ADHD some questions

[MostBeautifulWomanInHistory]

I feel like I've read a lot about ASD, but ADHD I have no idea about it. I keep seeing diet mentioned. Is that like... homeopathy? I mean am I likely to think it's rubbish if I think homeopathy is nonsense?

Should I be trying to get a statement myself? I don't understand - why would school not want us to have one? Are they being phased out anyway?

Should I be paying for an... occupational therapist privately? How would I find one? Is there something else I should be doing/reading?

Sorry if these seem very basic things, but I have been trying to Google and read and I feel a bit lost! Might be because it is 4am I suppose....

ADHD is a neurological disorder and I would advise you get a diagnosis. There is differing opinions about diet versus medication and some recommend both. I just saw someone suggesting a gluten free diet as a friend had tried it on their kids and tantrums had stopped. I don't think my ds's tantrums will stop but if I can reduce them through gluten free then I am willing to give it a go.

Changing diet is not the same as homeopathy. There is some science involved, for a start.

That said, there is no concrete evidence that diet affects ADHD, although there are parents who have seen improvements in their DCs by taking out certain things. The best advice is to keep the crap to a minimum, unless you have good reason to suspect that there is more going on. We've seen some small improvements in DS1 for restricting cheese, chocolate and citrus in his diet, but that's not in his ADHD, rather in the fact that he no longer has stomach pains due to abdominal migraines so we no longer have the deterioration in behaviour as a result. It's not eliminated the behaviours arising from other stimuli, though.

We do need more background information, though. Does your child have a diagnosis, or are you worried about them and needing answers?

I was advised that diet can have an impact, but its very much down to the individual how much of an impact it has. (some find its a significant solution, while others tried and think its nonsense)

Gluten free was mentioned and so was Dairy free.
Both are hard to do as so many foods have one or the other in them...often hidden.

It basically means making everything from scratch, including sauces and gravy etc. and lots of pre planning if you are out and about to have suitable foods to eat...and there are lots of specialist products that are 'free' of whatever you need them to be free of, at a hefty price compared to the bog standard versions, but at least you can have pizza if you want one.

Being difficult is not a reason to not do it, and if it has a big impact its worth it.

I have lived with an adult who tried to do gluten free and it was very tricky, so I am thinking about it but not keen.