How to Minimise the Chance of a {Genetically Prone} Child Being Diagnosed with ADHD

Welcome to the March 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting With Special Needs

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared how we parent despite and because of challenges thrown our way. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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Before last year the extent of my knowledge of ADHD was my mother complaining that my father must have it, because, you know, he never listened ;). Indeed my father does have some sort of minor learning disability that went undiagnosed, and still is undiagnosed, meaning his school career was pure torture. However, he managed to find a niche that he was very successful in, practical work, namely mechanics and engineering.

Sadly, my experience with ADHD was not to end with my mothers' exasperation of my fathers listening skills. Last year we realised my husband was suffering with an attention deficit disorder, which was making his work-life difficult, to say the least. I took him to one of the best psychologists in the country with ADHD and autism experience and he confirmed our fears. The worst part is that because it has gone undiagnosed for his entire life, he has now picked up awful coping mechanisms. But this post is not about my husband.

My poor Jesse now has an attention disorder and a learning disorder on both sides of his family. At least I am raising him with my eyes wide open for any signs that he may suffer from either. To start he is an energetic soul, full of life and with big emotions. At 16 months he keeps me very busy, demanding stimulating activities and positive attention. I hope to give him the tools to harness all this incredible intelligence and sensitivity in a successful direction. 

Firstly, what is ADHD? It is a common behavioural disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school aged children. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it. Interestingly boys requirements for essential fats are higher than girls. More on this below. 

Sufferers of ADHD sometimes act without thinking, are hyperactive, and have trouble focusing. They may understand what is expected of them, but have trouble following through because they can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details. Of course all children act this way sometimes, especially when excited, the difference is that with ADHD the symptoms are present over a longer period of time and occur in different settings. They impair a child's ability to function socially, academically, and at home. 

There are three subtypes, each with its own patterns of behaviours:

1. An inattentive type

2. A hyperactive-impulsive type

3. A combined type, which is most common. 

There are medications one can take to manage ADHD, but, as with all disorders, prevention and natural management is better than a chemical cure with dreadful side effects. If you suspect a loved one of suffering from ADHD I definitely recommend a full diagnoses by a trained professional, however, before you jump to habit-forming medications first research your options. 

No single cause for ADHD has been identified, but there seem to be a number of genetic and environmental links. Whilst I have no control over Jesse's genetics, I can control his environment. 

Here are a few links that have been made:

• Children with ADHD usually have a close relative with the same disorder. 
• Chemical changes in the brain have been found, and certain areas are 5% to 10% smaller in size and activity in sufferers of ADHD.
• Excessive television watching has been linked to attention problems. Children under two years of age should not have ANY screen time and children that are two years and older should be limited to 1 hour per day, if any at all. 
• Many sufferers of ADHD also have a learning problem such as dyslexia. 

Although Jesse is more prone to suffering from ADHD, as his father suffers from it, and merely because he is a boy, I make sure I do all I can to minimise the likelihood or at least the intensity of his suffering from ADHD. 

Most importantly, Jesse is on a strict and incredibly healthy diet. His diet is high raw and full of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. He consumes absolutely no refined sugar, refined carbohydrates or any other processed foods, additives or preservatives. Jesse is impeccably healthy, for more information on his diet read this. 

Sugar is highly toxic for anyone, but especially for children with developing brains. Balanced blood sugar levels are vital to mental health.

Refined carbohydrates promote hyperactivity and aggression. 

Essential fats (found in seeds and oily fish) are crucial for concentration. Omega 3 in particular have a clear, calming effect on children with ADHD. 

I also supplement Jesse's diet. It is important for children with ADHD to be taking a good multi-vitamin and mineral. See more on supplementing your child's diet here. Zinc and magnesium are the most commonly deficient nutrients in people with ADHD. 

Also, keep your eye out for potential food allergens such as wheat, dairy, yeast, soya, chocolate, oranges and eggs. 

Jesse does not watch television, and I do not plan to add it to his routine any time soon. As I mentioned above, television has been directly linked to attention problems in children. Not only that, for every hour your child is sitting in front of the television, that is an hour lost from their day where they could have been learning a new word, grasping a new concept or stimulating their brain in a positive way. Television is stimulating but in all the wrong ways, in fact it is over-stimulating. 

I make sure that Jesse gets plenty of exercise, fresh air and time to potter around outside. It is so important for your children to spend time outside each and every day, regardless of the weather. Not only does it diminish the likelihood of them suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, but it gets the heart pumping and promotes physical well-being. Exercise is the best way to burn off all the hyperactive energy associated with ADHD. 

I actively concentrate on making Jesse's day stimulating in a positive way, with planned activities, plenty of unplanned play and time for him to merely do his own thing with his puppy. 

I practice natural and attachment parenting, ensuring that Jesse's emotional needs are met to the best of my ability. For more information on attachment and natural parenting, please see the Natural Parents Network. 

I actively research and read up on ADHD, watching for any new study results and recommendations. I can highly recommend Patrick Holford's book, Optimum Nutrition for your Child as a resource for parents to ensure that their children are getting their required nutrients and therefore prevent ADHD. This is probably the most important step, as all the other steps I would be doing anyway, to ensure my son has the best start in life.

Do you have any experience with ADHD? How do you ensure your children remain mentally healthy? I would love to hear from you! 

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Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon March 13 with all the carnival links.)

• Parenting A Child With Neutropenia — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses the challenge of parenting a young child who cannot produce enough neutrophils to fight off bacterial infections.
• How I Love My High Need Baby — Shannon at GrowingSlower was shocked to find she is parenting a high-needs baby, but she's surviving thanks to attachment parenting.
• We're a Lot Like You — kaidera at Our Little Acorn talks about how her family is similar to others, even with all their special needs
• The Emotional Components of Bonding with Preemies — Having a premature baby can bring on many unexpected emotions for parents, but working through those emotions can bring about a wonderful bonding experience. Adrienne at Natural Parents Network shares.
• Raising a babe with IUGR: from birth through the toddler years — Rachel at Lautaret Bohemiet shares the story of how her son’s post-birth IUGR diagnosis affected his first days of life and gave her an unexpected tutorial in advocating for their rights as a family.
• When a grandparent has a disability — Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares how she has approached explaining her mother's disability to her young child.
• Taking The Time To Really See Our Children — Sam at Love Parenting writes about her experiences working with children with various disabilities and how it has affected her parenting style.
• Natural Parenting In An Unnatural Environment — Julie at What I Would Tell You gives us a glimpse into how she improvised to be a natural parent against all odds.
• Getting Through the NICU — Laura at Authentic Parenting gives a few pointers on how to deal with your newborn's stay in the NICU.
• Living With Sensory Processing Disorder — Christy at Adventures in Mommyhood talks about the challenges that can come from living with a child who has SPD.
• Our rules for NICU - March Carnival — Hannabert's Mom shares her family's rules for family and friends of a NICU baby.
• Letter from Mineral's Service Dog — Erika at Cinco de Mommy imagines the letter that accompanies her special needs son's Service Dog.
• Blessings in Unexpected Places — That Mama Gretchen welcomes an inspiring guest post from a dear friend who shares about the blessings that come from a child with Down syndrome.
• Tube Feeding with a Blenderized Diet of Whole Foods — Erica at ChildOrganics shares her experiences with using real food when feeding her daughter who was unable to feed herself and needed a feeding tube.
• Abbey and Evan — Amyables at Toddler In Tow writes about watching her preschooler play with her friend who is autistic and deaf, and wonders how she can explain his special needs better.
• How to Minimise the Chance of a {Genetically Prone} Child Being Diagnosed with ADHD — Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry shares her tips on keeping a child who is genetically prone to ADHD from suffering the effects.
• Tough Decisions: Parenting With Special Needs — Brenna at Almost All The Truth shares what has been keeping her up at night worrying, while spending her days discovering just what her options are for her precocious child.
• Life with my son — For Dr. Sarah at Good Enough Mum, life with an autistic child is just another variation on the parenting experience.
• Dear Special Needs Mama — Sylvia at MaMammalia writes a letter of encouragement to herself and other mamas of special needs children.
• His Voice — Laura at WaldenMommy relives the day her son said his first sentence.
• What is 'wrong' with you' The challenge of raising a spirited child — Tara at MUMmedia discusses the challenges of raising a child who is 'more' intense, stubborn, and strong willed than your average child.
• Tips for Parenting a Child With Special Medical Needs — Jorje of Momma Jorje shares her shortlist of tips she's learned in parenting a newborn with special medical needs in a guest post at Becoming Crunchy.
• Parenting the Perfectionist Child — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children discusses that as parents of gifted children, we are in the unique position to help them develop the positive aspects of their perfectionism.
• Montessori-Inspired Special Needs Support — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now gives a list of websites and blogs with Montessori-inspired special-needs information and activities.
• Accommodating Others' Food Allergies — Ever wonder how to handle another family's food allergies or whether you should just skip the play date altogether? At Code Name: Mama, Dionna's friend Kellie (whose family has a host of allergies) shares how grateful she is when friends welcome them, as well as a list of easy snacks you can consider.
• Only make promises you can keep — Growing up the child of a parent with a chronic illness left a lasting impact on Laura of A Pug in the Kitchen and what she is willing to promise for the future.
• A Mom and Her Son — Jen at Our Muddy Boots was fortunate to work with a wonderful family for several summers, seeing the mother of this autistic son be his advocate, but not in the ways she thought.
• Guest Post from Maya at Musings of A Marfan Mom — Zoie at TouchstoneZ is honored to share a guest post from Maya, who writes about effective tools she has found as a parent of two very special boys.
• You Don't Have to Be a Rock — Rachael at The Variegated Life finds steadiness in allowing herself to cry.
• When Special Needs Looks "Normal" — Amy at Anktangle writes about her experience with mothering a son who has Sensory Processing Disorder. She offers some tips (for strangers, friends, and loved ones) on how to best support a family dealing with this particular neurological challenge.
• Special Needs: Limitation or Liberation? — Melissa of White Noise describes the beauty in children with special needs.
• How I Learned It'll Be Okay — Ashley at Domestic Chaos reflects on what she learned while nannying for a boy with verbal delays.
• Attachment Parenting and Depression — Shannon at The Artful Mama discusses how attachment parenting has helped her get a clearer image of herself as a parent and of her depression.
• On invisible special needs & compassion — Lauren at Hobo Mama points out that even if we can't see a special need, it doesn't mean it's not there.
• Thoughts on Parenting Twins — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares her approach to parenting twins.
• ABCs of Breastfeeding in the NICU — Jona at Breastfeeding Twins offers tips for establishing breastfeeding in the alphabet soup of the NICU.
• Life With Michael - A Mother's Experience of Life With Aspergers Disorder — At Diary of a First Child, Luschka's sister-in-law Nicky shares her experience as mother to a child on the Autism Spectrum. It is filled with a mother's love and devotion to her child as an individual, not a label.
• Raised by a Special Needs Mom — Momma Jorje shares what it was like growing up as the daughter of a mother with a handicap.
• Becoming a Special Needs Mom — Ellen at These Broken Vases shares about becoming the mother of a child with Down syndrome
• She Said It Was "Vital" — Alicia of Lactation Narration (and My Baby Sweets) discusses the conflict she felt when trying to decide whether therapy was necessary for her daughter.