Therapies Offered

Attention Deficit

As a parent, can you imagine how good it will feel to have your child off medication for the summer . . . or longer? Dr. Susan Tanner can help you do this safely, successfully and with confidence.

After 15 years of traditional general and family practice, Dr. Susan Tanner became interested in the cause of disease rather than just the treatment. Having two children diagnosed in the ADD/Autism spectrum, Dr. Tanner furthered her research into the environmental impacts on chronic health issues. She joined SPHERIOS Medical Center because of our team approach to finding the root cause of illness.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a syndrome defined as the inability to focus attention and having periods of hyperactivity. ADD is one of the most frequently diagnosed childhood psychiatric conditions. ADD is a term that has multiple labels, such as “hyperactivity” and “learning disability.” ADD describes three different conditions: attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and attention deficit disorder residual type. Attention deficit disorders with hyperactivity (ADHD) is the most common (3% of all school-age children carry this diagnosis). It is a syndrome that affects mainly children and adolescents and is cross-cultural. It seems to be more often found in boys than girls.

Signs and Symptoms

Characteristics of this disorder are as follows in the order of their frequency, which may be mild or severe:

• Hyperactivity
• Excessive, often inappropriate motor activity
• Perceptual motor impairment
• Emotional instability
• General coordination deficit
• High levels of distractibility
• Failure to finish tasks
• Impulsive behavior
• Disorders of memory and thinking
• Specific learning disabilities
• Speech and hearing problems
• Neurological signs
• Electroencephalograph (EEG) irregularities

A child with ADD may be described as disruptive, fidgety, easily frustrated, and having aggressive tendencies and the inability to concentrate. Usually an ADD child has a normal or above average IQ, but is hampered by a short attention span which results in poor school grades.

Possible Causes or Contributing Factors

1. Dietary (artificial ingredients, preservatives, additives, refined white flour and sugar).
2. Food allergies – especially dairy, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, egg, chocolate and peanuts
3. Environmental allergies
4. Essential fatty acid deficiency – faulty pathways may contribute to ADD
5. Low blood sugar
6. Genetic factors – parents of children with ADD often had ADD themselves as a child.
7. Injury or disease affecting the fetus or newborn – i.e. oxygen deprivation at birth, a mother who smoked during her pregnancy, prenatal trauma to the fetus, fetal alcohol syndrome may be a contributing factor in ADD.
8. Emotional issues such as boredom or feelings of insecurity may contribute to ADD. Adverse family conditions, such as severe marital discord, large family size, foster care and other conditions can also contribute to ADD.
9. Heavy metal toxicity – excess levels of metals, such as aluminum, may be involved in the etiology (J Royal Soc. Hlth. 1991; 111:163-168)
10. Cranial involvement
11. Metabolic abnormalities: neurotransmitter synthesis, thyroid hormone synthesis, oxidative pathways, and glucose utilization
12. Adrenal function abnormalities – the adrenals produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, two major neurotransmitters
13. Recurrent ear infections are twice as common in learning disabled children compared to non-learning disabled children. Frequent ear infections and antibiotic use has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing ADD.
14. Proper nutrients provide fuel for normal brain development and functioning. Nutrient deficiencies can decrease attention span. Deficiencies of minerals, specifically magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper, have been found more often in ADD children, compared with healthy controls. Magnesium deficiency is the most common.
15. Dysbiosis, which an overgrowth of pathogenic flora in the intestines, may trigger ADD. Young children are usually given multiple courses of antibiotic treatment early in life. Antibiotics destroy the healthy probiotic flora in the intestinal tract and encourage the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Dysbiosis has been linked to food allergies, decreased immune function and ADD.
    

Dietary and Lifestyle Applications

1. Eliminate natural salicylates. Salicylates and food additives provoke hyperkinesis (exaggerated muscle activity) or hyperactivity in some people. Foods containing salicylates include: almonds, apples (cider and cider vinegar), blackberries, cherries, cloves, cucumbers, pickles, currants, gooseberries, grapes or raisins, mint flavors, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums or prunes, raspberries, strawberries, tea, tomatoes, oil of wintergreen, wine and wine vinegar.
2. Restrict sugar (impairs cell mediated and humoral immunity up to five hours and impairs phagocytosis). Some foods to avoid: desserts, candy, sweetened juices, sodas; refined white flour products, like white bread and spaghetti, which are quickly converted to sugar in the body. READ LABELS – best choice is three grams or less of sugar per serving.
3. Dietary sources of Vitamin C (vitamin C is quickly depleted during times of emotional and physical stress): broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, grapefruit, green peppers, lemons, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, sweet and hot peppers. Vitamin C aids in removing heavy metals from the body.
4. Dietary sources of B vitamins (depleted from the body at an alarming rate during times of stress): dark green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, dried beans, nuts, oatmeal, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and sunflower seeds.
5. Dietary sources of zinc (important nutrient for mental health): oysters and other seafood, lean meats, whole grains, wheat germ, bran, legumes, nuts and seeds, herring, milk, egg yolks, and liver are all rich in zinc.
6. Dietary sources of magnesium (helps calm and relax all parts of the body): wheat bran, almonds, unsalted cashews, blackstrap molasses, Swiss chard, turnip greens, chickpeas, and apricots.
7. Fish containing docasahexanoic acid (DHA) such as salmon, trout, herring, mackerel, and sardines, as well as marine animals. DHA supports metabolic functions of the brain.
8. Recognize and develop different learning styles in children. Focus on the positive and help him/her learn whichever way works the best.
9. Channel children’s excessive restless energy into sports, games, or hiking trips, activities they love to do and can do well.
10. Avoid medicines, toothpastes and cosmetics that contain artificial flavorings and dyes.
11. Avoid food allergies. Follow an elimination/rotation diet.
12. Avoid processed foods. Eat organic products whenever possible.
13. Minimize exposure to heavy metals. A heavy metal detoxification program is suggested if heavy metals are a known problem.
    

Notes

Check for heavy metals. Numerous studies show that children with ADD often have high body stores of heavy metals (Murray, M. T., Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA, 1996, p. 427).

Contraindications/Toxicology

Refer to the individual nutrient or herb for more information regarding interactions, contraindications, precautions or side effects.

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