This week, we wanted to discuss ADD/ADHD symptoms, and forms of treatment. We have attached a questionnaire that is often given as an aid in ADD/ADHD diagnosis. This survey can be answered by adults, or parents can respond to the questions for their kids. With each question, answer with a response of Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Very Often. Survey credit: add.org. If you find yourself answering Often, or Very Often to some or many of the questions, our resident functional neurologist, Dr Michael Pierce, is available to perform a comprehensive neurological exam here in the office. 
 

Survey:

1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization?
3. How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
4.When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?
5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
6. How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?
7. How often do you make careless mistakes when you have to work on a boring or difficult project?
8. How often do you have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive work?
9. How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when they are speaking to you directly?
10. How often do you misplace or have difficulty finding things at home or at work?
11. How often are you distracted by activity or noise around you?
12. How often do you leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to remain seated?
13. How often do you feel restless or fidgety?
14. How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?
15. How often do you find yourself talking too much when you are in social situations?
16. When you’re in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing the sentences of the people you are talking to, before they can finish them themselves?
17. How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn taking is required?
18. How often do you interrupt others when they are busy?

How do we approach ADD/ADHD Therapies?

Our Chiropractic Neurology department uses different brain based therapies to improve ADD/ADHD signs and symptoms. We access the areas of the brain that need stimulation by different brain based modalities. For example, we will have the patient do exercises that specifically activate the muscle receptors on one side of the body to stimulate the right brain. We utilize the Interactive Metronome (Interactive Metronome.com) which is  is a device known for creating neuroplasticity (stronger connections and integration) in the frontal lobe and particularly the right frontal lobe. We also employ eye exercises that activate the connection between the cerebellum and mesencephalon with the frontal lobe. The focus of this functional neurological approach is to increase activation in the brain where there is decreased function, thus improving ADD/ADHD signs and symptoms. For more information about our Neurology Department or ADHD treatments, please contact the front desk.

Helpful Reading Material:
 

Recipe of the Week:
 

Prep time:  15 mins
Cook time:  20 mins
Total time:  35 mins
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded flat
• 6-8 ounces of button mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 5 strips of bacon
• 4-5 cups fresh spinach
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butterfly the chicken breasts.  
3. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add the five strips of bacon and cook on both sides until crispy, then place bacon on a paper towel to soak up the excess fat. When cooled, dice up the bacon.
5. Pour out the excess fat from the bacon, leaving behind about 3 tablespoons in the pan.
6. While the pan is still over medium-high, toss in the garlic cloves then add diced mushrooms.
7. Sprinkle in a bit of salt and pepper on the mushrooms.
8. Once mushrooms have begun to soften, add the spinach and a bit more salt and pepper.
9. Cover and let steam until spinach has begun to wilt. When the spinach has wilted, remove the pan from heat and add in diced bacon. Mix with mushrooms and spinach until well combined.
10. Place mixture into the middle of your butterflied chicken, fold chicken over to make a little “pocket” and use a two toothpicks to keep it closed while cooking.
11. Place stuffed chicken breasts on a parchment lined baking sheet and put in oven to bake for 18-20 minutes or until there is no longer pink in the chicken. The time will range depending on how thin you pound the chicken. It may take a bit longer.
12. Love moist chicken. Don’t overcook it, don’t you do it!
13. Don't eat the toothpick. Duh. Enjoy!!!

We wish you all a happy, healthy weekend and look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!