Understandably, parents who are eager to help their children want to explore every possible option. Many newly touted treatments sound reasonable. Many even come with glowing reports. A few are pure quackery. Some are even developed by reputable doctors or specialists--but when tested scientifically, cannot be proven to help.

Here are a few types of treatment that have not been scientifically shown to be effective in treating the majority of children or adults with ADHD:
biofeedback
restricted diets
allergy treatments
medicines to correct problems in the inner ear
megavitamins
chiropractic adjustment and bone re-alignment
treatment for yeast infection
eye training
special colored glasses

A few success stories can't substitute for scientific evidence. Until sound, scientific testing shows a treatment to be effective, families risk spending time, money, and hope on fads and false promises. 

Solving Your Child's Puzzle
The jigsaw!!! Which part of it will best suit the ADHD people in your family.

From a web site that sells an ADHD online magazine, click on this link to browse through the rest of the site. We couldn't find the name of the author to acknowledge him/her  Helping a child with hyperactivity, irritability, learning problems, headaches, fatigue, depression, and/or chronic allergies is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. You have to identify the important pieces of the puzzle and fit them together to complete the puzzle.  Here are possible biological pieces to your child's "ADD/ADHD jigsaw puzzle" - Lead toxicity (rare but extremely important for those who have it - Iron deficiency if your child is tired, pale, inattentive and irritable - Thyroid abnormalities (rare, extremely important for those with it) - Poor diet - Food and food additives sensitivities,important for many ADHD - Essential fatty acid deficiency if your child has excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, dry hair, dandruff and/or brittle nails - Yeast allergy (important for those children who have taken many antibiotics) - Inhalant allergies and chemical sensitivities

Stimulant Medications: Pros and Cons

If your child is taking stimulant medication such as Ritalin, Adderall or Cylert, don't stop this medicine without thoroughly discussing this treatment with your doctor. 
What are the pros and cons of medication?

First, the pros:

-These drugs work quickly so you'll know if they're going to help or not (the dosage may have to be
adjusted by your doctor).

- The medications are relatively inexpensive and have been used for many years. For families with children who are about to be expelled from school or where the family structure is falling apart, stimulant medication may provide some relief. Many of the parents I've interviewed in our study at Purdue University commented that medication had been a life saver.

What are the cons?

- About 30% of children with ADHD do not respond to medication.

- Some children experience side effects such as appetite reduction. This may lead to a reduced intake of foods containing essential nutrients. This problem can be somewhat overcome by giving medication after meals and offering only healthy foods.

-Some children may be especially difficult to manage late in the day and evening when the medication has worn off. This can be a trial for families who are tired and stressed out at the end of the day.

-children on stimulant medication complain of frequent stomachaches and headaches.

- One to two percent of children on stimulant medication may develop tics.

- Medication does not answer the important questions, "Why is my child hyperactive? What is physiologically causing this behavior?" It's like taking an aspirin for a headache--it helps the headache but does not address the basic cause of the pain.

- Many parents do not like the idea of medicating their children for any length of time

-Some children don't like the way the stimulant medications make them feel.

- Surprisingly, some long term studies of children who have taken stimulant medication do not show that these individuals are better off than those who did not take medication.

So there are no easy answers to these issues. But many children with ADHD have significantly improved or achieved "normal" behavior after searching for and correcting biological factors. 

North Shore Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Manhasset, New York.

The attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a neurophysiologic problem that is detrimental to children and their parents. Despite previous studies on the role of foods, preservatives and artificial colorings in ADHD this issue remains controversial. This investigation evaluated 26 children who meet the criteria for ADHD. Treatment with a multiple item elimination diet showed 19 children (73%) responded favorably,  On open challenge, all 19 children reacted to many foods, dyes, and/or preservatives. A double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) was completed in 16 children.

There was a significant improvement on placebo days compared with challenge days . Atopic children with ADHD had a significantly higher response rate than the nonatopic group. This study demonstrates a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the majority of children with ADHD.