The Latest on Alternative Treatments

Still, she points out that there are some alternative treatments that show promise, such as Omega-3 fatty acids.

The article points to other studies, such as whether there is a correlation between consuming sugar and food additives and subsequent ADHD symptoms. In the journal, the Lancet, a study reviewed in 2007 showed that hyperactive children who were given additives actually showed an increase in their symptoms.  Before this study, pediatricians were skeptical of the possible link between diet and ADHD.  A February issue of AAP Grand Rounds, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics  reports: "The overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics, who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the behavior of their children, admit we might have been wrong."

Long thought to be a cause of hyperactivity, sugar was not found to be a culprit. Rather, studies show that it was the parents' perception that sugar was problematic.

All in all, parents will continue to look into alternative treatments for their children, but it's very important that they study the research, and make sure the methods are safe and effective. And most of all, it's imperative to discuss these options with the child's pediatrician.