Important Info
This post is not intended to minimize any neurodivergent child. It is simply relaying research, and my personal experience working in the dental sleep & airway field, and as an educator in the public school system.
As you will read - yes, we have seen patients who’s ADHD symptoms went away after treatment. And yes, I have taught students who, I believe, were not actually in need of medication based on my knowledge of sleep-disordered breathing (and signs and symptoms to look for), and extensive studying of Dr. Leonard Sax’s research.
However, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies, heavy metals (all of which we will discuss) do not discriminate. There are children who are, indeed, neurodivergent that suffer from the above, and who’s symptoms are exacerbated. There are also children who are neurodivergent without any of the above, and that’s simply who they are. Which is wonderful and beautiful!
But, for parents who have pause and would like to rule out all options before filling the prescription - there are indeed other options to try first. And, if at the end of the day, medication is still what is best that’s okay!
Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Does your child suffer from any of the following?
Bed Wetting
Delayed Speech
Overweight/Obesity
Learning Difficulties
Vertigo/Clumsiness
Restless Legs
Aggression/Defiance
Teeth Grinding
Snoring
ADD/ADHD
Mouth Breathing
Daytime Sleepiness
Nightmares/Night Terrors
Allergies/Asthma
Anxiety
Frequent Illness
Stunted Growth
Crooked Teeth
Swollen Tonsils/Adenoids
Forward Head Posture
Recessed/Stunted Chin
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Research has discovered that many of these problems mare often symptoms of a Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (SRBD), which stems from a very correctable deformity and dysfunction in the child’s oral and facial structure directly effecting the airway.
In the practice I work for, we see kids time and time again on medication following an ADHD diagnosis. Many times, after being treated for a SRBD their diagnosis goes away and they no longer need medication.
When “ADHD” is a symptom of a sleep-related breathing disorder, what happens is the child (or adult) is not breathing properly, and therefore not sleeping properly. This puts their body in a constant state of sleep deprivation. Their brain must then over-stimulate the body in order to stay awake - thus the hyperactivity symptoms.
These kids are often times diagnosed with “ADHD,” and put on medication. Most times these mediations are stimulants; and the body is already overstimulating, so the fire is only being fueled and a vicious cycle is created.
Initially, medications may appear to work. However, over time, you may see dosages needing to slowly increase. And, ultimately, the underlying problem is not being solved. This can cause longterm health consequences in the future.
there are a few things you can look for at home
Dark circles under the eyes
Blood shot eyes
Crooked Teeth
Swollen Tonsils/Adenoids
Recessed/Stunted Chin
Forward head posture (shoulders rolled forward)
Gummy smile (see photo below)
Large tongue
Snoring
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Do they have an elongated face/underdeveloped jaw?*
Do they wake up disheveled and looking like a tornado hit them/their bed while they slept?
Are they, or did they, experience prolonged bedwetting?
Are they, or did they, experience nursing/feeding issues?
Are they tongue or lip tied?*
Mouth breathing (watch your child during the day and while they sleep - their mouth should never be open while breathing!)
ADD/ADHD
Daytime sleepiness/fatigue
Headaches
Brain fog
Frequent night wakings
Restless leg syndrome
*best diagnosed by a qualified professional
so, what should I do?
First and foremost you want to find a provider who specializes in pediatric sleep and airway dentistry. You will find lots of providers who claim they specialize in this, but I would be leary on some of these claims. A good place to start is to try and find a provider who has trained under The Breathe Institute or Airway Health Solutions (both have provider search engines on their websites).
*there are certainly other reputable programs, but these are two I can vouch for.
Zinc, Iron, Vitamin D, Magnesium
Zinc
Studies have shown that a significant amount of people with an ADHD diagnosis are deficient in zinc (1). Zinc is a crucial mineral that plays a role in neurotransmitter regulation and overall brain function. There is also research showing if you take zinc along with ADHD medication, then the amount of medication can many times be reduced by 40%.
Iron
One study showed that patients with iron deficiency anemia had significantly higher WURS scores compared to the controls (2).
Vitamin D
Another study showed 78.4% of children with ADHD deficient in vitamin D compared to 48% of children without ADHD (3).
Magnesium
Most Americans are deficient in Magnesium, which is vital for the overall function of our bodies. It provides a calming effect, can improve sleep, and can help reduce agitation. One study showed that 12 weeks of a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, magnesium, and zinc resulted in a reduction in ADD/ADHD symptoms, emotional problems, and impulsivity assessed by SNAP-IV (4).
Heavy Metals
An overload of heavy metals has also been associated with ADHD symptoms due to interference with neural signaling (5). Lead, specifically, has been extensively researched when it comes to ADHD and can impact children’s neural development even at low levels (6).
Real Life ADHD Advice
I asked you guys with ADHD to give some input on what you’ve had access with. Here are the responses!
VerVita supplement by Inspracell
Alpha Brain supplement by ONNIT
Lions Mane supplement
Eliminating food dyes, refined grains, and seed oils
Proper sleep
Time blocking your day
Taking outside breaks every few hours
Chiropractic care - specialty in neuro / cranial sacral
over 50 pages of more in depth research & resources
ADHD & Sleep Disorders
The Root Cause of Sleep Disordered Breathing
How to Find a Properly Trained Airway Provider
How to Promote Proper Jaw Development
Why Avoid Sippy & 360 Cups
What to Look for in Cups
What to Look for in a Tongue Tie Provider
The Feminization of the Education System
Supplements for ADHD
Heavy Metals & ADHD & Detox Methods
Detoxing Heavy Metals After Vaccines
The Importance of Avoiding Plastics
Recommended Reading and Podcasts
Sources:
1 Arnold LE, Disilvestro RA, Bozzolo D, Bozzolo H, Crowl L, Fernandez S, Ramadan Y, Thompson S, Mo X, Abdel-Rasoul M, Joseph E. Zinc for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: placebo-controlled double-blind pilot trial alone and combined with amphetamine. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2011 Feb;21(1):1-19. doi: 10.1089/cap.2010.0073. PMID: 21309695; PMCID: PMC3037197.
2 Demirci K, Yildirim Baş F, Arslan B, Salman Z, Akpinar A, Demirdaş A. The Investigation of Symptoms and Diagnoses of Adult-Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder in Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2017 Mar;54(1):72-77. doi: 10.5152/npa.2016.12464. Epub 2016 Mar 4. PMID: 28566963; PMCID: PMC5439476.
3 Sharif MR, Madani M, Tabatabaei F, Tabatabaee Z. The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Level and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Iran J Child Neurol. 2015 Fall;9(4):48-53. PMID: 26664441; PMCID: PMC4670977.
4 Huss M, Völp A, Stauss-Grabo M. Supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, magnesium and zinc in children seeking medical advice for attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems - an observational cohort study. Lipids Health Dis. 2010 Sep 24;9:105. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-9-105. PMID: 20868469; PMCID: PMC2955638.
5 Lee MJ, Chou MC, Chou WJ, Huang CW, Kuo HC, Lee SY, Wang LJ. Heavy Metals' Effect on Susceptibility to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Implication of Lead, Cadmium, and Antimony. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jun 10;15(6):1221. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061221. PMID: 29890770; PMCID: PMC6025252.
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