Doctor contends schools are contributing to attention deficit disorder with high-carb foods and chemical cleaners.

February 6, 2004--Increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder). Many of these children see an increase in behavior problems while at school. Dr. Howard Peiper links potential triggers to chemicals and dietary offerings dispensed by the schools.

As mentioned in his book, The A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Diet! (co-authored with Rachel Bell) he concludes that everyone knows someone whose child is on a prescription for A.D.D., or who is being advised to consider it. “The number of children labeled hyperactive or learning disabled has reached epidemic proportions. These children with non-compliant behavior have no obvious cause of disease to be found by physical examination or laboratory tests. To me, hyperactivity, as any other serious chronic problem, is a sign of toxicity or deficiency or, most of the time, a combination of both”, says Esteban A. Genao, M.D., F.A.A.P pediatrician.

Dr. Doris Rapp, in her book "Is This Your Child" outlines a study where it was determined that school children performed poorly on tests taken early in the morning, following applications of floor cleaners and/or insecticides. Since school maintenance personnel normally apply cleaning products to the floors prior to daily school openings, it would appear that the children are walking into a toxic classroom.

Dr. Peiper, author of The A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Diet (Safe Goods Publishing) describes the situation surrounding a Florida student who became hyperactive only after working with formaldehyde solutions in biology class. The school labeled this child ADHD and required drug administration. They refused to let him skip the lab sessions which triggered his behavior. His parents recognized the cause and transferred him to a school that understood his “allergy” to formaldehyde.

In most school systems, foods are chosen that children will eat and these normally are not healthy choices. High-glycemic carbohydrate foods such as pizza, ice cream, cookies, chips, fried foods, soda and white flour products are among the most popular choices. Fruit, raw vegetables, seeds and nuts are not normally available in many school lunch programs. Sugar is a popular ingredient in everything from hamburger to ketchup and french fries. Morning danish or muffins are loaded with sugar and many schools provide this to the children who arrive early. High-carbohydrate foods seem to trigger behavior problems in children as voiced by teachers who complain that their after-lunch classrooms are more difficult to control.

Before dispensing drugs to treat the symptoms of A.D.D., A.D.H.D. and L.D., school physicians should first look into environmental and dietary causes. Labeling a child with a learning disability may have far reaching implications on their psychological health, therefore proper identification of the cause should be foremost prior to making a firm diagnosis.

For information about ADHD, visit http://youradhdinfosite.com/