Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a controversial diagnosed disease of adolescents that is characterized by lack of ability to focus on the task at hand, and often with a lack of ability to sit still. One cause is a lack of discipline. However, diet, lack of exercise, environmental factors, and genetic factors can be causal factors for attention problems and/or hyperactivity.^[1]

There are three common methods of diagnosing ADHD: parental observations and consultation with a healthcare provider, surveys and computer performance tests. In addition, Quantitative EEG analysis can be helpful in diagnosing ADHD.^[2]

Surveys to diagnose ADHD

Surveys do not rely on an individual's willingness to take a computer performance test, but survey questions have an element of subjectivity.

Test of variables of Attention - T.O.V.A. computer performance test

The T.O.V.A. "is an objective, neurophysiological measure of attention, not a subjective rating of behavior. It is a 21.6 minute long, very simple "computer game" that measures your responses to either visual or auditory stimuli. These measurements are then compared to the measurements of a group of people without attention disorders who took the T.O.V.A."^[3] The TOVA test measures errors of omission commonly associated with inattention and errors of commission (misidentifying a closely resembling decoy stimuli) commonly associated with hyperactivity/impulsiveness.^[4]

There are a number of websites on the internet which offer free TOVA tests.^[5]

There are a number of non-drug cures to ADHD used by a number of health professionals and schools which have been shown to be effective and can be used in conjunction with each other. For example, the treatments of: audio-visual entrainment, nutrition, exercise, cognitive development software, neurofeedback, psychosocial training and remediation of environmental contaminants and/or removing the patient from unhealthful environmental conditions.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]} In addition, Dr. Margolis, a pediatrician for 36 years who conducted an informal trial of Nikken magnetic products with a number of his patients with attention and behavior issues, reported positive results through the use of these specially engineered magnets.^[13][14]

Overuse of drug treatments

Sadly, the "treatment" that child psychiatrists, and school districts, often prescribe (or demand) involves giving the patient a large number of expensive – and possibly dangerous – drugs.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms of ADHD in children - National Institute of Health

Neurofeedback:

• Beneficial outcome from EEG-neurofeedback on creative music performance, attention and well-being in school children - PubMed journal article

ADHD Diets:

• ADHD Diets