Is Your Child Making The Grade? The Top 10 Natural Therapies to Increase Grades and Improve Behavior
By Dr. Jared M. Skowron
The problem might be ADHD, one of the most common childhood devel- opmental issues of the 21st century. Over 5 million children in the USA have a learning disability, 9% boys and 6% of girls. It is more common in families with lower income (12%) versus higher income (6%), and it is more common in single parent families (13%) versus two parent families (7%). Your child may have symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
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Fill out this checklist to calculate if your child should be evaluated and treated:
Symptoms of Inattention: • Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
• Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
• Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
• Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace.
• Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities. • Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as homework).
• Loses things necessary for tasks or activi- ties (toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools). • Is easily distracted by outside stimuli. • Is forgetful in daily activities.
• Symptoms of Hyperactivity: • Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
• Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected.
• Runs about or climbs too much in situa- tions in which it is inappropriate. • Has difficulty playing quietly. • Is ‘on the go’ or acts as if ‘driven by a motor.’ • Talks too much.
32 Natural Nutmeg February 2012
ow many calls or notes did you get from your child’s teacher this year? How much of a fight did it take every night to get your child to do their homework? Is your child getting the grades you think they should?
Symptoms of Impulsivity:
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed. • Has difficulty waiting his or her turn. • Interrupts or intrudes on others (such as butting into conversations or games).
If multiple symptoms of this checklist sound too familiar, you may have already considered, or your child may have already been diagnosed with ADHD. You may have heard this from your pediatrician or your child’s teacher may have recommended medication to help them keep control of their classroom. The problem with ADHD medications is that they do NOT cure ADHD. They are a band-aid. A band-aid with side effects, and once your child stops taking the medicine, their symptoms return.
Common Side Effects Of Stimulants For ADD & ADHD:
• Feeling restless and jittery • Difficulty sleeping • Upset stomach, Loss of appetite • Headaches, irritability, mood swings • Depression • Dizziness, racing heartbeat, tics • Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
Are these side effects worth the potential benefits of the medication? Or would you rather use natural vitamins to help your child do better in school without the side effects? Like most parents in my clinic, many fami- lies in Connecticut want to do everything they can for their children, including natural medicine.
Top 10 Natural Therapies to Increase Grades and Improve Behavior
1. Test your child’s brain chemistry. Most parents are unaware that your brain runs on serotonin, dopamine, and other chemicals that can easily be tested in the urine! Most insurance plans cover these tests, and the results can help you pick the right natural treatment.
2. Eat natural foods! I tell my patients they can eat anything from nature. Salmon from the river, broccoli from the ground, but there are no bagel bushes and no cookie trees. Eat foods on the perimeter of the su- permarket. The foods in the center are filled with colors and preservatives and can sit on those shelves for months to years. 3. Count your child’s sugar intake. Over the course of one week, write down every- thing your child eats and drinks. Count their servings and check the amount of sugar on the ingredient list. Add up all the grams and divide by 4. This is the number of teaspoons
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