es creativity and imagination in otherwise bright children (Robbins 2). Many of the symptoms associated with ADHD seem to be solved with the use of Ritalin, but there are many side effects to take into consideration.There are several side effects that are caused by the use of Ritalin. Many children that take the medication have a loss in appetite, which could cause improper growth because of poor nutrition. Children also experience insomnia, nausea and headaches. In the more severe cases, some children experience behaviors similar to Tourrette's syndrome, which includes involuntary tics and sudden outbursts. Ritalin has also been known to cause elevated heart rates which leads to high blood pressure. With all of these facts presented, parents should exhaust all alternatives to treating ADHD before using Ritalin (Robbins 2).Nutrition may play a key role in many children diagnosed with ADHD. There have been several studies done on food allergies associated with causing hyperactivity in children. The studies involved a pediatric allergist named Ben Feingold. Dr. Feingold found that, "a substantial number of hyperactive children improved dramatically when they stopped eating foods that contained artificial colorings and flavors and certain artificial preservatives" (Robbins 2-3). Another study was performed in 1985, where 79 percent of the hyperactive children changed their diet to specific foods and their behavior improved. When the children were reintroduced to the foods again, their conditions were worse than before the test started (Robbins 3).One approach that has proven to work for some children is the holistic approach. This is a drug free approach that relies on a different style of teaching children with hyperactivity These children should not be seen as having a deficit, but to have a positive outlook on learning. One teacher noticed a student who had a problem with traditional style teaching, but excelled far beyond t...
