Find out what the researcher have published in professional journals
on connections between AD(H)D and other conditions.
Ear Infections (Otitis Media) & ADD/ADHD
Otitis media in children with learning disabilities and in children
with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity:
"Based on parental report, children with ADD-H had significantly
more complaints of earaches during the preceding 3 months and significantly
more ear infections during the preceding
year...Although middle ear disease in preschool children has repeatedly
been linked to later language deficits, this study suggests that middle
ear disease in school-age children may also be associated with hyperactivity
and/or inattention, independently of learning disability."
- Adesman AR, Altshuler LA, Lipkin PH, Walco GA. Pediatrics 1990
Mar;85 (3 Pt 2):442-6. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics,
Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center,
New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
"The frequency of otitis media
among 22 hyperactive children with learning disorders was compared
with the frequency of otitis media in a sample of 772 normal children,
using the same criteria for the diagnosis of otitis media in both
groups. The groups were matched for social class and age when studied
(7 to 13 yr. of age). A significantly higher percentage of hyperactive
children (54%) had more than 6 episodes of otitis media than was found
in the normal group (15%). Thirty-six percent of hyperactive children
had more than 10 episodes compared to 5% in the normal sample."
- Hersher L. Percept Mot Skills 1978 Dec; 47 (3 Pt 1): 723-6.
An association between recurrent otitis media in infancy and later
hyperactivity:
"An association between the frequency of otitis
media in early childhood and later hyperactivity is reported in
this study. The subjects were 67 children referred to a child development
clinic for evaluation of school failure. Ranging from 6 to 13 years
old, all the children demonstrated specific school learning problems,
and 27 were also considered hyperactive by two or more raters. Sixteen
of the hyperactive children were treated with central nervous system
stimulant medication. In retrospect, there was a positive correlation
between an increasing number of otitis media infections in early childhood
and the presence and severity of hyperactive behavior. Ninety-four
percent of children medicated for hyperactivity had three or more
otitis infections, and 69 percent had greater than 10 infections.
In comparison, 50 percent of non-hyperactive school-failure patients
had three or more infections and 20 percent had greater than 10 infections.
Twenty-two of 28 children (79%) known to have more than 10 infections
experienced recurrent otitis before 1 year of age."
Topographic mapping of brain electrical activity in children with
food-induced attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder:
"...This investigation is the first one to show an association
between brain electrical activity and intake of provoking foods in
children with food-induced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that in a subgroup
of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder certain
foods may not only influence clinical symptoms but may also alter
brain electrical activity."
- Uhlig T, Merkenschlager A, Brandmaier R, Egger J Eur J Pediatr
1997 Jul;156(7):557-61. Institute for Child Health Research, Clinical
Sciences Division, West Perth, Australia.
Controlled trial of oligoantigenic treatment in the hyperkinetic
syndrome:
"76 selected overactive children were treated with an oligoantigenic
diet, 62 improved, and a normal range of behaviour was achieved in
21 of these...symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain, and fits,
also often improved. 28 of the children who improved completed a double-blind,
crossover, placebo-controlled trial in which foods
thought to provoke symptoms were reintroduced. Symptoms returned
or were exacerbated much more often when patients were on active material
than on placebo. 48 foods were incriminated. Artificial colorants
and preservatives were the commonest provoking substances, but no
child was sensitive to these alone."
- Egger J, Carter CM, Graham PJ, Gumley D, Soothill JF. Lancet
1985 Mar 9; 1(8428): 540-5.
Controlled trial of hyposensitisation in children with food-induced
hyperkinetic syndrome:
"Food intolerance seems to be an important cause of the hyperkinetic
syndrome, but restricted diets are expensive, socially disruptive,
and often nutritionally inadequate. Enzyme-potentiated desensitization
(EPD) may overcome some of these difficulties. EPD was tested in a
double-blind placebo-controlled trial among 40 children with food-induced
hyperkinetic behaviour disorder. A total of 185 children with established
hyperkinetic syndrome underwent oligoantigenic dietary treatment for
four weeks. 116 whose behaviour responded had provoking foods identified
by sequential reintroduction. Foods that reproducibly provoked overactivity
were avoided. 40 patients who were then invited to take part in the
hyposensitisation trial were randomly assigned to treated and control
groups. Treated patients received three doses of EPD (beta-glucuronidase
and small quantities of food antigens) intradermally at two-monthly
intervals. Controls received buffer only. Thereafter, patients were
allowed to eat known provoking foods. Of 20 patients who received
active treatment, 16 became tolerant towards provoking foods compared
with 4 of 20 who received placebo (p less than 0.001). Our results
show that EPD permits children with food-induced hyperkinetic syndrome
to eat foods that had previously been identified as responsible for
their symptoms. These results also support the notion that food
allergy is a possible mechanism of the hyperkinetic syndrome."
- Egger J, Stolla A, McEwen LM. Lancet 1992 May 9; 339 (8802):1150-3.
University Children's Clinic, Munich, Germany.
"Boys with lower omega-3 fatty acid values in blood were much
more likely to have learning problems and lower overall academic skills
and math skills than children with higher fatty
acid values."
- Stevens, LJ and Burgess J. Omega-3-fatty acids in boys with behavior,
learning, and health problems. Physiology Behavior 1996; 59: 915-920.
"...Children with ADHD had significantly lower zinc
levels than control children. 30% of children with ADHD had severely
deficient values. It is possible that low zinc values may result in
depressed production of melatonin and serotonin in the brain, resulting
in some of the symptoms of ADHD."
- Toren P. et al. Zinc deficiency in attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder. Biological Psychiatry 40: 1308-1310, 1996.
"Results of the study indicates that vitamin B-6 at doses between
15-30 mg/kg body weight was effective as Ritalin in treating attention
deficit hyperactivity."
- Coleman M. et al. A preliminary study of the effect of pyridoxine
administration in a subgroup of hyperkinetic children: a double blind
crossover comparison with methylphenidate. Biological Psychiatry 14:
741-751, 1979.
"This study demonstrated a functional relation between the ingestion
of a synthetic food color (tartrazine) and behavioral change in 24 atopic
(allergic) children, with marked reactions
being observed at all six dosage levels of dye challenge. When they
reacted to the (food) dye, the younger children had constant crying,
tantrums, irritability, restlessness, severe sleep disturbance, and
were described as 'out-of-control, easily distracted and excited, and
high as a kite."
- Rowe K and Rowe K. Synthetic food coloring and behavior: A dose
response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated measures
study. J. Pediatrics 125: 691-698, 1994.
"The striking dose-response relationship between levels
of lead and negative teacher ratings remained significant after
controlling for age, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. An
even stronger relationship existed between physician-diagnosed attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder and hair lead in the same children. There was
no apparent 'safe' threshold for children."
- Tuthill R. Hair lead levels related to children's classroom attention-deficit
behavior. Archives of Environmental Health 51: 214-225, 1996.
