They're four letters no parent wants to hear. We're not talking about a word we can't say on the evening news. Instead, a word that has become commonplace for parents across Southwest Florida: ADHD, or Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Chances are you know someone diagnosed with it, and chances are they were put on medication to help. But tonight we're introducing you to one Southwest Florida neurologist who says it doesn't necessarily have to be that way.
If you're a parent researching what to do about a hyperactive kid, the long list of medications as treatment could be intimidating -- clonidine, amphetamines, atomeoxetine, just to name a few.
But one thing that you won't easily find is a major suggestion that neurologist and Naples resident Dr. David Perlmutter says should be front and center: diet.
"Diet is fundamentally important for how the brain works in everybody," including those with ADHD, says Dr. Perlmutter. He's written books like Brain Maker and Grain Brain to show just how important food - and more importantly - a healthy gut is to maintain a healthy brain.
If you didn't think they were connected, he says they most certainly are. And careful nutrition can help treat things like ADHD in children. "I think there's a place for the medications, but I think it's far overused. I think it's reasonable to start with a dietary approach."
But Dr. Perlmutter says it's not just about cutting things out of your child's diet, like sugar and processed foods, and gluten. He says another key component to battling ADHD is adding something back into your child's diet that a lot of people shy away from: fat. "A lot of these kids are deficient for example in things like essential fatty acid, particularly DHA."
Which can be found in fish like salmon, fish oils, or algae-derived oils.
But don't stop there. Other healthy fats are welcome in his book too, especially for kids struggling to focus. "So good fats like olive oil and coconut oil, bring them back to the table, and generally kids will function better."
So how long would it take to see a difference? "It's a great question, and I think parents should expect that they can see changes in as little as a couple of weeks."
But what if you don't see changes? We asked Dr. Perlmutter if there's ever a case where a child suffering from ADHD needs medication? "Are there are group of kids who maybe would benefit from medication? And I think that there is. I think that set of children is actually very, very small."
Pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Omar Rieche sees it a little differently. "I think diet, like exercise, like sleep, all of those are essential to keep in balance and keep in check. But if we are talking about a treatment, just a treatment of diet alone, then we are fooling ourselves."
He leans towards more of a comprehensive approach, as he puts it, when treating kids with ADHD. "Medication, therapy for emotional issues, structure, and yes diet."
But he worries if parents are too focused on what's filling their kids plate, they could be missing an important window. "You do not want to miss out on the fact that this child is getting further and further behind in school."
These doctors may have a different approach, but one thing they do agree on is that treating ADHD in kids is not one size fits all.
And Dr. Perlmutter says if you are leaning toward giving your child medication, why not at least try to change their eating habits first. "I think you should ask yourself what's the downside of giving it a couple of weeks? Cut back on the sugar, add in some DHA, watch what your child is eating," he says. "If you do opt for the medication route, adding in the nutritional part of the story may allow your child to be on at least a lower dosage of medication. So it doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other."
Dr. Perlmutter says the risk of ADHD is as much as tripled if a child is born by C-section, kids who take heavy antibiotics, and kids who haven't been breast fed.
To find out more about why he says that happens, head to
