Adult ADHD Affects Relationships

Adult ADHD can affect relationships.

Having attention deficit disorder as an adult can dramatically affect relationships. Research has shown that a person with ADHD may be almost twice as likely to get divorced, and relationships with just one or both people with the disorder often become dysfunctional.

While ADHD can ruin relationships, the good news is that both partners are not powerless. The first step, of course, is to identify the ADHD symptoms, as more than half of adults who have ADHD don’t realize they have it. When you don’t know that a particular behavior is a symptom, you may misinterpret it as your partner’s true feelings for you.

ADHD symptoms alone don’t necessarily cause problems. It’s the response to the symptom from the partner that’s at issue. For instance, distractibility itself isn’t a problem. How the non-ADHD partner reacts to the distractibility can spark a negative cycle: The ADHD partner doesn’t pay attention to their spouse; the non-ADHD partner feels ignored and responds with anger and frustration; in turn, the ADHD partner responds in kind.

If the ADHD partner has trouble being reliable, many times the other person will try and cover-up or take over responsibilities for them. With good intentions, the non-ADHD partner tries to make the relationship easier. And not surprisingly, the more responsibilities the partner has, the more stressed and overwhelmed — and resentful — they become. Over time, they take on the role of parent, and the ADHD partner becomes the child. While the ADHD partner may be willing to help out, symptoms, such as forgetfulness and distractibility, get in the way.

Luckily there is a solution. Non-drug, non-invasive means to correct the function helps the ADHD person organize, focus and stay on task allowing them to make correct choices for their relationships and life. Call 714-269-7990 to see how BrainAdvantage can change ADHD symptoms for ever.

ADHD and Poor Sleep

ADHD can have a link to poor sleep.

Does your child with ADHD sleep well, or do they toss and turn all night long?

Not every child with ADHD has sleep problems, but it can happen. In one study, about half the parents said their child with ADHD had difficulty sleeping. Parents reported that their child felt tired when they woke up, had nightmares, or had other sleep problems such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. Another study involving children with ADHD found the children had less refreshing sleep, difficulty getting up, and more daytime sleepiness.

Is snoring related to ADHD?

Large tonsils and adenoids can partially block the airway at night. This can cause snoring and poor sleep.

That, in turn, may lead to attention problems the next day. In one study of 5- to 7-year-olds, snoring was more common among children with mild ADHD than in the other children. In another study, kids who snored were almost twice as likely as their peers to have ADHD. However, that doesn't prove that snoring caused ADHD.

Children who snore tend to score worse on tests of attention, language abilities, and overall intelligence. These children may have sleep apnea. 

Sleep Apnea

People with sleep apnea have brief episodes when they stop breathing, though they don't know it. These episodes can happen frequently throughout the night.

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most common causes of sleep apnea in children. But obesity and chronic allergies can also be a cause.

As with adults, children with sleep apnea will be tired during the day. They may have problems concentrating and might have other symptoms related to lack of sleep. For instance, they may be irritable.

Sleep apnea in children is treatable. Your pediatrician or an ear, nose, and throat specialist can determine whether your child's tonsils are enlarged enough to possibly block the airway and cause sleep apnea.

To confirm the diagnosis, the child may get a sleep study that's done in a special laboratory. Not every child with enlarged tonsils or with loud snoring has sleep apnea.

Surgery is the treatment of choice for kids with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Other treatments are available for those with restricted nighttime breathing due to allergies or other causes.

New Treatments for ADHD and Autism

The basal Ganglia is thought to be affected by Strep.

New research has shown a link between strep infections and ADHD, autism and other brain-related issues. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus, also known as PANDAS, is a condition that leads to autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the brain, and usually occurs after several bouts of Strep throat, but may manifest even if the parent cannot recall a history of Streptococcal infection in their child.

PANDAS attacks a part of the brain known as the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia links the cerebral cortex (involved in rational, calm behavior) with the primitive areas of the brain (involved in fear, anger, and uncontrolled emotion). When the basal ganglia is disrupted by the brain inflammation, serious changes in behavior and though processes can occur.

Symptoms and Signs often associated with PANDAS

· Tic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

· Onset of symptoms between the ages of 3 and start of puberty

· Episodic course of symptom severity (dramatic ups and downs in the child’s behaviour)

· Associated with a group A beta hemolytic strep infection (positive throat culture for Strep or history of Scarlet Fever

· Neurological abnormalities such as hyperactivity or choreiform movements

*The above diagnostic criteria for PANDAS are specified by the National Institute of Mental Health

· ADHD symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity

· Separation anxiety

· Mood changes which may include irritability, anger, fear or sadness

· Sleep disturbance

· Bed wetting or increased urinary frequency during the day

· Fine/gross motor changes (Changes in handwriting, unusual or repetitive movements)

· Joint pain

To diagnose a current or recent Streptococcal infection the following tests are available:

· A throat swab (rapid Strep test or throat swab culture) can identify a current case of Strep throat

· An ASO titre (antistrepolysin titre) shows an elevation in antibodies to Strep 3-6 weeks after infection

· An AntiDNAase-B titre (antistreptococcal DNAase B titre) shows an elevation in antibodies to Strep 6-8 weeks after infection

A positive result in any of these tests does not diagnose PANDAS, it just gives more information about whether the child has had a recent exposure to Strep. In addition, low Strep titres do not rule out PANDAS. If symptoms of PANDAS occur suddenly, it is useful to have the above Strep titres tested to see if a recent Strep infection could be related.

Beyond this point, further testing for food allergies/sensitivities, as well as levels of immunoglobulins (IgE, IgG, IgA, and IgM) can be done to assess for additional burden on the immune system that is contributing to the child’s susceptibility to PANDAS.

Treatments for PANDAS may include oral antibiotics to eradicate a Streptococcal infection, and prophylactic antibiotics to prevent recurrence. Oral prednisone is also used as a potent anti-inflammatory to relieve inflammation of the brain and prevent damage. Another therapy known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is being investigated.

Complementary treatments support the use of antibiotics with probiotics (non-Streptococcal strains), and natural therapies to downregulate inflammation and support the brain, such as curcumin, EPA and DHA. Vitamins and minerals to support immune function (vitamin C, B vitamins, zinc, and selenium) should be administered intravenously. Intravenous glutathione, a potent antioxidant, can be used to protect the brain from being damaged from inflammation.

Investigation should be done to rule out or treat other non-Streptococcal infections that may be present such as Candida (yeast), parasites, viruses (EBV, CMV, HSV), Lyme disease, or pathogenic bacterial overgrowth. Food allergy and food sensitivity testing can be done, and foods should be eliminated from the diet that may be placing additional burden on the child’s immune system.

Lifestyle modifications are also important. Children with recurrent Strep infections may be constantly re-inoculated with the Strep bacteria through an asymptomatic family member. Some people are carriers of Streptococcus, and special care must be taken to prevent spread from carriers to the susceptible child. A child may also be re-exposed to Strep through skin infection (impetigo), urinary tract infection or ear infection. Immune system support to prevent recurrence of these conditions is important in long-term management of PANDAS. The tonsils and adenoids may harbor Streptococcal bacteria and some evidence suggests tonsil and adenoid removal in cases of PANDAS; however, careful consideration of the role of the tonsils and adenoids in fighting infection should be made before making this decision.

How to Help ADHD Without Drugs

ADHD can be hard on all of us!

How do we change ADHD behavior without drugs? The pieces of the puzzle necessitate a holistic approach. The body simply acts on the information it's given; if a child is sensitive to gluten, the body is going to react. Many children with ADHD have diets full of hybridized wheat, genetically modified corn and sugar, synthetic sugars, and chemical additives. Some specific foods can cause a child to become agitated, to space out, or to become violent. Well-behaved children suddenly start to bite their mothers, hit their siblings, wander around in a daze – all when they are tested for specific foods. Sometimes what sets the children off are not foods, but rather coloring, additives, and preservatives. Red dye is a big culprit, for example. The symptoms are readily reversible, when the appropriate homeopathic dilution of the substance is administered, and the effects are reproducible. Some children have turned around just by removing specific foods to which they are sensitive and adding omega-3 fatty acids to correct a deficiency.

Other children get a big boost with chelation to remove metals that are silently warehoused in brain and bones and gum up the works. Children with elevated body burdens of lead are more easily distracted, less organized, and more prone to aggressive behavior than children without this burden. The average American infant is born with more than 200 synthetic chemicals in its body.4 A study from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center confirmed a suspected link between prenatal tobacco exposure and ADHD, and demonstrates that the greater the level of blood lead, the greater the risk of ADHD.

Many children and adults with ADHD have leaky gut syndrome, meaning that their intestines are so damaged that they cannot process what they eat, and so become malnourished.

A starving brain has an extremely difficult time simply functioning, much less learning anything. We often think of the brain as a computer that just has to be plugged into an electric outlet in order to work perfectly. However, if the software is deficient or corrupted, the computer does not run its programs very well. Similarly, the brain functions through electrical impulses and specific pathways. However, in order to generate those impulses, it requires many nutrients – proteins to supply the amino acids needed for manufacture of neurotransmitters and other messengers, glucose to supply the energy needed for the manufacturing process, lots of vitamins and minerals to serve as cofactors, or assistants, in the manufacturing process. … The pathways have to be correctly developed, and able to handle the flow of information. If any of these components are missing or deficient, then the brain can no longer process information at top speed. It slows down, or gets the messages garbled.

What is in the child’s environment? Sometimes a child will react to mold in the classroom, or have a bad day every time the grass is cut because of allergies to the grass. Some children react to pesticides or to chemical air “fresheners.”

Parasitic infections are common with ADHD and autism; remedies can correct that. Sleep deprivation is another piece of the puzzle that can be addressed through both behavioral and nutritional means, sometimes with specific supplements.

David Granet, PhD, director of pediatric ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, reviewed 1700 records of children diagnosed with ADHD. He discovered that, of those who had taken eye exams, 16% had convergence insufficiency, an eye disorder that makes focusing on nearby targets difficult. This is three times the number of non-ADHD children. More research is needed to determine if a brain impairment is causing both ADHD and the eye disorder, or if the eye disorder manifests the same symptoms as ADHD and causes misdiagnosis. That's why we do an eye exam using infrared glasses that look at tracking and convergence, or how your eyes work together!

Call us at 714-269-7990 today to see how we can help you!

Drugging Our Children

Side effects of ADHD drugs

In some classrooms, 100% of students are on medication for some form of learning or attentional disorder.

Prescription drugs are a quick answer, right? – just pop a pill in hopes of re-balancing brain chemistry. But these drugs are classified by the US Food and Drug Administration as Class II narcotics – in the same class with cocaine and methamphetamine. Ritalin is an amphetamine. In street lingo, it's called "speed." Schedule II includes only those legal drugs with the very highest potential for addiction and abuse. They carry a "black box" warning, the most serious medication warning required by the FDA. The situation gives rise to the interesting irony that selling speed to children is a felony, but feeding speed to children with a prescription is called "treatment."

These drugs have been linked to cardiovascular problems and sudden death. The more common side effects can be so devastating or unpleasant that many children just don't want to take them. A recent study by National Institute of Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland, showed that individuals who did poorly on cognitive tasks actually did substantially worse when using Ritalin or Concerta. This is a significant finding, because methylphenidate is commonly prescribed for those who do poorly on tasks.

Peter Breggin, a medical doctor and Harvard-trained psychiatrist, wrote:
The “therapeutic” effects of stimulants are a direct expression of their toxicity. Animal and human research indicates that these drugs often suppress spontaneous and social behaviors (making the psycho stimulants) seemingly useful for controlling the behavior of children, especially in highly structured environments that do not attend to their genuine needs.2
According to California neurologist Dr. Fred Baughman:

The single, biggest heath care fraud in U.S. history – the representation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be an actual disease, and the drugging of millions of entirely normal American children as “treatment,” is spreading like a plague – still. Once children are labeled with ADHD, they are no longer treated as normal. Once methylphenidate hydrochloride, or any psychiatric drug, courses through their brain and body, they are, for the first time, physically, neurologically, and biologically abnormal.3

Do children with ADHD and/or LD actually have a disease treatable with drugs? What kind of intervention can help kids without severely affecting their body chemistry or personality?

ADHD, for example, is more than just hyperactivity. Root causes may include brain processing abnormalities, problems with the entire listening/hearing system, food or environmental allergies, metabolic insufficiencies, and heavy metal toxicity.

Come and find out what the real issues are before choosing to drug an ADHD individual! 

We are offering our $495.00 full brain function assessment at $295.00. Come see how we can help. Call 494-276-8704 or 714-269-7990 today!