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COULD DR. BROOKS' INTEGRATIVE APPROACH BE RIGHT
FOR YOUR CHILD WITH ADD/ADHD? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!
Dr. Amber Brooks, DC, MSN, CACCP, BCIP, RN works with children that are struggling with ADD/ADHD and the symptoms affecting the family. There are an exorbitant amount of children being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, some misdiagnosed.
In many cases, families are only given the option to medicate. It is important for parents and teachers to understand that there are effective, safe and natural options that work. Some of the natural options include diet, nutrition, supplementation, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, family counseling, and social skills courses.
Many children do not meet all the qualifications for an ADD or ADHD label. In some cases, symptoms are being overlooked that could result in a diagnosis of Asperger’s, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, or learning disabilities.
Here are sub-types of ADD/ADHD that may help you assess your child, these include:
Inattentive
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Is not good at details
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Has difficulty sustaining attention
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Frequently fails to listen carefully
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Does not follow through on tasks as well
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Is not good at organizing
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Dislikes sustained mental effort
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Loses things often
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Easily distracted
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Forgetful
Hyperactive-Impulse
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Fidgets when seated
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Often leaves his or her seat in the classroom
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Is restless and runs around excessively
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Does not like quiet activities
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Is often active and ‘on the go’
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Talks excessively
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Blurts out answers before questions are complete
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Has difficulty awaiting turn
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Interrupts conversations and games
ADHD Combined
Defined by an individual meeting both sets of attention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.
ADHD-NOS
(Not otherwise specified):
Defined by an individual who demonstrates some characteristics but an insufficient number of symptoms to reach a full diagnosis. These symptoms, however, disrupt everyday life.
Root Causes of ADD /ADHD
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Toxic metals.
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Environmental pollutants.
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Nutritional deficits that impede detoxification and impair neurotransmitter function.
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Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances that harm digestion and brain chemistry.
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In utero stressors, including environmental toxins, inoculations, bacteria, viruses, nutritional deficiencies and emotional stress.
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Abnormal hormone and cholesterol levels.
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Inflammation of the brain, particularly from autoimmunity. This results in a disease known as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Pediatric Acute-Onset neripsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). PANS can create neuropsychiatric symptoms including tics, OCD, anxiety, intermittent rage and symptoms similar to ADHD.
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Thyroid disorders-most commonly low thyroid activity, resulting in impaired energy and cognitive function.
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Genetic factors that contribute to all of these various assaults upon the nervous system, immune system, and GI system.
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Nervous system and biomechanical dysfunctions that may make an imbalance in the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems.
As you glance over the root causes below it is important to remember that a child may exhibit 2 or all of the symptoms, there is no magic number because children express their root cause(s) differently.
You may want to consult with your primary care provider and discuss these factors.