ADHD Main Info Page

What Is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition defined by specific subjective criteria in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-V). This book describes three types of the disorder:

• Predominantly inattentive
• Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive
• Combined type

Symptoms are behavioral, and the diagnosis is determined by observations in at least two settings. The following symptoms are commonly associated with ADHD.

• Lack of focus
• Poor concentration
• Low self-esteem
• Easy frustration
• Explosive anger

Males are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than females.

What Your Doctor May Tell You About ADHD

Many doctors believe that the cause(s) of ADHD is unknown and may even be a genetic condition. Treatments from an MD will likely address the most serious symptoms, and usually include medications like stimulants, behavioral supports and counseling. ADHD can occur at any age. Children and adults with it have variations of symptoms, and thus require different priority in treatments.

Another Way to Think About ADHD

While ADHD is now widely recognized as a disability and is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, depending on the etiology of the symptoms, it may not actually be a neurodevelopmental disorder at all. In some cases it is truly a neurodevelopmental condition (often related to retained infant reflexes, vision or other sensory development and more) but in other cases, it could be described more accurately as a metabolic condition, or a set of symptoms secondary to nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances or addressable structural issues in the body. Because the root causes of the symptoms we call “ADHD” are so varied and so bioindividual, it is especially important to do a thorough and individualized analysis of likely physiological imbalances through lab testing and clinical evaluations.

The inability to attend or behaviors that are classified as “hyperactive” can be related to:

• A neurotransmitter imbalance such as catecholamines
• Environmental toxins such as fluroride, lead and pesticides
• Nutritional deficienices such as magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, zinc or iron
• Airway issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, mouth breathing or snoring
• Blood-sugar dysregulation
• PANS/PANDAS or Lyme disease

Evaluating all these areas, rebalancing the body, and bringing it back to health requires removing the possible triggers from the external and internal environment, and adding necessary nutrients through food and supplementation.

ADHD Healing Checklist

As the root causes of ADHD symptoms can be many, many things, it can be helpful to begin investigating them through two main lenses:

1. Metabolic and Environmental Root Causes (nutrition, blood sugar, toxins, EMF and digital stressors, inflammation, microbiome, gut health, sleep, movement)

2. Neurodevelopmental Root Causes (what happened to a child’s brain during early years from in utero to infancy and toddlerhood).

Some children will need both perspetives considered, while other children may only need to consider one. 

Following is a checklist of areas to investigate for your child. No two children have ADHD symptoms for the exact same reasons.

Look for Gut Dysbiosis and Gastrointestinal Issues

The gut and the brain are inextricably linked, and whatever is happening in the gastrointestinal system is going to affect the brain. The majority of important neurotransmitters are produced in the gut. The immune system is centered in the gut. Nutrients essential for attention, focus, mood and behavior are either extracted from food in the gut or produced by microbes in the gut.

The microbiome, the trillions of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, can easily become imbalanced (called “gut dysbiosis“) after a round or more of antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals or through a diet of processed food and refined carbohydrates and sugars.

When a child has gut dysbiosis, not only will they experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation or chronic diarrhea, they are also going to experience impaired production of neurotransmitters (important for mood, sleep, attention and behavior), as well as disrupt nutrient production and absorption. Gut dysbiosis can also lead to neuroinflammation, commonly found in children with ADHD symptoms.

Evaluate Nutrient Deficiencies and Blood Sugar Stability

Many children diagnosed with ADHD are found to have nutrient deficiencies and blood-sugar dysregulation upon functional lab testing. Some common deficiencies include: essential fatty acids (omega-3’s), iron, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, protein deficiency, and more.

If your child is showing signs of hyperactivity and inattention, your should have their blood sugar checked to see if they are experiencing blood sugar highs and lows. If your child eats a lot of refined sugar or carbohydrates and not enough healthy fats, protein and fiber, it is likely that this type of diet may be contributing to their ADHD symptoms, as blood sugar highs and lows can cause behavioral issues, non-compliance and oppositional behaviors, tantrums, rage, inattention, spaciness, fogginess and more. Read our articles on Optimizing Blood Sugar and Metabolic Psychiatry to find out more about how blood-sugar dysregulation may be affecting your child and how to address this issue.

If your child does not get enough protein in their diet, this can contribute to neurotransmitter imbalances because amino acids–from dietary proteins–are an important precursor to neurotransmitters. Similarly, gut dysbiosis can contribute to neurotransmitter imbalances.

Developmental Considerations

Sometimes ADHD symptoms stem from what is going on metabolically (think about blood sugar highs or lows) or microbially (altered gut bacteria impacting nutrition, neurotransmitters and more) but sometimes the ADHD symptoms stem from what happened to a baby’s brain in utero and in the early infant and toddler years.

If a child’s developmental history was normal or typical, ADHD symptoms may be more related to what they are eating, what they are exposed to, and what they are doing every day. If a child has a developmental history that included missing any milestones (e.g. rolling over, crawling, babbling on time, delayed sitting or walking, etc.) or exposures during critical developmental years (e.g. exposures to drugs, alcohol, serious infections, brain inflammation) then the neurodevelopment of the child may be affected, potentially resulting in ADHD-like symptoms.

Some behaviors commonly labeled as ADHD may reflect impacts to neurodevelopment that began very early in life. Factors such as birth trauma, early autonomic nervous system dysregulation (particularly chronic sympathetic activation), disrupted sensory processing, poor sleep, or persistence of primitive reflexes may influence how a child develops motor control, attention, emotional regulation, and executive function.

Primitive reflexes are normal in infancy and are expected to become integrated as the nervous system matures. When reflex patterns remain unusually active, they may be associated with many different developmental issues. These features can look like the symptoms that we recognize as “ADHD.”

A more detailed neurodevelopmental assessment can sometimes help clarify these patterns. Clinical primitive reflex assessments performed by appropriately trained clinicians can identify retained reflex responses and motor or sensory asymmetries that may point to areas of developmental immaturity.

Quantitative EEG, or QEEG, which is sometimes available through neurofeedback practices or functional neurology clinics, measures patterns of electrical brain activity and can reveal differences in cortical rhythms, connectivity, or regulation that may be associated with attention and arousal. Used alongside a comprehensive developmental history, neurologic examination, sensory and motor assessment, sleep evaluation, and conventional ADHD assessment, a QEEG can help build a more complete picture of whether a child’s attention difficulties are occurring within a broader pattern of autonomic, sensory-motor, or neurodevelopmental dysregulation.

If you think your child may have a neurodevelopmental form of ADHD rather than a metabolic form of ADHD, consider consutling with a neurodevelopmental specialist in your area such as a Neurofeedback Professional, Functional Neurologist, Neurological Chiropractor, or an OT trained in primitive reflex assessment.  

Consider Seeing a Developmental Optometrist or Neuro-optometrist

Many children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD may actually be struggling to process visual information efficiently. Some common vision challenges or diagnoses that can be mistaken for ADD or ADHD include: convergence insufficiency, poor tracking, difficulty with eye teaming, impaired depth perception or binocular vision dysfunction. These are symptoms of Visual Processing Disorder.

When there are obstacles to effectively processing visual stimulus, a child’s brain must work much harder, burn more cellular energ, and this cognitive overload can sometimes impact working memory, focus, and behavior–all symptoms of ADHD. You can find developmental optometrists or neuro-optometrists in the Documenting Hope Practitioner Directory or by visiting the directory of the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association.

Consider See a Functional Dentist or Orthodontist or Myofunctional Therapist

Many children with the symptoms of ADD or ADHD are actually sleep-deprived or oxygen-deprived due to structural issues in the sinuses or airway. Some children have narrow sinus passages that can contribute to a lack of oxygen going to the brain. If you notice your child mouth-breathing, this is a sign that they need to be evaluated by a functional dental professional. A functional dental/oral professional will be able to evaluate your child for a high arch in the mouth, tongue tie, or other addressable structural airway issues.

A large majority of children with structural oral issues snore at night and may be diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA affects up to 10% of the pediatric population, and 95% of children with OSA have documented attention deficits. If children are waking multiple times a night struggling to get air, it is no wonder they show up at school with attention issues! Before considering medication or other symptom suppressive approach, children should be evaluated for OSA or structural airway issues. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids or even chronic nasal congestion can obstruct the airway and impact oxygenation of tissues and cells. This can be caused by chronic infections, allergies, mold, excessive dust or other environmental issues.

Functional orthodontists and dentists using palate expanders or other oral appliances such as an ALF device may be able to address some of the underlying structural issues. Myofunctional therapists often work in conjunction with these practitioners to correct improper functioning of the face, mouth, and tongue.

Sleep Deprivation as a Root Cause

Even if your child doesn’t have a structural oral or airway issue, if they stay up late at night (perhaps on screens or devices) or get up to early, or just don’t get enough sleep, they may develop symptoms of ADHD. Children who are sleep deprived may come across as “wired,” or hyperactive becauses sleep deprivation can put their bodies into a state where their nervous system is sympathetic-dominant. This means that the fatigue and lack of sleep is putting them into survival mode or “fight or flight” mode, and this can look like hyperactivity, inattention, rage, anger or other behavioral issues.

Consider Seeing a Developmental Optometrist or Neuro-optometrist

Many children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD may actually be struggling to process visual information efficiently. Some common vision challenges or diagnoses that can be mistaken for ADD or ADHD include: convergence insufficiency, poor tracking, difficulty with eye teaming, impaired depth perception or binocular vision dysfunction. These are symptoms of Visual Processing Disorder.

When there are obstacles to effectively processing visual stimulus, a child’s brain must work much harder, burn more cellular energ, and this cognitive overload can sometimes impact working memory, focus, and behavior–all symptoms of ADHD. You can find developmental optometrists or neuro-optometrists in the Documenting Hope Practitioner Directory or by visiting the directory of the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association.

Address the Foundations Before Resorting to Medications or other Interventions

ADHD medications are widely reported to “help” with symptoms (make children more attentive, more focused, and more “well-behaved”) but these perceived benefits do not come without risks.

Below are some of the well documented side effects of commonly prescribed ADHD medications. It’s important to be aware of the side effects and consequences of any medication.

1. Ritalin / Concerta, methylphenidate

Methylphenidate blocks dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake. Its best-documented adverse effects are appetite suppression, weight loss, abdominal pain, headache, insomnia, anxiety/irritability, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and potentially slowed growth in children. This type of stimulant is also widely recognized as a substance that can be abused, especially in teenagers and young adults.

Nutritional Considerations: a child with a reduced appetite may be taking in less nutritious food and this can commonly lead to deficiencies in key nutrients such as Omega 3s (essential fatty acids), zinc, magnesium, iron, and more.

2. Vyvanse, lisdexamfetamine

Vyvanse is converted in the body to dextroamphetamine. This is an amphetamine stimulant. The package inserts acknowledge decreased appetite, decreased weight, insomnia, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, and other GI symptoms among common adverse effects. Some children even experience worsened constipation when on Vyvlance. Appetite suppression is a well documented effect of Vyvase and is even prescribed for binge-eating disorder because it shuts off the interest in food. This is a serious concern for growing children and the potential nutrient deficiencies they may experience from restricted eating. Common deficiencies include magnesium, iron, zinc, EFAs, B-vitamins, calcium, protein. Additionally, it is commonly reported that some children experience significant insomnia while taking this type of stimulant medication. This will only exacerbate the underlying physiological imbalances seen in children with ADHD.

3. Adderall / Adderall XR, mixed amphetamine salts

Adderall combines amphetamine salts and has a side-effect profile similar to Vyvanse. Commonly reported side effects include loss of appetite, weight loss, insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, headache, dry mouth, nausea/abdominal symptoms, elevated pulse, and elevated blood pressure. Increasingly, Adderall is being used as a “street drug” with legally prescribed patients selling their adderall to other teens and young adults who want an “edge” or sharper focus. Mothers Against Addiction, a nonprofit organization, has raised the alarm bells about the abuse of this drug in young adults. You can read more about their concerns here.

Like Vyvanse, Adderall carries with it all the risks of nutritional deficiency from appetite suppression.

4. Strattera, atomoxetine

Strattera is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, rather than a stimulant.

Common adverse effects include decreased appetite, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, sleepiness, dizziness, and weight effects,with similar concerns about nutritional deficiencies from appetite suppression.

5. Intuniv, guanfacine ER

Guanfacine is an alpha-2A adrenergic receptor agonist and has almost the opposite acute side-effect pattern from stimulants.

The most common adverse effects are sleepiness/sedation, fatigue, lethargy, nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, and sometimes constipation/dry mouth. In trials, somnolence, fatigue, nausea, lethargy, and hypotension were among the most common reactions.

Before considering medications, therapies or other interventions, consider addressing a child’s health foundations: Sleep, Nutrition, Movement, Outdoor/Nature Time, Blood Sugar Regulation, Toxicity. There are many studies documenting the benefits of each of these natural and foundational health supports. Here are just a few:

Benefits of Sleep Hygiene on ADHD Symptoms

In one study, children ages 5 to 12 were randomized to usual care or a behavioral sleep intervention involving sleep hygiene and individualized behavioral strategies. Improving sleep resulted in improvement in ADHD symptoms, sleep, behavior, functioning and quality of life. Here is another randomized controlled trial demonstrating similar gains from sleep.

Benefits of Nutritional Intervention on ADHD Symptoms

Here is one study that demonstrated the improvement of ADHD symptoms from zinc supplementation. Here is one meta-analysis that documented a lower incidence of ADHD symptoms in children eating a “healthy” diet as compared to the standard American, junk food diet. Many similar studies looking at different aspects of nutrition on behavioral health have been conducted to understand the impact of healthy eating on ADHD symptoms.

Benefits of Exercise on ADHD Symptoms

This 2025 paper concluded that regular physical activity should be considered an effective and more holistic alternative to pharmaceutical medications for ADHD symptoms.

Basic diet and lifestyle upgrades to your child’s life can result in profound improvements in ADHD symptoms and sometimes even full reversal of the diagnosis. See our ADHD Success Stories to see how others have made these changes with their children. 

Still Looking for Answers?

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