Alternatives to ADD/adhd medication

One of the hardest decisions a parent has to make is whether or not their child should take medication for ADD or ADHD.  I am here to declare that medications are not the only option.   Below are list of alternatives that have been successful with children

Binaural Beats -  Binaural beats are two different sound tones where one tone is played in one ear, and the other, which is slightly different, is played in the other ear.  What happens is that the brain tries to cancel both sounds out by creating sound that is not really there.  The sounds are attuned to a special frequency that is tuned to a particular emotion and mental state.  For ADD/ADHD symptoms, these tones are set anywhere between 14 and 20 Mhz.  The results are usually instantaneous while the tones are being played, and the actual long term effects start to appear in around two weeks or so.  Both Android and Iphone have free apps on their app store.  I recommend using the binaural beats as often and as much as possible.

BioFeedback -  This can be an expensive venture, but keep reading, I found a cheap alternative.   BioFeedback connects electrodes to the brain that reads brain waves.   What happens is that the participant is forced to concentrate on a task to control objects on a computer screen.  It really is pretty cool. Unfortunately, the cost can be quite prohibitive.  Prices range from 80-150 an hour.  I was told that a person may need somewhere between 40 and 60 sessions for the results to occur.  Now, for the good part.   There was a toy company a few years ago created a game called MindFlex.  It does essentially the same thing.  The person puts on a device on the head, and it reads the  brain waves to control a fan that makes a ball levitate.  The person is forced to concentrate and focus enough to have the  ball navigate through an obstacle course.   The have stopped making this product for something called MindFlex Duel.  Prices range online from $80.00 through $130.00.  I highly recommend it. 

Chiropractic Care -  Yep,  the chiropractor. Studies have shown that upper cervical chiropractic care has been known to alleviate and sometimes eliminate the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in children and adults.  The belief is that the upper vertebras are slightly tweaking a nerve in the base of the skull, and when adjusted properly, the body can realign and heal itself.  I  was quite skeptical at first until I learned that in the 1940's-1960's there were chiropractic psychiatric hospitals. They had a cure rate significantly greater than medical psychiatric hospitals.  The AMA had more money and clout, so they lobbied the government and had everything shut down.  It was not until the mid 1980's that the AMA was sued and had to recant their false claims. 

Of course, our practice is here to meet any counseling needs you or your children may experience.  Our therapists, Gillian Squillacioti, LPC and Ameleo Manuel, LPCA have extensive experience treating children, and would be happy to meet and discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child and ADD/ADHD