Information and articles on ADHD Kids from the blog of GetzWell Pediatrics in San Francisco.

ADHD Kids

Information and articles on ADHD Kids from the blog of GetzWell Pediatrics in San Francisco.

2021: The Link Between Allergies and ADHD, There’s More Than Meets the Eye

Allergies typically call to mind common symptoms like runny noses, itchy rashes, red eyes, cough, wheezing, etc. However, it turns out allergies can manifest in a variety of ways and may profoundly impact a person’s behavior and ability to focus and learn. In other GetzWell articles we’ve shared how Dr. Getzelman is leveraging 23andMe genetic …

2021: The Link Between Allergies and ADHD, There’s More Than Meets the Eye Read More »

Natural Alternatives to Treating ADD/ADHD & Anxiety – With The Help of 23andMe

In our last case study, Could Gluten be to Blame for Your Child’s Behavioral Issues?, we shared Kasey’s story – she is a patient from our San Francisco practice who came to us for help with an ADHD and anxiety disorder diagnosis. As the title suggests, we were able to link Kasey’s behavioral issues to a gluten sensitivity. But it turns out that gluten was only partially to blame.

ADD & ADHD: Does diet make a difference?

Although Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are the most studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorders affecting children, there is still little consensus about the root causes of the disorders and their appropriate treatments.   According to the CDC, almost 10% of all children in the United States have received an attention deficit disorder diagnosis.  Treatment of the telltale symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (including chronic inattention, frequent distraction, impulsivity, fidgeting and difficulty controlling behavior) now accounts for a significant proportion of all drug use in children between the ages of 4-17.  In fact, there are now 17 different drugs approved to treat ADHD, contributing to a multibillion dollar ADHD industry.  However, a new study conducted by Radboud University Medical School and the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands1, presents compelling evidence that this blanket pharmacological approach to ADHD is misguided.  According to Dr. Lidy Piesser, the author of the study published in last month’s The Lancet medical journal, up to 64% of children who experience symptoms of ADHD might actually be experiencing sensitivity to foods.

Link Between ADHD and Pesticides

Research published in the June issue of the prestigious journal, Pediatrics, suggests that exposure to high levels of organophosphate pesticides may increase the risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

“Organophosphates are one of the most widely used pesticides in agriculture,” to quote from the article.