I've heard teachers say, "All the kids in my class have ADHD." Of course, that's not true but I'm sure it must seem like it.
And how many times have you said "Oh, I was just so ADHD today"? Or maybe you've said, "If my kids would just stop running around like they have ADHD"?
ADHD is a common term. Some of us, especially those with kids who aren't working up to their potential, use the term "ADHD" or "ADD" all the time.
Usually we mean that our kid is being hyperactive and can't pay attention. Or our child is dreamy and never seems to know what's going on.
In addition to how often we use the terms, it also seems like every expert (and lots of non-experts) has their pet theory of what causes ADHD.
A few of these theories that have been blamed for "causing" ADHD include
- Poor diet and too much junk food
- Allergies to artificial coloring (and flavoring)
- Bad parents
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Vaccinations
- Too much TV
- Too many video games
- School is boring
- School is too hard
- Learning disabilities
- Right-brain kid in a left-brain world
- Lead poisoning
None of the above "cause" ADHD but they can cause behavior that looks like ADHD. And many of these factors when corrected will help with both ADHD and ADHD-like behavior.
ADHD and Diet
Sometimes it's hard to sort out. For example, children with what researchers thought was ADHD have been put on the Feingold Diet.
The Feingold diet promoters suggest that poor diet causes ADHD and a better diet will "cure" it. This somewhat complicated elimination diet does help lots of kids. In some children, it eliminates ADHD symptoms totally. In other kids curb the symptoms a lot. But that doesn't mean that bad diet caused ADHD.
All we can really say is that a poor diet can cause ADHD-like symptoms, And that a nutritious diet often goes a long way in helping with both ADHD-like symptoms and ADHD itself.
If, however, a child's ADHD-like symptoms go away entirely after eating more nutritious food, they didn't have ADHD in the first place. They had behavior caused by their brain getting too few nutrients and that looked like ADHD.
ADHD Drugs for ADHD-like Behvior?
The distinction between ADHD and ADHD-like symptoms is important since stimulant drugs are not appropriate for ADHD-like symptoms. These drugs may, however, be appropriate for ADHD.
It's always important to rule out factors that can cause ADHD-like behavior before putting kids on ADHD meds.
Unless these factors are ruled out, we put our kids at risk of taking powerful drugs for a condition they don't have. For a list of 12 of these factors that can cause ADHD-like behavior, you can get immediate access to the checklist "Maybe They Don't Have ADHD After All" at by signing up over in the right-hand side bar toward the top of the page.
On the other hand, most non-drug alternatives will help with both ADHD-like symptoms and ADHD so the actual diagnosis doesn't make that much difference.
Non-drug strategies, programs and activities can help kids pay attention and focus. Can help them to be less hyperactive or less dreamy. Can help them from being so impulsive.
Now these children can reach their potential in school without that pesky ADHD behavior getting in the way.
Be sure to leave us a comment? What experience have you had with ADHD at your house?
About Dr. MaryJo Wagner
My daughter has ADHD and so do I. I lived it with pretty well though. I made good grades all during school, never got into trouble and didn't get diagnosed until I was 24. My girl on the other hand got kicked out of every daycare in the county! She has been to therapy and has took meds. The meds have by far been the best route for her.
Glad the meds are helping. You might want to try some of the non-drug alternatives too. With many kids, including those whose symptoms are pretty severe, lots of daily vigorous physical activity will help. As will less TV, esp. before school and before bedtime.