Misdiagnosis of any medical condition can be a scary thing to contemplate although it happens all the time. With respect to Attention Deficit Disorder/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, the number of cases that are misdiagnosed are staggering. According to one research study by a Michigan State University economist, nearly one million children are misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD each year in the US.
One possible reason that misdiagnosis of ADD/ ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, respectively) is common is that the disorder shares symptoms with other health conditions, making an accurate diagnosis more difficult in many cases. Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are characterizations of ADD/ ADHD but can also be signs of autism, hearing and other sensory disorders, sleep disorders, thyroid conditions or even nutritional deficiencies. (For a list of 10 medical conditions that share symptoms with ADD, please click here.)
With nearly four and a half million children diagnosed with ADHD each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the most common neurobehavioral childhood disorder. However, this disorder is not just diagnosed in children and adult onset ADHD has also increased in recent years. With so many cases being diagnosed in both children and adults, it is important to explore all possible treatment options available.
In the past, drugs such as Ritalin have been the go-to treatment for patients with ADHD. In fact, the number of prescriptions for Ritalin has increased five-fold over the last decade and a whopping 90% of those are handed out in the US. Ritalin is a stimulant and there are many reasons why patients, whether parents of diagnosed children or being the patient themselves, are growing leery of this drug therapy approach to care. One alternative that is gaining in popularity is through chiropractic and chiropractic neurology care. Trained to identify the underfunctioning part of the brain, chiropractic neurologists will perform brain function tests to seek the underlying problem rather than just treating the symptoms. Many times treatment can be done at home, or in combination home/ office settings and a focus on nutrition and lifestyle changes also aid in correcting imbalances that cause ADHD. This non-invasive, non-drug treatment is an attractive, and effective, alternative for many patients.
One world-renowned Chiropractic Neurologist, Dr. Robert Melillo is making headlines and helping parents of children with neuro-behavioral disorders such as ADHD with his groundbreaking Brain Balance program and a guide to help parents and children address the underlying causes of the disorder while presenting a plan to assist children to reach their full potential, all without drugs. Disconnected Kids includes motor and sensory improvement exercises, behavior modification techniques and even follow up materials. Dr. Melillo, like Dr. Ellis and Dr. Ted Carrick, understand that the brain can be changed, and how to do so in a way that improves overall health and well being. Given the fact that the brain can be changed, and that a child’s, or adult’s, problems are not permanent gives a renewed sense of hope to many patients around the world.
Because Chiropractic Neurology is a brain-based treatment, a great many patients suffering from ADD/ ADHD see favorable outcomes, without the drug treatments that have been the standard in care for many years. While brain-based treatment shows long-term benefits, drug therapies have no such long-term benefit once the drugs are stopped. Treatment through Chiropractic Neurology are designed to literally change the brain, restoring and improving brain function leading to permanent change, without side effects and risks associated with drug therapies.