Early diagnosis vital

Medication is only necessary when symptoms interfere with the child’s social, emotional, or academic life. and in any situation. Another issue is that they must not suffer from any diseases or illnesses.

“I would prefer to assess the child after the age of 4 because by that time, we can see the behaviour pattern. There are certain abilities that they can do as they have started kindergarten.

“If they are younger than that, how do we assess their ability to sit still in class when they have never gone to school? How do we assess their ability to focus when they are too young?”

The assessment is important because the goal is to help them manage their symptoms. While ADHD does not affect cognitive and motor skills, sufferers are still unable to become functional human beings, she adds.

“When they are not functional, then it is a problem. If their behaviour is so disruptive that they are struggling at home and in school, get help.”

Katyana says at the moment there is no cure for ADHD but it is vital that parents seek treatment when diagnosed, as lack of treatment can leave a social impact on these children. Depending on the child’s condition, treatment options include medication or therapy or a combination of both.

If the condition is not addressed, such children will struggle academically, suffer from low self-esteem and feel isolated as other children will not want to be with them. Society’s perception also plays a role as people see fidgety and restless children as the result of bad parenting.

Katyana says parents who refuse to accept that their child has ADHD will deny the child access to care. Sometimes parents’ personal beliefs on the situation can make it worse.

“I think that with any disorder, if not provided with the right amount of support, the situation will snowball as the child gets older. And the older they get, the harder it is to break the habit.

“It is easier to manage inattention and impulse control in a 5-year-old compared to a 13-year-old. Although they are not physically disabled, it will affect their ability as adults in whatever area they choose to be.”

influence of diet

She says one of the most common issues related to over-diagnosis of ADHD is diet. Many people believe that sugar causes ADHD and decide to eliminate food that contains glucose.

There is no scientific research to back this claim although it is proven that processed sugar is a stimulant and can make a child more anxious and fidgety. There are parents who say their children are more manageable without sugar and that is a possibility because they don’t have a stimulant in their diet.

“You can limit the consumption of processed sugar, especially before bedtime or when they need to focus on lessons. I always tell parents that children need glucose, protein and carbohydrates because they are growing.

“When they don’t get balanced meals, they are lethargic and can’t focus. If you want to remove certain things from their diet, do so with the advice of a dietitian or doctor.”

Katyana says with intervention, children with ADHD are no longer isolated and can be placed with their peers.

“Peer interaction is important as it helps them develop good social and communication skills. If a child with ADHD but intact cognitive skills is put in a special school, it affects his self-esteem and results in emotional issues.

“The Government has also provided support for children with ADHD and other learning disabilities to have access to school. They are placed in small rooms and allowed more time during exams. I think with this in place, parents are less worried.”

As for adult ADHD, Katyana says it happens because they were never diagnosed as children. This is because 20 or 30 years ago, there was little information on ADHD. In addition, academic performance was not scrutinised at every level like it is today.

“It is possible that they managed their symptoms at that time because there was less stress. They learnt to adapt to the environment. If they managed to get into university they might have avoided certain classes that required attention and focus. They manoeuvred certain issues.

“They ultimately may seek treatment because they cannot focus on their work and always feel anxious. However, the prevalence of adult ADHD is low because very few come forward.”

Globally five per cent of children suffer from ADHD and between two and three per cent of adults have the condition. There is little research that indicates alternative medicine can reduce ADHD symptoms. Here are some alternative medicine treatments that have been tried, but not fully proven scientifically:

Yoga or meditation

Doing regular yoga routines or meditation and relaxation techniques may help children relax and learn discipline and may help manage their symptoms.

Special dietS

Most diets eliminate foods thought to increase hyperactivity, such as sugar, artificial colourings and additives. So far, studies haven’t found a consistent link between diet and improved symptoms of ADHD.

Vitamin or mineral SupplementS

While certain vitamins and minerals from foods are necessary for good health, there’s no evidence that supplemental vitamins or minerals can reduce symptoms of ADHD.

Herbal SupplementS There is no evidence to suggest that herbal remedies help with ADHD, and some may be harmful.

eSSential fattY acidS These fats, which include omega-3 oils, are necessary for the brain to function properly. Researchers are still investigating whether these may improve ADHD symptoms.

exerciSe

In addition to its health benefits, regular exercise may have a positive effect on behaviour in children with ADHD when added to treatment.

Mayo Clinic