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Attention Deficit Disorder is one of the most common neuro-developmental disorders of childhood. There are estimated to be over 6 million U.S. children with an ADD diagnosis. And adults are increasingly being diagnosed with this disorder.
In most cases, ADD is treated with a combination of behavioral therapy and medication - stimulants like Ritalin, Adderall are commonly prescribed to children. That is where the controversy starts. So we asked Dr Philip Rouchotas to get to the bottom of it.
Dr Philip Rouchotas has been working with children and adults with ADD for over 20 years. He has developed a protocol to assess, diagnose and treat ADD and unsurprisingly he has some serious misgivings about standard diagnosis and treatment.
Key Take-Aways
The prevalence of ADD diagnosis is higher in North America compared to the United Kingdom, suggesting differences in diagnosis and treatment approaches.
For example, boys are three times more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than girls because they tend to be naturally more aggressive, energetic and disruptive in the classroom. Also, ADHD diagnosis falls along socioeconomic lines, with over-diagnosis occurring more in well-off communities.
The standard treatment for ADD involves stimulant medication, but there is limited long-term data on its effects.
Research reveals that the use of stimulants did not improve academic achievement in children consistently medicated over three years.
Non-medical interventions, such as diet, exercise, and screen time management, can have a positive impact on ADD symptoms. Dr Rouchotas has developed a protocol over 20 years treating children with ADD.
Key Quote
“I am yet to meet a child with a diagnosis of ADD who was enrolled in any sort of behavior modification therapy. Part of it is the medical institution itself being a bit aggressive with the diagnosis. But part of it is the parents.
The parents want help. It gets to the point where the parents want the diagnosis. They're convinced there's something wrong with their kid. And it's almost like the gentlest diagnosis that can be given to appease the parent.
I think we're medicalizing a lot of that. I think we're medicalizing a lot of normal childhood behavior.”
Dr Philip Rouchotas, ND.
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The opinions expressed in this Nutramedica program are those of the guests and contributors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nutritional Fundamentals For Health Inc.
This video is intended for licensed or registered health professionals and students of health professions only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information contained in these programs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
