given that most general practitioners and seemingly child specialists and nutritionists 'seem' to be of the impression that food additives have a great deal to do with how children respond to stimulation, discipline, education, socialization, communication well lets see.. for the best part most of the regular normal activities of the average child.. ( no.. I hate that expression average coz they are all unique and so special but for here please forgive the use of the generalization) , and if you look theres literature and guidance on how to reorganize your lives to work with minimal additive input.. alternatives are available all over the place and actively encouraged even in schools which were bastions of poor food for eons... given all this.. why oh why do parents of some children with added still feed their children such rubbish?..
Are more of the cases being diagnosed these days simply over excessive use of additives causing this lack of concentration this inability to cope with regular life..? or is there another underlying cause somewhere...? pesticides perhaps?...

I think humans evolved in an environment that is very different from modern society, and I think expecting all children to be able to sit at a desk for 7 hours a day is just not realistic.

But I think psychology is calling all kids of personality types "disorders" now.

I'm not passing judgment on people who feel that psychopharmaceuticals help them lead better lives, or make them happier, or whatever.
I just think a lot of the kids who are being labled ADD now would have been considered good kids a hundred years ago when kids were expected to start helping with the family farm starting around the age of 8.

ETA:
And on the subject of additives, I'm sure there's some small percentage of people who are negatively affected by some of them. But I don't think that's the "root" of ADD.

I have to agree with you there Kelly , school is not the best place for many children. education yes but not like little toy soldiers all in a row being taught the same things at the same time. not good for all children all of the time. they were once so active as you said.. young adults at the young ages of nine ten. working a full day.. not having the time to be mischievous.. and yes.. way too many are being lumped with the label of ADHD mostly because people are unwilling to make the changes necessary to suit individual needs.... Additives I think are more than likely causing side effects in some children and they are getting labeled with the ADHD rather than the other way around.. the ADHD making them more susceptible..? but how do we really know?.. given the fact that so many in the medical profession are saying these additives have the side effects.. why don't parents take the advice and at least try.. If not for the sake of the possible bonuses to behavior ,which in some children I have dealt with is lets just say extremely challenging. personally if leaving coke and candy out of a childs diet is going to save them heartache in the long run is it not worth the effort.. are the children not worth the effort.?. I just wonder sometimes.. you know.. parents say they would lay down their lives for their kids.. but at the end of the day.. they cant make little changes.. that actually MIGHT. help..

Studies show that Omega3 fatty acids "cure" a lot of those problems, too. (And yes, this is "real" scientific research...not "hippy anecdote science"). And it does appear that we evolved eating more fish (which are high in omega3) than we do now, so it makes sense that it might be a nutritional need that manifests like that when it's not met.
We know lack of vitamins can manifest as clinical disease with other things, so why not essential fatty acids and neurological issues?

I dunno...it's such a complex issue. Why parents default to psychotropic medications is beyond me.

I think people want to just have faith that institutions like the FDA know what they're doing, and that things doctors and psychologists say must be true, because it allows you to transfer "responsibility" in your mind.
Society puts a lot of pressure on people to go with the flow, too.
For example, if the school call you and says "We think your kid has ADD, and you need to take her in for an evaluation"...and the psychopharmacologist says "Give her this stimulant and it will fix it." and you do it, and the kid still has problems, the school will just think "Well, they're trying. We'll keep working with them."
But if you say "Let me try changing her diet" or something like that and there's not a 100% improvement immediately, they can call CPS on you for "medical neglect".

Lol...which is actually making me sort of angry just thinking about it...lol..

Anyway, I guess it's complicated all around.

Yes I have read reports on the omega acids and seen great results in children who have had the dietary change.. where I live, people can ignore the advice given should they choose to.. but they can not sue so easily.. also I think the Dr's are very good in stating that its not the right way to go for every child nor is it an overnight 'cure' so parents are not under the illusion at least from the Dr's that it will be.. ( i'm generalizing here because I'm sure there must be some who have a different approach)
I think it very much comes down to the patience of parents.. and that in itself when dealing with a child with challenging behavior is stretched to its limits no doubt.. perhaps as much falls back to education and information as to a parents level of patience.. which i suppose if you have had to cope with a child for 6 years before they are diagnosed and 'treated' then you are going to be pretty ragged!!.. I do it for several hours at a time and am exhausted.. the constant flipping from once thing to another .. it's different when you are working tho because you are trying all the time to achieve some results.. merely sitting doing a jigsaw or listen to a story is a challenge for so many children these days.. it's to my mind very understandable why the level of good behavior in classrooms is ( seemingly) disintergrating. Just one thing.. do you think there is a class divide in cases of ADHD?.. what of autism... links?.. not links?.. is it a strand veering off from the autism spectrum.. asburgers.. you think theres a link there too?.. interesting subject Kelly. so wide in its diversity don't you think?.. would love to know the root cause.. of each and every one of them...

I feel sorry for the kids who are force fed amphetamines for their entire life. Sure, it may help the symptoms. But, that crap IS NOT good for you.

I doubt that additives have anything to do with how children respond, they do nothing to me, and everything I eat is make of like 90% weird stuff lol...

I see it more as not the food the child likes that effects the behavour, but that the behavour effects the food they eat, since kids over 5 have atleast some selfawarness and control.

Schools here are starting to change the food times.
Chips are gone, Cola, Deep fryed foods such as Chicken Nuggets too, And a new pasta cabin has opened so that you can get pasta intead, You can get healthy foods, and even a full cooked dinner, cooked on-site.
Thats because of jamie oliver.... And his little crack down on fat with the gov.

I doubt very much that they are a cause of ADHD , I rather think thats is more a genetic thing.. which is why it can be seen travelling down in family lines. but careful planing of diet in many cases will help.. it is very particular i think. and you do have to be extremely aware of the hidden extras placed in your food and drink..




And I certainly don't for one moment think that every child affected by food colourings and preservatives in food is ADHD.. I wonder now if its not a big generalization thrown out to cover so many different disorders.. and that includes children who are just a little bit rebellious.. some where in all those diagnosed cases there lies many a tenth who do actually suffer.. who are just victims of a lack of investigation? I don't know enough about the subject to say for sure.. just pass comment and ask questions.. although if you do suffer xeno. its great that you feel you can come comment and who better to hear from?... so thank you




Yes I have seen that and it works in someplaces.. and then in others the parking of junk food vans at school gates has become very prevalent.. I'm not sure how they can get away with that.? It completely make a mockery of anything good being done. It's good to watch children eat real food.. ( but... unless it affects you there's a place for the odd choccie and strawberry liquorice stick)
Xeno the additives may not affect you but.. if given the chance to find out if you were one of the many a diet change would help.. you would try it wouldn't you?.. if there was a chance your life could be improved by it?.

They can't park outside or even in the area of the school here, Because in front, the main road stops, and I don't know why but they just don't around the other enterances.
I think the school/food standards agency might have done something to stop it.

Yeah Mr Grey i kinda agree with you as there as so many now..can't go into one single primary/elemetry school calss without one child being on Ritalin.. Im just wondering what happened in the last 50 years to make it so ? Why so many to suffer and why now?

I was put on Dexadrine (sp?) A form of speed so that my parents could live in harmony but my physical body was in chaos with lack of hunger, no weight gain, and stunted growth I was on a rigours(sp?) schedual for the medicine.

I was diagnosed at the age of 7. We later found out that my dad's side of the family all have adult ADHD and ADD. Indeed the medicine worked. And my parents were saved from going mad. But at what cost? I may never know the full impacts of taking Dexadrine for over 8 years but I do know the full impacts of not treating thoes who are truly ADHD and ADD.

I do agree that 5 years ago docters, parents and teachers were quick to label some kids with this disorder. And Its dis-heartning to hear theire reasoning. 20 Years ago...thoes that were being treated for ADD/ADHD were being treated with experimental drugs and therpy techniques. A road must be paved before more traffic can go on it.

peace,
Austin

ps. As for additives in food. I'm sure there is a long list of ingredients that are detramental to ones behavioural development...just one more road to pave.

were you not given additional help as well? was it just a treatment of drugs?.. no dietry suggestions or lifestyle assistance.. extra help coping in school?.. parents not given respite care rather than having you on drugs to such and extent? I knwo with many under fices i have worked with that have been given ritalin.. its been a case of six days drugs one day free.. but Im not sure that that does actually help, as you need other things in to help withthe adjustment.. and it can also be quite frightening for siblings to witness extremes of behaviour to the degree the changes can sometimes come. But I digress greatly here. so sorry.



i don't know the impact, can you elaborate if it doesn't impinge on anyones privacy?..




humm.. so the children were mearly guinea pigs?.. there was a drug given at one point called thalidamide, caused pregnant women to have children with disabilities.. it was thought to be a harmless drug to help with morning sickness it wasn't harmless at all.. so yes.. Im not so happy about children being used as guinea pigs.. unless... there is no other way to save a life.. then yeah.. whatever it takes!




somehow Ithink the path is a very long one.. and has so many twists and turns.. different ones for each and every person. Ain't life grand!

LOL ADHD is a not really a serious thing. I was diagnosed with it when I was about 8. I haven't taken medication for it since I was about 12. I show absolutly no symptoms of this so called disease now.

It effects everyone differenent ways Understand... Some very harsh...

I'm really glad you have grown out of it.. but.. were you rightly diagnosed?.. Too often it seems practitioners are too quick to make a diagnosis.. little children taking drugs from as young as three. to make them calm and placid.. help them stay on task.. At three we are saying you dont fint into the classification of whats deemed 'normal' there fore you must be ill.. there must be something wrong.. when really you have an abundance of energy.. the settled activities by which yoru concentrations is judged upon are nto to your fancy and really yeah that couch looks like a mountain to climb.. the table if you turn it upside down is a pirate ship and hell yeah the climbing frame is just that.. meant for adventure and activity even if its midnight and the household is asleep.. see grown ups are so boring they can't see beyond the bits of paper they have and the little tick boxes.. and books that say....'normal.'. ( i'm being very light here sorry in a rush to get out the door..) genrally it appears.. and thats only in my experiance.. that these days first point of call is ADD or ADHD, arghh..
xeno yes.. completely agree with you.. and many cvarying degrees.. but still so many who most likely donthave it and are sucked into the world of a drug induced lifestyle.. when maybe they just need more TLC ...

Sorry for using your quote box to answer the questions...I'm a bit lazy right now. Hopefuly the bold shows up.

peace,
Austin

I was a hyper kid and had trouble paying attention to boring stuff. Like 90% of kids. I think they were just quick to diagnose me with something.

galvacon..sounds like your parents made efforts with you. perhaps they had some understanding to begin with if other family members also suffer..
As for the high metabolic rate, my children seem to have that one! all thin like rakes and NEVER cease to eat! But none are ADHD.. mad and scatty as me tho.. As for suppliment drinks i tried mine on those.. can't suck them up a straw for love nor money.. so thick you burn more energy drinking than you consume!! Children loathe them anyway so in my house theres a constant supply of healthy and unhealthy food just never coke unless its a brithday. thos within the realms of unhealthy I keep the additives to a minimum still as I have one or two who do climb walls quite litterally if given certain substances. But right now i have to head off out so Ill come back and finish this post later.. sorry about that.. needs must as they say!