Ritalin has been shown through the years to be very effective in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms. Although it has potential side-effects which many families would like to avoid, we have seen it help a lot of people. More recently, other interventions such as EEG biofeedback training have shown themselves to be very useful in treatment as well. A great deal of energy and money has also been invested into the development of non-prescription treatments for ADD ADHD.
Consumers must be aware that there are several alleged remedies for Attention Deficit Disorder which have never even attempted to clinically verify claims or quantify results. There are also many remedies which may be helpful to a small percentage of children or adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, but perhaps only 10% to 30% of those who try it.
For example, we have seen some children make remarkable changes by avoiding sodas, or certain foods, or certain chemicals. However, these cases are the exception, not the rule. It works for some, but not for most. The diet that we recommend is helpful in about 25% of the cases of those who try it. Again, the exception, not the rule, but good enough to give it a try. Compare this with the significant improvements from ATTEND at 70%, or EEG Biofeedback at 70% to 75%, or Stimulant Medication at 70% to 75%, and you will see the difference.
There are many products on the market today, many which are marketed with slick tapes or other emotional hype, making claims that are just not realistic. Remember, just because a product works for one child, or even some children, doesn't mean that it will work for all children, or even most children. The point is that nothing works for everyone. Attention Deficit Disorder is too broad of a spectrum of problems, behavior, and potential causes, to have any one treatment work for everyone. Any treatment that can top Ritalin's supposed 75% "response with improvement" rate can and will be "king of the hill" in treatment.
I predict that the new ATTEND product may come close to this rate, but it will take the continued use of the product for two to four months to get there. Ritalin's great advantage is that it works (or doesn't) within 20 minutes if the optimum dose is used.
The nutraceutical ATTEND is equal to, or better than, the use of pemoline (Cylert) in terms of performance of product and the length of time it takes before it really works well. In terms of being healthy, ATTEND is much healthier for a person than is pemoline. We recommend that you do not use Cylert as a treatment for ADHD. Physicians or parents interested in trying pemoline in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder should consider a clinical trial of ATTEND first.
Also, for those who are presently taking Ritalin or other stimulants, but wish that they really didn't have to, it might be appropriate to try the ATTEND in addition to the other medication for three or four months. Ask you doctor about it. Then evaluate how the child does without medications, or with a smaller dose of the medication (always consult your physician). We have seen many ATTEND consumers cut their doses of Ritalin by half or more and still maintain high levels of performance. We believe that the greatest impact from the ATTEND is after two to four months of use, but benefit will be apparent within one to two months. You can learn more about ATTEND, and how it compares to Ritalin, or to EEG Biofeedback training, at the ADHD Information Library.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks... Read More
I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More
Q. What is the best way to teach safety awareness... Read More
Looking back through my files I've come across several great... Read More
Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult... Read More
It can be hard being a parent with a teen... Read More
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More
We all wish that our children should not smoke or... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More
Are your children truthful, kind, and helpful? If so, read... Read More
Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More
My neighbours' kid impressed me the other day.I was busy... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
Here's some of the bad news about sedentary lifestyles:? Forty... Read More
I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..When my son was 18 (and had finished school), he... Read More
I never dreamed that I would be in a position... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share... Read More
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
Do you have a wild child? Then this article may... Read More
There are several treatment options available to help improve the... Read More
Looking back through my files I've come across several great... Read More
Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More
If you were to ask 100 parents why they think... Read More
Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
What's new and effective in the treatment of Attention problems?... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
Bath time can be fun or it can be a... Read More
KIDS AND THE NEWSMore than ever, children witness innumerable, sometimes... Read More
There are many useful jogger stroller accessories out on the... Read More
Karen, a single never-married thirty-year old attorney has a four-year... Read More
The human brain never actually stops developing. Beginning formation in... Read More
I look out of the window as I am writing... Read More
Parenting |