Attention Deficit Disorder

[Kenster61]

I'm wondering if there is a connection between celiacs and A.D.D.. I have had A.D.D. ever since I can remember. I was only diagnosed with ciliacs back in 2004. Maybe some of you have the same symptoms.

Ken Ritter

[darlindeb25]

Hi Ken--I feel there is a connection. I feel I have ADD and I have a son that has ADD and many other probs. I feel that ADD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, which by the way, celiacs causes chemical imbalances. I had severe panic attacks, agoraphobia, anticapatory anxiety--which all went away after I went gluten free. Deb

[VydorScope]

Celica can cause ADD like symptons. That is fiarly well demostraitalbe. Going gluten-free fixes that of course.

Unfortinitly there are alot of things that can cuase ADD like symptons, include "normal" stuff like cafine, poor diet, food addtives, and much more.

So, yes if you have celiac disease, and ADD, you might get get better going gluten-free. Many ppl do.

[FaithInScienceToo]

Hi -

I too "have ADD" - I was diagnosed in late 30's - I am 48.

I have been gluten-free since 1/1/05, but my ADD did not 'go away' - It improved, but it did not go away -

Perhaps because there is some brain damage from gluten?, as my brain was forming - perhaps the neurotransmitters become accustomed to, or grow to accomodate the morphine-like by-products of gluten?

I have also just learned that casein, in dairy, produces similar compounds -

I tested positive to both gluten and casein, and plan to go CF on 1/1/06, Maybe it will also help with the ADD - if it 'cures it,' I'll be surprised...because I think permanent damage is done, while my brain was developing -

At least it's 'only ADD' though...

Best wishes,

Gina

[VydorScope]

Perhaps because there is some brain damage from gluten?, as my brain was forming - perhaps the neurotransmitters become accustomed to, or grow to accomodate the morphine-like by-products of gluten?

Thats certinly possible i would think. The body is extremly well designed and can get "used to" a remarkable range of things that should in theroy be bery bad.

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm wondering if there is a connection between celiacs and A.D.D.. I have had A.D.D. ever since I can remember. I was only diagnosed with ciliacs back in 2004. Maybe some of you have the same symptoms.

Ken Ritter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Both my son and I have ADD. He was home from school last weekend and he had an interesting take on ADD when we were discussing it. He no longer considers this a dificency. As he said, " I realize now that I can think on many levels. I can think about one thing on the surface, like a instructors lecture while at the same time planning something completely different. " He has a 94% average so it isn't impacting him too much grade wise. His dyslexia gives him much more trouble because it takes so much extra time to read things. ADD is not always a bad thing if you can work with it not against it. For me this meant working in a field where there was a wide variety of tasks. People with ADD often find it easy to switch from one track to another and back again. It is not always a bad thing and often comes with above average intelligence.

[redheadheather]

DS's teacher wants him tested for ADHD too. I've told her I think it's a waste of time at this point b/c we are back on gluten until he can get to the ped. gastro. in January. (Makes me scared reading other posts that it could do permanent damage to the brain - ACK). The school is really pushing it though. We have an appointment with an external specialist today actually. I'll tell him about Evan's suspected intolerance and see what he says. I sent a note to his teacher saying that in all probability - any tests we do now will just have to be re-done 3 months or so after we take him off gluten again.

What a pain for poor DS.

[VydorScope]

Both my son and I have ADD. He was home from school last weekend and he had an interesting take on ADD when we were discussing it.  He no longer considers this a dificency. As he said, " I realize now that I can think on many levels. I can think about one thing on the surface, like a instructors lecture while at the same time planning something completely different. " He has a 94% average so it isn't impacting him too much grade wise. His dyslexia gives him much more trouble because it takes so much extra time to read things.  ADD is not always a bad thing if you can work with it not against it. For me this meant working in a field where there was a wide variety of tasks. People with ADD often find it easy to switch from one track to another and back again. It is not always a bad thing and often comes with above average intelligence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As an adult with ADHD and dyslexia (jsut fyi, last number I saw was 80% of ADD/ADHD cases alos included dyslexia heh), I just want to thank you for posting a postive comment on it for a change, to often its treated as an evil thing, and ppl with its are ostrized even on these boards here.

[VydorScope]

DS's teacher wants him tested for ADHD too.  I've told her I think it's a waste of time at this point b/c we are back on gluten until he can get to the ped. gastro. in January.  (Makes me scared reading other posts that it could do permanent damage to the brain - ACK).  The school is really pushing it though.  We have an appointment with an external specialist today actually.  I'll tell him about Evan's suspected intolerance and see what he says.  I sent a note to his teacher saying that in all probability - any tests we do now will just have to be re-done 3 months or so after we take him off gluten again.

What a pain for poor DS.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First off, let me warn you this. The school systems tend to be bully's. They can not make you do anything with your child you do no want. The law is on your side with these cases.

It will be esiaer to get you way if you can come armed with test results and notes from 3rd part non-chool related docs that back you up.

BTW heres some good infomation on your legal rights:

Open Original Shared Link

Dont let the schools bully you, you do whats best for your child, reguardless of what they say.

And get your child of gluten if you suspect he is celiac disease. If all his symptons go away, thats all the testing you need. Why wait till January?

[ravenwoodglass]

First off, let me warn you this. The school systems tend to be bully's. They can not make you do anything with your child you do no want. The law is on your side with these cases.

It will be esiaer to get you way if you can come armed with test results and notes from 3rd part non-chool related docs that back you up.

BTW heres some good infomation on your legal rights:

Open Original Shared Link

Dont let the schools bully you, you do whats best for your child, reguardless of what they say.

And get your child of gluten if you suspect he is celiac disease. If all his symptons go away, thats all the testing you need. Why wait till January?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have to scream an aggrement with this, I worked in the school systems and also had a son who has ADD and dyslexia as well as Aspergers. If they test him while he is under the influence of the demon wheat those test results will follow him the rest of his school days. While working in Special ED I saw a few kids that really did not need to be there anymore but the fight it took to get them back in regular classes was unreal. I worked for a year one on one in regular modified classes with a TBI student that they wanted to put in special ed , she went from a 1st grade level to 9th in that time, she would not have any progress in special ed and she certainly would not have had access to the foreign language and computer classes she is now excelling in. Don't let them test now. And as said before why wait till January to get him off gluten, his response to the diet is really the truest test there is.

[VydorScope]

While working in Special ED I saw a few kids that really did not need to be there anymore but the fight it took to get them back in regular classes was unreal.

Heh, wonder if I was one of your students? To give you a real life example of what is described... First off I have ADHD, Dyslexia, and several other learning imparments that are not celiac disease related. (Currently am NEGATIVE for celiac disease but redoing the test). These impariments put me in the specail ed system. This is dating back about 20 - 25 years ago, before ADHD was even called that so I am not a member of the "popular" groups that would come later. When I was first offical diagnoes it was called "Percpetually Impared" heh. To this day no doc knows what that means LOL.

Any ways, I was put in the specail ed system in about the 3rd grade. By the 8th or 9th grade I wanted out. ADHD does NOT equal stupid and never did. Well in order to get me out my Mom (no one says no to her and lives, trust me!) had to fight like a cornered wolverin, but she did. And she eon (which was no suprise to anyone other then the school LOL)

They told me, and this is really what they said "He will never make it, he will fail out of school and get no where in life"

I gradutated with HONORS in the top 25% of my class, and that was taking all "track 1" (aka advanced) classes. I then went on and earned TWO college degrees, by 21 I owned my first house and was happily married (still am!). Some failure I turned out to be!

I sitll can not spell, but hey no one is perfect

If your child is (which it realy does NOT sound like it is) ADD, then you do need to know so you can work on learning to deal with it so that he does not need medication , or only needs it for a short while as a crutch.

BUT you have to understand that waht Ravenwoodglass says is true... if he ends up in Specail Ed as a result of a problem that will go away when you get him gluten-free, you will have a major fight on your hands to get him out of specail ed.

The above is purely my opinion based on my life, you need make up your own mind with regaurds to the information presented and do whats best for your child, considering the source of all the information you read.

[tiredofdoctors]

I'm 43, and was finally diagnosed with ADHD at age 39. Sure explains a lot of those report cards. I thought neighborly meant that I was a good neighbor -- I didn't know that it meant I couldn't stay in my seat or keep my mouth shut Self-medicated at 31 when I started college -- 2 pots of coffee per day. I take Concerta now -- what I've found is that, since being gluten-free (4+ weeks now), my meds are working much better. My daughter is ADHD, and my son is ADD, but haven't started into the testing for either of them yet with regard to gluten intolerance. Will start with genetic testing for me in the upcoming weeks, then they will follow suit.

With regard to the introduction of meds early in childhood: my sister was ADHD, but was 7 years younger than me, when it was becoming more understood. She was placed on Ritalin temporarily, and has much less difficulty than I do. It has been explained to me that, if a child receives medication early, it can "jump-start" the reticular activating system -- the part of the brain from which it is believed that ADHD is generated. That is why some children, after a very short stint on meds, will be "cured". As an adult, it has been explained to me that the chances of me being "med-free" without symptoms are extremely low. My reticular activating system is pretty much set in stone. My daughter and son both took meds for approximately 6-9 months, and both are med-free and definitely symptom-reduced, but have developed coping mechanisms during that time that make their life very normal.

With regard to the school systems, my feeling is this: YOU know your child better than anyone. Period. While your children may be in school for "x" amount of hours, that is with a large group of other children, as well. You are the best person to make the decisions for your kids, and most of the time you are their only advocate. (I'm a PT, and prior to having to "retire", treated pediatrics). Don't let the school system jerk you around. Be a thorn in their side. It's the only way you'll get what's best for your child.