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Adhd Research Paper

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ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). ADHD is a neurological condition affecting brain development. MRI imaging has found “abnormal grey matter and cortical thickness associated with ADHD in frontal, temporal and cerebellar regions of the brain” (from the ADHD Institute). This diagnosis has been given to 11% of American school aged children between 4-17. This is nearly 6.4 million children. ( https://www.cdc.gov) This number is staggering but is this what is really affecting our children? Is it poor parenting, poor diet, or is this the retention of primitive reflexes? We will attempt to answer these questions to determine if the ADHD diagnosis is overused or if the factors listed above are truly changing the lives of our …show more content…

Secondly, we look at the child’s diet to see if that could be the cause of the ADHD diagnosis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Advisory Committee determined that studies to date have not proved there's a link between food colorings and hyperactivity. Food additives include artificial colors, artificial sweeteners and preservatives. There's no solid evidence that food additives cause attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(Pelsser) However, the topic of food additives and their possible effects on children’s behavior is controversial. Ideally, parents should limit a diet of sugary and processed foods and replace it with fruits and vegetables. Providing children with meals that do not include extra sugar and additives may help reduce symptoms of ADHD and certainly improve the health of the children.
Finally, we look at retained primal reflexes as a cause of ADHD. When a child has retained his or her primitive reflexes the symptoms expressed depend on which specific primitive reflex failed to integrate with the rest of the central nervous system. Here is a list of some examples of various retained primal reflexes that has been shared by Dr. Yannick Pauli:
“ • A retained Moro reflex results in the inability to control emotions. The child might be aggressive, insensitive, but also loving and compassionate. This may also cause a hypersensitivity to touch, light, and textures.
• A retained

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