Attention to detail

Oct 23, 2022

A child with ADHD can prove challenging for parents and the wider family to manage. Children with hyperactivity will often run around or climb at inappropriate times and/or places and some have little sense of danger.

By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire

Family, school, work – it can be hard to focus sometimes. However, for some people, this is not an occasional difficulty, but a diagnosed mental health condition.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity that impacts everyday functioning. ADHD Awareness Month aims to improve knowledge of this neurodevelopmental disorder, its various treatments, and helpful ways to manage it.

Children

For children, ADHD can disrupt their development and education due to their inability to focus and distraction-prone nature. Symptoms to look out for include a failure to focus on schoolwork or activities, difficulty listening or following instructions, losing key items like stationery or glasses, and general forgetfulness.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity, meanwhile, refer to a slightly different set of symptoms. Fidgeting and difficulty remaining seated is common, as well as excessive talking, interrupting and impatience. Children with hyperactivity will often run around or climb at inappropriate times and/or places and some have little sense of danger.

A child with ADHD can prove challenging for parents and the wider family to manage. However, once diagnosed, your GP (and expert support team if required) can advise on a variety of treatments and techniques to help you and your child. Specifically chosen and tailored to individual children, treatment plans could include psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), social skills training, school-based interventions and/or medication. This plan will be fluid and regularly adjusted to suit the child’s needs and age.

Some parents also choose to adjust their child’s diet to incorporate more foods that facilitate focus – and reduce those that exacerbate ADHD symptoms. While research is inconclusive regarding a definitive diet for those with ADHD, some find that high-protein foods, particularly in the morning and straight after school, can help children’s concentration and potentially help ADHD medications to last longer. It may also be helpful to moderate foods high in sugar and/or E-numbers (certain artificial colours and preservatives in food) as they can worsen hyperactivity.

Adults

While ADHD always begins in childhood, many people continue to experience it in later years, and some are not diagnosed until adulthood. Symptoms change as people age; an adult with ADHD, for example, may shows signs of carelessness, poor organisation, impatience, irritability, and/or a propensity for taking dangerous risks.

Adults with ADHD will receive a treatment plan tailored to their age and symptoms. Your GP may prescribe medications such as Dexamphetamine or Methylphenidate which stimulate parts of the brain to help you focus. You may find therapies prove helpful, alongside or instead of medication, and some people take magnesium supplements like Calm or N.B. Magnesium which can help calm body and mind.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also recommended. Cold-water fish like tuna and salmon, as well as walnuts and Brazil nuts are good sources of Omega-3, while a supplement like Seven Seas Haliborange Omega-3 Chewies or N.B.(or Sundown) Omega-3 may help too. Vayarin, an omega compound, has recently been approved by the FDA as part of an ADHD management strategy.

If you’re concerned that you or your child may have ADHD, your pharmacist can be a simple place to start. We will provide further information on key symptoms and talk you through all possible causes including ADHD. Your GP will also be able to discuss this with you and to begin the process towards an official diagnosis. While it can seem scary at first, it’s good to remember that with a diagnosis comes treatment, advice, and support – for you and your family.

Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.