Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavior disorder affecting more children and adults each year. Symptoms of ADHD include being distracted, forgetful, trouble focusing, failing to follow directions, being overly fidgety and having a hard time with quiet play.
Conventional doctors often prescribe amphetamines, which can come with common side effects like moodiness, stunted growth, delayed sleep and decreased appetite. Studies show 20–35 percent of patients don’t respond to these medications.
So, what is known about how to focus with ADHD, and what is a parent to do? Thankfully, there are alternatives to amphetamines that include a whole-body approach to treating the root cause of ADHD symptoms.
Structure
Learning about how to focus with ADHD begins with structure. All children benefit from orderly routines and systems. Kids with ADHD thrive with even more structure than the average child. Providing structure for your child’s day means enacting rules about bedtime, meal time, naps and free time and sticking with those rules!
Having structure and routine in your day helps a child learn boundaries, self-discipline and patience. Be consistent. Show your child that each day begins with a healthy breakfast and brushing our teeth. This soon turns into an easy morning routine. Remember, routines need to be seen, practiced and repeated, so be patient; this won’t happen overnight.
Play Time
Every kid needs time to play and move, especially those with ADHD. Regular physical activity encourages proper neurotransmitter production and enhances brain activity.
Children with ADHD have been found to have impaired serotonin and dopamine production, so they should include exercise in their routine. As little as a half hour a day of moderate or intense activity improves mood and focus, but everyone should strive for 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Media Culture
Exercise and physical activity are so important for a healthy mind and body. While considering how to incorporate 60 minutes of exercise into your child’s routine, it is also important to think of what those 60 minutes should be without: electronic media. Television, video games and cell phones often replace exercise.
When it comes to helping the ADHD child gain more focus, limit TV watching, phone apps and gaming. These can overstimulate the brain and lead to sensory addiction. This can manifest in more impulsiveness and restlessness. Swap to games that exercise the mind to improve focus, concentration and motor skills, like jigsaw puzzles, word searches or memory games.
Sleep
Inadequate sleep or poor sleep quality can greatly impact ADHD symptoms. A sleep-deprived child can become overactive or overly emotional.
To help improve sleep quality, remember to include structure and routine in your child’s day. Set the same bedtime and waketime each day, even on the weekends. Chamomile tea before bed can be very calming, while significant sleep problems might benefit from low-dose melatonin, such as the dietary supplement Natrol Kids Sleep + Calm from Natural Healthy Concepts, available in yummy gummies.
Neurofeedback
People with ADHD tend to have delayed brain wave patterns. This delay can result in difficulty concentrating.
Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that improves brain function and aims to improve concentration, learning and sleep patterns. It teaches the brain how to function better while ultimately changing brain wave patterns. The training is noninvasive and requires no medication. The patient sits in front of a computer screen connected to electrodes applied to various areas of the scalp. Special software measures the brain’s activity and teaches the brain how to concentrate.
Diet Interventions
People with ADHD symptoms often suffer from food sensitivities or food allergies. Some research has suggested a link between ADHD symptoms and food dyes and preservatives.
While some doctors may say there is no connection between sugar and hyperactivity, I think most parents have experienced a child’s sugar high and know sugar does affect behavior.
Changing your child’s diet should be done in small steps. Start by just reading ingredient labels on packaged foods. If they contain food dyes or words you don’t understand, look for a different option. Start limiting popular packet drink aids and fruit juices. Slowly eliminate them from the diet altogether. The most common food allergens are wheat, soy, corn, peanuts, dairy, eggs, fish and shellfish. Learn to eliminate these from a healthy diet to see if they help improve your child’s symptoms.
Dietary Supplements
Research does suggest that supplementing with certain nutrients can help treat some symptoms of ADHD. Fish oil, or omega-three fatty acids, are anti-inflammatory and help feed the brain the fats it needs to function optimally. Behavior Balance-DMG by DaVinci Labs may be helpful, as it contains dimethylglycine (DMG), which has been shown to support behavior and focus in some individuals with ADHD.
Deficiencies in magnesium are also quite common as current farming practices have caused a decrease in the magnesium levels in foods. Similarly, a deficiency in vitamin B-6 can cause fatigue and irritability. Research shows supplementing with magnesium and B-6 for at least two months can significantly improve hyperactivity, attention and aggressiveness. You may want to try Optimal Focus by Seeking Health, which contains a blend of nutrients that support brain function and focus.
Summary
Learning how to focus with ADHD involves a multifaceted approach that includes establishing structure and routine, engaging in regular physical activity, limiting electronic media, ensuring adequate sleep, and considering neurofeedback training. Dietary interventions, such as eliminating common food allergens and limiting sugar intake, can also be beneficial. Additionally, supplementing with specific nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and vitamin B-6 may help alleviate some symptoms of ADHD and support overall brain function and focus.
For a specific healthcare plan for your child, also be sure to communicate with a specialist in pediatrics to be sure your child gets a well-balanced diet and has proper care for their brain health.
Sources:
- Nigg JT, Holton K. Restriction and elimination diets in ADHD treatment. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014;23(4):937-953. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.010
- https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/schab.pdf
- Verlaet AA, Noriega DB, Hermans N, Savelkoul HF. Nutrition, immunological mechanisms and dietary immunomodulation in ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;23(7):519-529. doi:10.1007/s00787-014-0522-2
- Pellow J, Solomon EM, Barnard CN. Complementary and alternative medical therapies for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Altern Med Rev. 2011;16(4):323-337.
- Mousain-Bosc M, Roche M, Polge A, Pradal-Prat D, Rapin J, Bali JP. Improvement of neurobehavioral disorders in children supplemented with magnesium-vitamin B6. I. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Magnes Res. 2006 Mar;19(1):46-52. PMID: 16846100.
