If you are like me, you are not satisfied with the notion of “having to go home and live with it”, or “Johnny will grow out of it”. If you are like me, you would be searching for an answer to have your child back. If you are like me then you would want your child to be well, not simply OK while managing symptoms. ADHD numbers continue to rise each and every year. Medication after medication are introduced to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder. Could you imagine if there was a way to actually get WELL of the diagnosis? Here are the Four Must Dos if Your Child Suffers from ADHD.
1.  No Homework / Mandatory work between 7-9 pm
Now, I know what you are thinking, “I will do whatever it takes to get Johnny to do his homework, even if it is right before bed”.  I hear your concern, however the most effective time for ADHD sufferers to get homework done is right after school, between 4-6pm. With this done, the evenings are free for family time, hobbies, and reading time; activities that the child enjoys, not things that are mandated.
People often times assume that children with ADHD are less intelligent than their peers. What the research shows are ADHD kids often times have above average IQ’s compared to their peers. Having your child finish their homework early in the afternoon allows them to engage in activities they truly love. For some that will be a creative outlet like reading, storytelling, or drawing. For others it will be a physical outlet like running or playing a sport.
2. Cleaned up Diet
Obviously, what we put into our bodies is going to have an effect on our behavior. Often times, behavioral changes are linked to certain foods we incorporate into our diet. For example, processed sugars like those found in bread, cereal, and other boxed foods have chemicals and artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup or Splenda. These artificial sweeteners actually function as hormones in the body, causing changes within the brain.
One major issue is too much sugar. High sugar content and starchy carbohydrates lead to excessive insulin release, which can lead to falling blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, in turn, causes your brain to secrete glutamate in levels that can cause agitation, depression, anger, anxiety, and panic attacks.
3. Support outdoor activities based on child’s interests
What is very important to remember with kids who have ADHD is that they are often times very advanced in some areas of their life and a bit behind in others. What I have seen be a very positive influence on these kids is a support system around activities that the child loves. For example, some children with ADHD are very talented at arts and crafts or storytelling, among other things. Supporting these habits is paramount in their development and overcoming their disorder. I will dive a bit more into this in a moment.
4. Nervous System Function
It would stand to reason that if ADHD is a sensory processing disorder, then focusing attention on the nervous system would be a great place to start to get the brain back on tract. It is interesting how few doctors take this approach when working with these kids. What I have found is when the nervous system is functioning properly, symptoms like ADHD tend to resolve. This is why I have chosen to focus all my time and resources to finding the absolute best way to achieve this objective.
Children with ADHD excel in certain areas of life and drag behind in others. The reason for this is an imbalance in the way the brain is communicating between the two hemispheres and the body below. The brain is comprised of two hemispheres, left and right, each with a specific set of instructions and functions. For example, the left side of the brain is responsible for fine motor control. What that would look like if your child is strong in this area is very clear handwriting, advanced artistic ability, vivid imagination, and strong social ques. If, for example, your child has a stronger right brain they will have enhanced motor control of large muscle groups. The child will be very coordinated, great at sports, fidgety, and have poor handwriting.
A simple analogy to help explain why this is happening is to look at the gas and brake pedal of a car. Imagine one half of the brain having the gas petal all the way to the floor while the other half of the brain has the brake pedal engaged. As the child develops, one part of the brain will continue to get stronger while the other will lag behind.
Obviously the brain works together to achieve any task, requiring parts of the left and right brain to communicate together. However, with ADHD the brain is firing out of sync. Imagine you are running around the track and as you turn the last corner you experience a muscle strain in your left leg. You immediately begin to run in an in-coordinated manor to reach the finish line. Now imagine this muscle strain never really heals, each time you go out to run in the future your right leg is going to be doing more work than the left. Over time the right leg will get much stronger and the left will continue to lag behind as you run. You will learn to run with this new gait, but you will always be less efficient and expend more energy than if both legs were moving in sync.
By focusing on the neurology of the body, we are able to help kids suffering from this type of brain imbalance. When the brain is back in sync, the depressed portion of the brain will begin to strengthen. Over time, the brain as a whole will fire in rhythm and the symptoms of the disorder will slowly begin to fade away. By restoring the communication between the brain and body, these children are given the best opportunity to live life to the fullest. Remember, your current state of health does NOT dictate your future. Just because your child has been diagnosed with a learning disability does not mean that they cannot get better. The next step to see if we can help is to call the office to schedule a complimentary consultation. Consultations are 15 minutes and include an assessment of your child’s neurology. The only question you have to ask yourself is, “What do I have to lose?”

About Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder
At Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder we are not only concerned about your symptoms, but also you as a person and what is important to you. We know that not everyone’s the same and not everyone has the same goals. It is important to us that we present a chiropractic care plan that works for you and is tailored to you and your health concerns.

We’re a specialty Boulder Chiropractor focused on back pain, neck pain, vertigo, and migraine headaches. Our patients visit our Boulder office from all over Northern Colorado, including, Longmont, Erie, Superior, Lafayette, Niwot, Louisville, Broomfield, and Denver, Colorado.

Contact Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder today to schedule a free evaluation. Specialized upper cervical chiropractic care is by no means a “hail Mary” solution, but if you haven’t yet seen Dr. Bremner, you’re nowhere close to running out of options.