Ninety percent of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are not getting any benefits from the drugs they have been prescribed according a new study.
This study was carried out by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Centre where they tracked 180 children who had been diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.
Out of the participants, two-thirds of the children had been put on medication and 6 years later, 62 percent of those on medication still had “clinically significant” hyperactivity and impulsivity compared with 58 percent of those not taking any medication.
65 percent of the children in the study on medication for their ADHD also still suffered from severe inattention compared with 62 percent of the non-drug group.
Are ADHD Drugs Making The Condition Worse?
Very little improvement was observed in the children taking the ADHD medication, in fact from this study it suggests that the children taking the medication were doing worse than those who were not taking any drugs.
The researchers of this study concluded that 9 out of 10 children with moderate to severe ADHD saw no improvement in their symptoms, even after taking the drugs for sis years. So right now with studies demonstrating that ADHD medication does not work – why are doctors so insistent on prescribing them?
I feel the answer to the condition lies in a big diet overhaul, and managing their ADHD symptoms through correct nutrition.
ADHD Diet Plan Tip: To get started on the right diet for your child with ADHD, try incorporating more protein rich foods with each meal and don’t just give them a meal full of carbohydrates only. Protein can prevent surges in blood sugar which can increase hyperactivity.
Try slipping lean protein into lots of their meals throughout the day.
- Whey protein smoothies (or a vegan protein powder)
- Turkey strips to dunk in ketchup for their lunch box
- Free range organic chicken burger
- Almonds to snack on
- Scrambled eggs on gluten free toast (great breakfast idea!)