Other Names:
Hyperkinesis

Symptoms:
Cannot sit still, short attention span, impulsive acts before one thinks, runs rather than walks, forgets easily, moody, temper tantrums, irritated and indifferent when disciplined, determined to get his own way.

Sleep disturbances, clumsiness, head-knocking, bothers other children, speech and hearing disorders, extreme distractibility, absent-mindedness, unable to follow a series of instructions.

Not all symptoms are found in any one child. The symptoms are not limited to children, but are also found in some adults.

Keep in mind that most children display some hyperactive symptoms at times.

Cause:
Hyperactivity is now called "attention deficit disorder" or, sometimes, "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" (ADHD). Primarily occurring in children, it produces a variety of learning and behavior problems.

Some of the causes include:

Allergies to milk, wheat, chocolate, yeast, food additives, oranges, and antibiotics.

Lead poisoning can be a significant factor.

Eating too much sugar or sugar foods, smoking during pregnancy, oxygen deprivation at birth, prenatal trauma.

Artificial food additives, preservatives and foods containing salicylates, other food additives.

Low-protein diet.

Emotional problems and inadequate, inconsistent, or ineffective discipline in the home. Hyperactive children often control the situation in the home more than the parents. Because parents are too yielding, children find they can scream their way to dominance, and become uncontrollable.

When spoiled children enter school, they sometimes try to use overactivity to control their new environment.

Hyperactive children often have learning disabilities.

Certain types of fluorescent lights are overstimulating.

Overstimulation from television, competitive games, violent TV programs and, nutritional deficiencies are major factors.

Mothers who smoke are more likely to give birth to brain-damaged or hyperactive children.

Children from broken homes are more likely to have this problem.

A strong link has been established between learning disabilities and juvenile crime. Try to solve the problems early.

Treatment:
• Change whatever items, cited above, you are able.

• Provide the child with a nourishing diet, as discussed elsewhere in this book. This is important.

• Locate and eliminate food allergies. See "Allergies" and "Pulse Test."

• Avoid all foods containing salicylates.

• Foods that irritate the stomach or inflame the nerves must be removed from the child's diet. Avoid all refined sugar, fried, and junk foods from the diet. This includes soft drinks. Eliminate artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives. Do not attempt to only change the diet partway. Nourishing food, and only nourishing food, must become a way of life. It will help all in the home. It will be easier for the child to accept the new regime if the mother (and hopefully, father) does also.

• The parent must learn to control the situation, by training the child to obedience and self-control. This is vital. Teaching the child to obey you causes him to learn to control himself. This enables him to organize, and better manage, his mental discipline and his entire life.

• Regularity in rising, eating, bedtime, and other daily schedules is important.