Despite adhd research and studies scientists are still not able to really tell us much more about this disorder than they could twenty, thirty or even more years ago. For instance we still do not really know what causes the disorder although we do have a pretty good idea of what does not cause it. Although there are those that would suggest that ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder) is caused through lack of proper parenting, lack of discipline, improper diet, too much television and too much time playing computer games, we do know that none of these cause it to occur. ADHD is a mental or neurological disorder and affects millions of children worldwide. Each year the number of children diagnosed with it increases from the number diagnosed the previous year. This is alarming but perhaps even more alarming is the number of children currently on strong stimulant medications which are prescribed to treat the symptoms of the disorder, such as Ritalin, which happens to be the one drug most often prescribed.

Both the disorder, as well as the medications used to treat or manage the symptoms, is surrounded in controversy. This has always been the case and is nothing new, however the problem is exacerbated by the fact that such a large group of the population is medicated and we do not know what the effects of that will be in the long term. Thanks to adhd research many questions have been answered and continue to be answered. We do know more than we did before but unfortunately it does not really amount to much and for the parent with an ADHD child what has been discovered really does not make much of a difference one way or the other. For example, thanks to brain imaging scans we are able to determine that the ADHD brain is somewhat different in the child with ADHD than the brain of a child who does not have the disorder. From what we have been able to determine ADHD affects the frontal lobe of the brain, the area responsible for attention, activity, impulse control, etc.

In the 1970s it was commonly believed that diet played a very important role in the development and management of this disorder. Certain foods were believed to cause the disorder to manifest. However research into this, although somewhat limited, has suggested that there is no correlation between certain foods and the development of ADHD. On the other hand it is known that certain foods most definitely contribute to the severity of certain symptoms while others can be beneficial in reducing the symptoms associated with the disorder. For example, there are some foods that will help the brain to focus and concentrate better. Naturally the child with ADHD predominantly inattentive type will benefit from a diet rich in these foods. Other foods are known to heighten hyperactive behavior and the child with the hyperactive/impulsive component should naturally have these foods restricted or rather eliminated from their diet.

Through extensive and exhaustive adhd research we now know that this is a legitimate disorder. No doubt about that is justifiable any longer. For the parent who suspects or has reason to believe that their child has ADHD it is essential that the child be evaluated by a suitably qualified mental health expert. Although this is a lengthy process that might culminate in a diagnosis it should not be neglected. The child with ADHD who is not diagnosed will learn to cope with the impairments that the disorder results in but is going to experience problems both academically and socially that will persist through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. These problems will not be eradicated with treatment but the symptoms are manageable, affording the child a better opportunity to perform as they need to.

Deciding on an appropriate treatment for your child is a personal issue and one that every parent should research thoroughly. Upon receiving the diagnosis the mental health expert will want to place the child on stimulant drugs like Ritalin. Some children do respond well and benefit from the treatment while others will show no improvement or will suffer the side-effects. When either of these occur the next option is to adjust the dosage. If that does not remedy the situation, a different medication, such as Adderall, will be prescribed and the dosage adjusted until a suitable dosage is found. There are occasions when the child does not respond well to any of the stimulant medications irrespective of the dosage and then non-stimulant medications will be tried. As with stimulants these also produce side-effects however. Drugs used for treating hypertension in adults are sometimes used in conjunction with other ADHD medications, however these are not as commonly prescribed as they used to be. Alternative treatments such as homeopathic remedies exist and have proven to be rather effective for many children. The added advantage to choosing an alternative treatment is the fact that the child is not subjected to any harmful side-effects.