Is ADHD Curable?
Now, this can be a bit of a loaded question. See our blog on Dyslexia because this will be the same answer here… In my opinion, yes. However, that is not answer for everyone.
First of all, what must be said is to get changes in any Neurodevelopmental Disorder is exercise! High intensity exercise that gets the individual’s heart rate up is what is going to help the most. This is most true with ADHD. A good simple read is Spark by Dr. John Ratey. Published in 2008, it holds true today more than ever. When we exercise, I would argue that it effects the brain more than anything else. Your brain starts to get sprinkled with Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) or what Dr. Ratey calls Miracle Grow for the brain. BDNF helps the brain in so many ways – helps form connections, repair neurons, anti-inflammatory support, and that is just one thing that occurs with exercise.
Neurologically, think about ADHD a lot like Autism in that is runs on a spectrum. You have mild to severe, to completely dysfunctional (which comes with other diagnoses like Anxiety). It ranges in severity due to the number of networks that are involved. Only a few cortico-striatal-thalamal loops? Less symptoms. More cortico-striatal-thalamal loops? More symptoms. SORRY, I couldn’t help myself there. I’ll stop with the Geek Speak… The more areas that are involved in the brain weakness, the more symptoms.
At HML we find that most everyone with ADHD we help in a life changing way. Some people, children especially, you would never know they had ADHD if you met them after we had the blessing of working with their family. Others however did not make as many strides, still did well, but didn’t get as far as we would all like. And there are various factors that go into that.
We can say that because we help get down to the neurology that is not developed, and get it caught up. The brain is like an orchestra and in these individuals the instruments that give rise to their ability to focus needs to play a little louder and faster. And sometimes simply telling them to do that does not work. You have to have a customized plan stimulate the brain with sensory and motor-based exercises to mature those areas. And with the right exercises at the right dose and the correct number of times (Functional Neurology 101) you can get those instruments playing faster and louder.
Some children do great with minimal intervention such as an IEP in school and some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Occupational Therapy. For all the others whom need more, this is where we come into play. Functional Neurologists look at the entire brain and body and get whatever needs to be functioning at a higher level where it should be. With hard work, a good Functional Neurologist, and the right providers in yours or your child’s life (and along with today’s technological treatment advancements) you’d be surprised how far you can get!
Want to learn more? Contact us today to see how we can help!