My son was recently diagnosed with ADHD combined type. Recently joined this group for support.

[DarlaRose]

Hello, my six year old son was diagnosed 2 months ago with ADHD combined type. He is not currently on medication but I am open to it if that ends up being what he needs. I just wanted to share a book that I read that I haven't seen yet on other posts that has been helpful. It is called "This is your brain on food" by Uma Naidoo. It talks about how the gut and the brain are connected and one chapter focuses on ADHD. I eliminated gluten and casein from my son's diet for over a month and I have noticed a slight improvement in his mood and his behavior charts at school. I also got a genetic test done for my son to see what medications his body would metabolise better that others in case he needs them. I was told it is not exact but it can be a helpful guide as to which meds might work better than others for him.

[Firstrayofthesun]

Hi Darla, do you mind sharing which genetic test was recommended to you? Thanks!

[DarlaRose in reply to Firstrayofthesun]

It is called a Tempus test.

[Hidden]

It’s great you have had your son diagnosed so early so you know exactly how to help him at school and at home.

It must be reassuring to be able to do those specialist tests to know exactly how your child metabolises various ADHD medications. Hopefully your son’s ADHD is mild and behavioural strategies will be enough. It’s always hard to make that first step into trialing medication on your child.

I’d say, we’ve all been there and done that- the diet, excluding sugar etc. For my son it just didn’t work but there might be something in it. My son used to be quite sickly (colds and runny nose all the time) as a toddler into like when he was 6 and we took him to that renowned professor immmunologist/allergist to do all the tests- we found he wasn’t allergies to anything at all, I even did blood test for Coliac disease for him and we found out he doesn’t t have a Coliac gene so no, no chance for allergy for gluten. These blood tests for gene for Coliac disease weren’t even expensive. I was investigating all this becaue ny son also has had ‘functional nausea’ so absolutely, you are right there is that guy brain axis, there are receptors all across our gut… In people with ADHD and other neurodevelopmentla conditions that often doesn’t work well hence gastrointestinal presentations… I found that ginger capsule with a meal helps my son- he stopped suffering from nausea.

I remember I overheard then professor telling other client ‘There is no such thing as sensitivity to gluten, you are either allergic and then it is a serious life long condition called Coliac disease, or you are not allergic.’

[DarlaRose in reply to Hidden]

This group has been really helpful to me in learning different terminology and resources that are available. For example I had no idea what a 504 was until I read it here. My son has good days and bad days at school. He has a great counselor that is helping to implement different things to help him succeed at school. As far as the gluten and casein go, it isn't an allergy or sensitivity issue. Gluten decreases an amino acid than eventually makes serotonin so by eliminating gluten the brain is supposed to make more serotonin which helps manage mood and hyperactivity. It hasn't been a huge difference but noticeable. I cut out almost all guten in my diet as well and have noticed less of a "brain fog". It might be worth a try for those that haven't tried it yet.

[Hidden in reply to DarlaRose]

Thanks for sharing. Anything that helps us and the children is worth trying 👍

[Meerkat1234]

Hi Darla Rose. I have combined type adhd and I am going to check that book out. I am gluten dairy soy and egg free. My problem is can’t eat protein as I can’t digest it. Do you live in the uk because I wondered what genetic test did your son have as I would like to know what I can eat as just having carbohydrates at the moment. Thanks