© braininspect.com
Previous guidelines covered ADHD in kids 6-12. The latest ones address children ages 4-18 because there is additional research on that age range, says Mark Wolraich, chairman of the committee that prepared the report, released Sunday at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Boston.
Earlier treatment can help the children and reduce family stress, he says.
"These children may have been kicked out of preschool programs, or they may have parents who are really getting angry at them much of the time."
ADHD occurs in about 8% of children and teens, he says.
The guidelines recommend that primary-care providers initiate an evaluation for ADHD in any children ages 4-18 who appear with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, says Wolraich, professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
The first line of treatment for preschool children who have ADHD lies with parents. Through behavior therapy, parents need to learn to be consistent in giving positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviors and ignoring or punishing inappropriate ones, he says.
Comment: Parents will do far better to realize that they are being lied to by the Big Pharma that has an invested interest in drugging their children. The fact is, there is a direct link between ADHD and diet, while foods containing food dyes and pesticides significantly increase the chances of ADHD occurrence.
ADHD: It's The Food, Stupid
Over five million children ages four to 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States and close to 3 million of those children take medication for their symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But a new study reported in The Lancet last month found that with a restricted diet alone, many children experienced a significant reduction in symptoms. The study's lead author, Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands, said in an interview with NPR, "The teachers thought it was so strange that the diet would change the behavior of the child as thoroughly as they saw it. It was a miracle, the teachers said."
If the young children do not show significant improvements with these behavior techniques and they have moderate to severe ADHD symptoms, physicians can consider prescribing Ritalin, but doctors should start with low doses and go slowly, he says.
Comment: Since ADHD symptoms are triggered primarily by diet, disciplining and punishing is not going to cut it. No doubt, Big Pharma is aware of it. Also, there are many alternative ways to treat ADHD instead of ingesting poison:
Natural, Herbal, and Alternative Treatments for ADD/ADHD
"We know that early intervention makes a difference -- the sooner ADHD is identified and treated, the better for the child," says Ruth Hughes, chief executive officer of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a.k.a. CHADD.
I am 40 years old, when I was a child there was no such thing! If you did not pay attention or were a total brat then your "ADHD" was spanked out of you and you were right as rain! Now, the idea that spanking is bad but getting them hooked on drugs at 4 years old is perfectly fine!