1. What's Considered Normal?
When dealing with a developing child, there is wide range of "normal" behavior. Different personality traits are intricately woven into the fabric of what makes you special. Certain symptoms, however, such as restlessness and agitation, can be a clue to talk to your child's doctor about hyperactivity. Although most children will not need medication, it's good to discuss social and intellectual development with your pediatrician to rule out certain other diseases that have hyperactivity as a symptom. She may also refer your child to a specialist, if needed.
2. Some Vaccines Are Linked to Hyperactivity
Many people blame the immunizations their children get for some of the attention and hyperactivity disorders. While there have been a few studies that loosely tied the MMR vaccine to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they were plagued by problems and have been dismissed by the medical community. To definitively ensure there's no connection between this vaccine and ADHD, more studies need to be completed. The rise in ADHD cases lead us to the question of what has happened in the last few decades to bring about this change. Some environmental toxins that have been clinically shown to increase the risk of hyperactivity include the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and lead exposure.
3. Foods Make My Kid Hyper
Some parents have insisted that if their children eat certain foods, they literally bounce off the walls. They may be right. Celiac disease causes the body to become allergic to gluten products found in wheat, oats, barley and other grain foods. Some experts even suggest that these foods are neurotoxic, which means certain foods actually contain a chemical that destroys the nerves. MSG and Aspartame are two such food additives that have a high level of neruotoxins in them. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has said that removing these toxins and allergic foods helps about 5% of those children suffering from hyperactivity.
4. Dietary Changes May Help
Before jumping onto the medication bandwagon, try taking your child to an allergist and having him tested for food allergies. Taking this step could save your child from the addictive side affects of some hyperactivity medications. You'll simply need to avoid the food allergens.
5. Hope is Available
The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) are sponsoring a study for children of preschool age dealing with hyperactivity. They are first implementing behavioral therapy to the participants of the study. This avoids medicating children at such a young age and provides a chance to see if they respond to such therapy. For those that don't respond, there are drugs available, although most parents cringe at the idea of medicating their child, especially with the stimulants common for treating hyperactivity.
