Parent often ask me what they can do at home to help their children with learning difficulties. Because we are engaged in a process of remediating the underlying causes of these difficulties, many of these children are enrolled in our Extra Lesson neuro developmental movement therapy programme . This programme removes immaturities and “roadblocks” on the neurological pathways children need for learning. The first thing they can do then is to commit to doing the home exercise programme every day.
Movement therapy exercises also build new pathways in the brain once the roadblocks are removed. It is hugely important therefore that the raw material for building neurological pathways is freely available for the child’s brain to take up and use. The most important of these is omega 3 fatty acids. The best traditional source for these fats is oily fish such as cod, sardines, tuna and salmon.
Changes in our modern diet of highly processed foods and mercury pollution of the oceans has meant that children do not get sufficient omega 3 fats in their diet to build free flowing neural pathways. These fats also assist to form a coating on the nerves called myelin, which acts as a conductor, helping messages to flow quickly and easily through the new pathways.
Recent research on has shown that the best possible supplement to use for omega 3 fats is krill oil. This is a high quality, easily absorbed source of these fats which you can purchase at your health food store. One clinical study of 18 boys diagnosed with ADHD, conducted by Dr Hogne Wik, showed significant improvement in behavioural scores and in EEG measurements after using krill oil daily for 3 months.
Another study on adults with ADHD in 2007 showed taking 500mg of krill oil daily for 6 months resulted in a 60 % improvement in the ability to concentrate, 50 % improvement in planning skills and 49% improvement in social skills.
Some children have shown such improvement in behaviour that they have been able to reduce or go off Ritalin and Concerta as a result.
How amazing that a humble little sea creature, the favourite food of the mighty whale, can make such a significant difference to the learning and behaviour of these children. Combined with movement therapy this becomes a powerful tool for recovery for ADHD.
