ADD, Biofeedback, and Genova Testing

Updated on June 22, 2012
V.P. asks from Columbus, OH
4 answers

Does anyone have any experience with NutrEval/Genova testing and/or the use of biofeedback for ADD? My daughter has what has been diagnosed (based on two questionnaires) as "mild inattentive ADD." The behaviors that raised the concern is that she is in a gifted and talented class that studies math one-two years above grade level and she shuts down by sitting a phasing out or picking her nails. She tends to phase out whenever she gets overwhelmed or doesn't feel like doing what she's been told to do. I've read quite a bit about learning styles (a large part of my PhD includes research on learning styles), gifted kids, and academic and social anxiety, and to me, her symptoms reflect all of those things and are not necessarily ADD. The questionnaires that diagnosed this were for the teacher and the parents purely on observations of behavior, which to me is not enough to diagnose this.

We have started seeing a doctor who wants to explore the use of biofeedback and nutrition with her. I am not opposed to either of these things -- I really do not want to do any medication until we have explored these other issues. But having never done these things, I'm curious whether anyone else has done these -- we started biofeedback, which was a half hour of breathing exercises while monitoring pulse, oxygen, and skin reactions -- and we are to do Genova testing (NutrEval) and other blood tests. The testing is extensive (about a dozen vials of blood to be drawn from my 60 pound 10 year old) and urine, and the scheduling is tricky, because the urine needs to be collected first thing in the morning, frozen for at least two hours, and delivered within 24 hours when we draw the blood (before which she can't eat for 8 hours). The doctor left the testing up to us.

We started fish oil and B12 with her and have seen dramatic improvement in her behavior and attitude (and I'm a skeptic). But to do the tests, we've had to take her off them for four days. I planned to take her this morning and then discovered we violated the procedure two days ago with ibuprofen, so now we have to start all over. Ugh!

Sorry this is so long -- does anyone have experience with these tests and procedures? Are they worth it? Any thoughts?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the help! I've wondered about Celiac, which they are going to be testing for -- she has absolutely no symptoms, but my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease as an adult, so I suppose it's a possibility. It's helpful to hear others' results -- it's just going to be such a pain, literally and figuratively, to follow through with this, but I'm happy to do it if it's helpful. I've been supplementing with fish oil and B complex (including B12) and it's been incredibly helpful so far. The only thing is that we didn't start it until April and school let out in May, so I don't know if her teacher will see a change in her in the fall (she'll have the same teacher again).

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J.W.

answers from Lexington on

Nutritional stuff including IgG food allergies and even blatant nutritional issues turned out to be important in both my children's DSM diagnoses. So were hormones! Yes even at that age, and I feel a bit angry that the original pediatric endocrinologist for my younger daughter did not catch that! (see http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/02/psychiatrist-vs-...)

Genova Diagnostics are a good, reputable laboratory. We actually uncovered a lot via SpectraCell labs a few years later.

As for the biofeedback... I don't know, but I do know that people have had huge success in "brain retraining." In Canada they consider it medical - I've read about a home device - This woman wrote a book about it: Train Your Brain, Transform Your Life: Conquer Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In 60 Days, Without Ritalin (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615297943/ref=as_li_tf_...)

4 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from San Diego on

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD at age 9 and we tried Neurofeedback as well. I think she did it for about a year but it didn't seem to work for her. We did try diet at the time but my daughter was extremely picky and refused to eat what was put in front of her. We ended up having to go on meds but the side effects were really bad for her, so after trying 5 different meds, she went off those as well. We took her to a chiropractor who put her on a gluten and dairy free diet, and supplements for attention, which started working. We took her to a hemolologist and he looked at her blood under a microscope and noticed that she had a infection that the attention supplements were feeding, so we took her off those and went with a different set of supplements. Soooo, now, a year later, at age 16 she has found that she's ok with gluten, but that DAIRY is the culpript. If she sneaks dairy, she has a hard time focusing. So she's off dairy, we use coconut milk for everything, and she takes supplements every morning.

Good luck! It was a frustrating battle for us so hopefully you'll find the solution soon. Please feel free to message me if I can be of any help or support.
Stephanie

1 mom found this helpful

L.B.

answers from New York on

I am not familiar with Genova testing or biofeedback for ADD. However, My son was diagnosed with ADD a few years ago. While researching ways to help him, I frequently came across parents who swore by a gluten free diet. I was skeptical. ADD is a difference in brain anatomy and I felt that going on a gluten free diet for ADD was just another waste of time.

Then, my son was diagnosed with Celiac disease and we had to go on a gluten free diet. I could not believe the dramatic change in his attention and personality. I was not the only one to notice, teachers also noticed. His ADD symptoms are gone!!! Speaking from my own expience, he was misdiagnosed as having ADD, the accurate diagnosis is Celiac disease, which he had blood test and intestinal biopsy to confirm diagnosis.

So, I don't believe that diet (gluten free) can cure ADD. ADD is a brain difference that food intake will not change. However, I feel that food allergies, intolerances and Celiac disease should be ruled out as part of the diagnosis for ADD.

FYI: many kids with celiac disease are B12 deficiant.

Let us know how your daughter is doing.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Our son has extreme ADHD-combined type and has been doing neurofeedback for about 25 sessions now (just about half way). He's on medication but we couldn't up the dosage to where it needs to be (ends up with bad tics if we do), so we needed to explore other options. I definitely think it's helping. He had no problems at school at the end of the year and he's been more pleasant. The biggest change was with his appetite. This is a kid who's had major food anxiety (not just picky eating, but limited to just a few meal options) since he was two. He went from eating the same meal for lunch and dinner for about nine months to now eating a range of foods.

The neurofeedback we're doing involves having our son watch a regular DVD of his choice. If he focuses, the screen stays big and sound stays on; if he loses focus, it all gets smaller.

As far as the diagnosis, it shouldn't be that quick. Yes, questionnaires are involved, but there should also be detailed meetings with specialists, too. Make sure a specialist like a psychiatrist or neuropsychologist makes the diagnosis. If you have doubts about the diagnosis, get a second opinion. You need to be your child's biggest advocate.

Best of luck!

ETA: I don't have any feedback on Genova testing. I've never heard of it.

1 mom found this helpful
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