add and adhd: find the cause, then fix it
A diagnosis of ADD or ADHD describes a group of behaviors. It does not tell you why they are happening. Since 1979, NACD has designed individualized home programs for children and adults that identify the underlying causes of attention issues and address them, one child at a time. NACD works with the full range of developmental problems, and ADD and ADHD fit into our category of “easy ones.”
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The diagnosis is an indicator, not an explanation
Many parents and professionals think the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, is a definitive diagnosis. This diagnosis is typically given when a group of behaviors including inattention are observed in a child, and it is now being used with adults as well. The most common treatment is medication.
There is an error in this approach.
Attention Deficit Disorder with or without hyperactivity can, in fact, have quite a few different causes, and each of them is resolved with a different solution. So this diagnostic category is inconclusive.
Behaviors defined as ADD or ADHD are exactly that kind of indicator. The question that matters is not whether your child fits the label. The question is what, specifically, is causing your child’s inattention, and what to do about it.
Define the cause. Design the program. Deliver it daily.
The NACD approach is to first define the underlying problem that is causing the symptoms of ADD or ADHD to occur, then build the program around what the assessment actually finds, for that specific child or adult.
A thorough assessment pinpoints the causes
A thorough neurodevelopmental assessment is performed for each client in order to pinpoint the cause or causes of the problem in that individual, drawing on a toolbox of more than 1,000 techniques refined since 1979.
A program built for your child, not the label
NACD creates a program designed to address the underlying problems identified for your specific child. When the underlying causes are successfully addressed, the poor concentration and behavioral issues that led to the diagnosis go with them.
You become the expert on your own child
You are trained step by step to implement your child’s daily activities: not only how to run each activity, but why it is being done and what results to expect. Our expertise becomes your expertise.
And while the program works on the causes, NACD also teaches you how to efficiently instruct your child, so your child can make significant academic gains while the other issues are being addressed. Read more about the NACD neurodevelopmental approach.
Addressing ADHD without medication
ADD and ADHD are symptoms of problems that can be addressed without medication. Medications attempt to mask symptoms; they do not address or fix causes. NACD’s approach works by identifying and developing the underlying processing, physiological, and developmental pieces that are actually producing the symptoms in your child.
Decisions about medication always belong to your family and your physician. What NACD offers is a path that works on the causes, so the symptoms have less and less reason to exist. Throughout the process, you receive our professional support and the support of other NACD families. What does NACD expect for your child? We expect success.
Issues that can lead to a “diagnosis” of ADD or ADHD
Dozens of different underlying issues can produce the behaviors that get labeled ADD or ADHD. This is why the assessment comes first. These are the categories NACD evaluates, and some of the specific issues within each.
Global developmental immaturity / processing issues
The most common cause of ADHD symptoms is undeveloped auditory processing, working memory, and executive function. The checklist that describes ADHD is also the description of a typical four-year-old.
Sleep issues
- Sleep disturbance
- Sleep-disordered breathing / sleep apnea
- Snoring and airway issues
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Insufficient sleep
- Irregular sleep schedule
- Screen use before bed
Dietary and gut issues
- Blood sugar issues
- Food allergies
- Food sensitivities
- Excessive carbohydrates
- Excessive sugar
- Excessive food colorings and artificial sweeteners
- Inadequate protein
- Bowel/gut disorders
Other physiological issues
- Respiratory issues
- Toxins
- Environmental allergies
- Cardiac issues
Behavioral issues
- Lack of interest
- Lack of intensity
- Lack of proper intention
- Global immaturity
- Developmental delays
- Avoidance behaviors
- “Stims” and DSAs (Debilitating Sensory Addictions)
- Excessive social focus
- Lack of social awareness
- Not present
- Subdominant/emotional
- Negative attention-getting behaviors
- Poor feedback
- Improper behavioral training
Educational structure issues
- Poor instructional environment
- Lack of intensity
- Curriculum heavy
- Educational content not engaging
- Not directed to individual’s processing level
- Negative environment
- Low expectations
- Excessively high expectations
- Personality conflict
- Excessive duration
- Inadequate review
- Lack of individual attention
- Teacher’s speech or accent
- Extraneous classroom sound/noise
- Extraneous/distracting visual environment
- Proximity of other students
- Bullying
- Cliques
- Social pressure to perform
- Social pressure not to perform
- Social pressure to act out
- Lack of parental involvement
- Excessive parental involvement
- Reading, math, etc. levels below class
- Reading, math, etc. levels above class
- Difficulties understanding English or language used in classroom
Hearing and auditory function
- Hearing loss
- Issues with processing specific frequencies
- Otitis media/middle ear fluid
- Ear infections
- Figure-ground issues
- Low auditory sequential processing
- Reduced auditory short-term memory
- Reduced auditory working memory
- Reduced auditory long-term memory
- Inadequate conceptual thought
- Visualization/conceptualization imbalance
- Visual vs. auditory processing imbalance
Vision
- Acuity/sight problems
- Convergence issues
- Tracking issues
- Astigmatism
- Underdeveloped central vision
- Hyperperipheral vision
- Excessive visualizing negatively impacting visual attention
- Poor visualization
- Low visual sequential processing
- Reduced visual short-term memory
- Reduced visual working memory
- Reduced visual long-term memory
- Excessive screen time
- Visual “stims” (e.g., watching the same videos repeatedly)
Motor issues
- Poor fine motor development
- Poor manual dexterity
- Poor pencil grasp
- Inadequate writing instruction
ADD and ADHD in adults
The diagnosis is now being used with adults as well, and the same logic applies. Adult attention issues have underlying causes, and those causes can be identified and addressed. NACD works with adults using the same assessment-first, individualized approach, adapted to adult life, work, and goals.
The brain remains changeable across the lifespan. If you have spent years assuming your attention is simply who you are, an assessment may tell you something different.
NACD Learning Disabilities & Attention Issues (Full Seminar) on YouTube
Three steps, starting free
Testimonials From NACD Clients
Testimonial From the Parent of Three NACD Graduates
Jake by Rachel Schappy
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Sunny”
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Dane”
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Brian”
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Joshua”
NACD Kids: Mary Beth
NACD KIDS: NACD Changed My Life
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Christopher”
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