.
Provide one-on-one instruction with teacher.
Make sure the child gets enough sleep. |
|
|
Facebook
Twitter
