Would you choose an ADD natural treatment if you knew the attention deficit problems your child has are subjective, depending on who is looking at them? Does the classroom environment affect a child’s ability to focus? Do children outgrow ADD and ADHD?

The result of a new Duke University study sheds interesting light on these questions, all the while busting a long-held belief that ADHD is a chronic condition that stubbornly persists through childhood. While this study did not address ADD natural treatment compared to prescription medication treatment - it left treatment out altogether - this study should help parents feel more comfortable with treating ADHD naturally.

 

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This study, funded by U.S. Department of Education and National Institutes of Health grants, found that many children with significant attentional issues one year do not have the same problems the following school year.

In this sample case study about someone with ADD, researchers reviewed three groups of children;

• The first group consisted of 27 first-grade students whose teachers rated them as highly inattentive, though they did not have a formal ADD diagnosis.

• The second group consisted of 24 fourth-grade students whose teachers rated them as highly inattentive, though they did not have a formal ADD diagnosis.

• The third group consisted of 28 first- through fourth-grade students who were officially diagnosed as ADD.

All students were rated by the previous year’s teacher so that attentiveness could be evaluated from one year to the next.

• In all three groups, less than half of the students remained inattentive from one year to the next.

• Between one-quarter to one half of students studied had attention ratings that dropped to a “normal” range.

• Most remarkable is that about 30 percent of the students went from high inattentiveness ratings one year to no symptoms at all the following year.

This research was published online in the March 2010 “Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics” and is scheduled for print publication in April.

Researchers stated that the drop in symptoms could not be attributed to children starting a new pharmaceutical treatment, as some remained at current prescription levels and some were using ADD natural treatment or other ADD alternative medicine protocols. They did suggest that classroom environment could play a big part in children’s ability to pay attention.

The study was designed to examine inattentive symptoms from one year to the next. Researchers suggested that classroom factors like poor organization can play a part in students’ attentiveness. It stands to reason that children are better able to stay focused in better organized classrooms. Another possible classroom factor is teachers putting too much attention on disruptive students instead of appreciating positive attributes. Behavior modification methods are often cited as being an effective ADD natural treatment.

Researchers further stated that children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder should be evaluated annually. Otherwise, many may continue to receive medication treatment for a condition that no longer applies and is no longer evident.

Currently about 7 million people in the United States are diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder (with and without hyperactivity) and most of those diagnosed are children. This study is important in showing that attentional issues are not necessarily permanent, and goes a long way in showing that the problems a child faces in the classroom will not necessarily follow them throughout their school career.

What does this sample case study about someone with ADD pertain to you? If your child currently experiences problems in the classroom, take heart. These problems might be a passing trouble. If you choose to treat a passing problem, you can look into ADD natural treatment methods like the hyperactive diet. Some children’s – but not all children’s - Attention Deficit issues continue into adulthood. Just because your child has been given the Attention Deficit label today does not mean they will carry that label the next year or the year after that.