the problem with physiological exams is many families would prefer behavioral observation and professinal assessment of those behaviors to diagnose, rather than putting their kid through a brain scan or other more intrusive tests to detect organic abnormality
There are multiple studies of ADHD brain MRI’s compared to non-ADHD brains and the differences.
I have to chime in here. I have four sons. All three who are in school get good marks in conduct. Sons #1 and #3 do very well academically.
Son #2 has always struggled in school, beginning in kindergarten. At the school’s recommendation we had him evaluated for learning disabilities and vision problems during his first grade year. The result was that he was “borderline” ADD, had some other ancillary issues, all of which could be managed with behavioral and education strategies. Everyone expected him to improve as he got older and became more mature. For a couple of years, everything went reasonably well.
Then in the 4th grade, his grades went in the tank...mostly Ds with some Fs. Homework became a multi-hour ordeal. He would forget things as soon as he heard or read them. He repeated the same mistakes over and over, even after being corrected. I had a conference with his teacher and she said that he was always well-behaved, that he seemed to try hard, but that he was “not there.” She scoffed at the “borderline ADD” diagnosis, saying his concentration was worse than her medicated ADD kids were when they were OFF of their medications! Also, my previously happy son started showing signs of depression because he thought he was “stupid.”
I was puzzled as to why he had deteriorated so much when the “experts” had told me he should be improving as he got older. I didn’t understand why the strategies we had been using to help him no longer worked. Regardless, I knew I had to do something to help him. But the potential side effects of ADD medications scared me. I didn’t want to risk side effects such as suicidal ideation with him already showing signs of depression! I started looking to see if there were any alternatives.
Then an internet search turned up the Feingold program, the basic idea of which is that certain substances in food and in our environment can cause or worsen behavioral and attention problems in **susceptible people.** The most common trigger substances are artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and certain preservatives. I was really skeptical, since I have a science background and I want things proved to me. (I also don’t like the fact that nanny-statist, anti-corporate ideology is common among the “all-natural” crowd.)
Still...I knew wasn’t going to do my family any harm by taking artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners out of our diets, or by switching to unscented personal care and cleaning products. It was a lot of work, though, since I had to re-learn how to shop and I had to cook much more from scratch.
The result? After a few weeks, my son’s grades began to pick up. During his first full grading period after we started the program, he made mostly Bs, a couple of As and only one C. Homework time went to less than an hour. While he is not a straight-A student, and he still has some concentration and academic issues, he can function. His self-esteem went up once he realized that he is not stupid - he just has sensitivities to chemicals.
When you look at the American diet, we are consuming a lot more processed foods than we were even a couple of decades ago. There is a dosage relationship with any substance that has an effect on the body. So it makes sense that if artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives interfere with concentration and cause behavioral problems in some people, eating more of them could be causing more kids to reach the dose that causes symptoms.
I am not suggesting that diet is the only cause of the increase in ADD/ADHD diagnoses. Increased push from schools to test kids for ADD/ADHD, kids spending more time with television and video/computer games, kids getting less exercise, and fewer parents willing to act like parents play roles as well.
For those who choose to medicate their children, I an not knocking you. Dietary changes aren’t enough for every child, and there are some ADD/ADHD children who aren’t helped much by dietary changes. I just think it’s a shame that most parents (and pediatricians!) don’t even know that dietary changes are an option.