1. ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
Is a developmental disorder. It is characterized primarily by
the “co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity,
with each behavior occurring frequently alone” and
symptoms starting before seven years of age.

2. The Neuroscience of ADHD

3. Affects boys 8 x more than girls
• Reduced Brain Activity in ADHD Patients
• ADHD affects from 5-10% of children and adolescents, with boys 8 times
more likely than girls to have it. The disorder is marked by an inability to
focus attention and hyperactive/impulsive behavior. Often these
symptoms are paired with poor social skills and difficulties at school,
which makes for a very complex situation. One early study in 1990
discovered that brain activity was 8.1% lower in 30 of 60 brain region in
adults who suffered from ADHD (measured by global glucose metabolism).
The regions with the most significant decreases in activity were the
premotor cortex and the superior prefrontal cortex (shown below, circled),
which are regions which (among other things) mediate impulse control.
That same year Biederman et al. reported that 28.6% of parents who are
diagnosed with ADHD have a child who also has the disorder; the cautious
suggestion was made that ADHD may have some genetic underpinnings.
The next 17 years would lend much evidence to that effect.

4. To medicate or not

5. • Types of medicine • Side effects of medicine
• Concerta
• Ritalin • Upset
• Adderall stomach, decreased
• Strattera appetite, nausea or
vomiting, dizziness, tiredn
• Natural Remedies ess, decrease in
appetite, some weight
loss, and mood swings
were the most common
side effects.

6. What causes ADHD
• Unfortunately, no one knows for sure what causes ADHD. Studies show that genes
from the parents play a factor. But more research is being done to see if there are
other possible causes including:
• •Environmental exposure to toxins
• •Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy
• •Premature delivery
• •Low birth weight
• •Brain Injury
• Research has ruled out a lot of other possible causes. Although the following
factors don't cause the symptoms of ADHD in children, they could make them
worse in certain children:
• •Eating too much sugar
• •Watching a lot of television
• •Parenting styles
• •Social and environmental issues like poverty or family chaos

7. Is it preventable?
• There is no known way to prevent attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Avoiding
alcohol, drugs, and smoking during pregnancy
may help prevent a child from developing
behavior similar to ADHD as well as many
other health problems.

8. Things you can do to help your child have
fewer learning and attention problems
• Having good medical care and practicing healthy habits
during pregnancy.
• Learning and applying good parenting skills, including
setting consistent behavior limits.
• Maximizing preschool learning and attention skills by
reading to your child and providing new learning
experiences such as puzzles and board games. The
development of attention skills can be increased with these
types of activities rather than by watching television.
• Also, nurturing techniques that begin at birth and continue
throughout childhood will help your child reach his or her
potential regardless of whether ADHD is a concern

9. Diet
Foods to avoid Foods to Give
• Sugar • Calcium
• Caffeine • Trace Minerals
• Hydrogenated oils • Calcium and
• Salt Magnesium
• Additives • Protein
• Vitamin B Complex
• Essential Fatty Acids

10. Diet
Foods to feed Foods to avoid
• Fish • Additives
• Flax seeds • Hydrogenated oils
• Nuts • Caffeine
• Vitamin B complex • Salt
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Iron

11. If you know a child with ADHD
• Be a best friend - “Every child needs one adult
who is crazy about him or her,” says Mary
Fowler, author of 20 Questions to Ask if Your
Child Has ADHD. “That is what keeps us going
in life.”
• Plan ahead- “Involve your child in this decision
as much as possible.”

12. • Keep it short but yet fun

13. • Extracurricular activities- although these can
be fun they may be stressful to the child.
Don’t enroll them in anything that is to high
demanding for them. Martial Arts tends to be
the best activity.

14. Review the rough spots
• Always communicate with the child. Let them
know that you are there for them and it is ok
to talk out feelings. Children enjoy knowing
that there is someone out there that cares
about them and is willing to take the time to
show them.