ADD: Controversial Interventions

Diets

As a result of the increased interest in ADD over the years, there are a host of treatments that have been recommended to parents. Some have been demonstrated to be effective (medication when indicated, behavioral intervention, counseling, special education) while others are highly controversial. We will focus on three of the most popular treatments: diet, megavitamins, and biofeedback.

Diets
In 1975, Benjamin Feingold, M.D., published his best-selling book, Why Your Child Is Hyperactive. His theory, based on his clinical observations as an allergist, was that food additives cause hyperactivity and learning disorders. His solution was simple - eliminate food additives. Dr. Feingold was a charismatic and powerful speaker, and parents responded to him. It is also important to remember that, at the time he proposed his diet, many people were concerned about the food they ate and how it affected them. Before you knew it there were Feingold Associations cropping up throughout the United States. The diet listed below is an elimination diet. For many parents, this was seen as a simple cure to ADD.

Group 1
• Green pepper
  
• Nectarines
  
• Oranges
  
• Plums and prunes
  
• Peaches
  
• Tangerines
  
• All teas
  
• Tomatoes

Group 2

• Foods containing artificial flavors
• Beverages
  
• Candy
  
• Chewing gum
  
• Ice cream
  
• Baked goods, except bread
  
• Condiments
  
• Gelatin
  
• Preserves

Group 3
Foods containing artificial colors
• Blues #1 and #2, Green #3, Reds #3 and #40, and Yellows #5 and #6. Two food colors are limited in use to one product each: Orange B for hot dogs, and Citrus Red #2 for orange skin.

Group 4
Foods containing preservatives
• Butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT)
• Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA)

Group 5
Foods containing natural salicylates
• Almonds
• Apples
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Cloves
• Coffee
• Cucumber and pickles
• Currants
• Grapes and raisins

Although parents reported remarkable success with the diet, the scientific community responded with skepticism. Throughout the years since the diet was introduced, there has been considerable debate over its effectiveness. Parents say it works, researchers say there is no support. Studies have been criticized for being poorly executed, and parents have been criticized for seeking quick cures. According to Silver, well-controlled studies have not found that food additives cause hyperactivity in 98 to 99 percent of the children. Why it works for the other 1 to 2 percent is not clear.

What about sugar? Parents often hear that sugar is the culprit that makes kids "hyper." Parents have told us that they know exactly when their child has had sugar, because his behavior deteriorates rapidly. They are convinced that the sugar causes the child to act more "hyper." What does the research say? In his book Food and the Brain, C. Keith Connors, Ph.D., says that there is no justification, in the studies done so far, for eliminating sugar from children's diets. He points to some interesting findings regarding sugar. For some children with ADD, sugar can be helpful. Sugar can be either good or bad, depending on a child's age, diet, and biology. He recommends that any change in diet be made with the help of a nutritionist, dietitian, or physician who is knowledgeable in this area.

More on: ADHD

Excerpted from:

From Keys to Parenting a Child with Attention Deficit Disorders by Barry E. McNamara, Ed.D. & Francine J. McNamara, M.S.W., C.S.W. Copyright © 2000 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by arrangement with Barrons Educational Series, Inc.

Buy the book at Barron's.