| The Transcendental Meditation technique may be | | | | gradually changed the way she handled crises and |
| an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for | | | | enabled her to feel confident that she could take |
| treating ADHD, according to a promising new | | | | on greater challenges -in her own words, 'climb a |
| study published this month in the peer-reviewed | | | | mountain.'" |
| online journal Current Issues in Education. | | | | "Everyone noticed the change," Andy added. |
| The pilot study followed a group of middle school | | | | Grosswald explained that there is substantial |
| students with ADHD who were meditating twice a | | | | research showing the effectiveness of the TM |
| day in school. After three months, researchers | | | | technique for reducing stress and anxiety, and |
| found over 50 percent reduction in stress and | | | | improving cognitive functioning among the general |
| anxiety and improvements in ADHD symptoms. | | | | population. "What's significant about these new |
| <b>Effect exceeds expectations</b> | | | | findings is that among children who have difficulty |
| "The effect was much greater than we | | | | with focus and attention, we see the same |
| expected," said Sarina J. Grosswald, Ed.D., a | | | | results. TM doesn't require concentration, |
| George Washington University-trained cognitive | | | | controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact |
| learning specialist and lead researcher on the | | | | that these children are able to do TM, and do it |
| study. "The children also showed improvements in | | | | easily shows us that this technique may be |
| attention, working memory, organization, and | | | | particularly well suited for children with ADHD," she |
| behavior regulation." | | | | said. |
| Grosswald said that after the in-school meditation | | | | This study was funded by the Abramson Family |
| routine began, "teachers reported they were able | | | | Foundation and the Institute for Community |
| to teach more, and students were able to learn | | | | Enrichment. |
| more because they were less stressed and | | | | A second, recently completed TM-ADHD study |
| anxious." | | | | with a control group measured brain function using |
| <b>Stress interferes with the ability to | | | | electroencephalography (EEG). Preliminary data |
| learn</b> | | | | shows that three months practice of the |
| Prior research shows ADHD children have slower | | | | technique resulted in significant positive changes in |
| brain development and a reduced ability to cope | | | | brain functioning during visual-motor skills. Changes |
| with stress. "Stress interferes with the ability to | | | | were specifically seen in the circuitry of the brain |
| learn-it shuts down the brain," said William Stixrud, | | | | associated with attention and distractibility. After |
| Ph.D., a Silver Spring, Maryland, clinical | | | | six months TM practice, measurements of |
| neuropsychologist and co-author of the study. | | | | distractibility moved into the normal range. |
| "Medication for ADHD is very effective for some | | | | A third, $2 million TM-ADHD study, to be funded |
| children, but it is marginally or not effective for | | | | in part by a grant from <a rel="nofollow" |
| others. Even for those children who show | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| improved symptoms with the medication, the | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" David Lynch |
| improvement is often insufficient or accompanied | | | | Foundation</a>, will more fully investigate |
| by troubling side effects," Stixrud said. "Virtually | | | | the effects of the technique on ADHD and other |
| everyone finds it difficult to pay attention, | | | | learning disorders. |
| organize themselves and get things done when | | | | <b>Facts about ADHD</b> |
| they're under stress. So it stands to reason that | | | | <b>Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| the TM technique which reduces stress and | | | | (ADHD)</b> |
| organizes brain function would reduce ADHD | | | | " The Center for Disease Control reports that |
| symptoms." | | | | nearly 50 percent of the 4.5 million children (ages |
| While in some cases a child cannot function | | | | 4-17) in the United States diagnosed with ADHD |
| without medication, there is growing concern | | | | are on ADHD medication-and the majority of |
| about the health risks and side effects associated | | | | those on medication stay on it in adulthood. |
| with the common ADHD medications, including | | | | " The rate of prescriptions for Attention Deficit |
| mood swings, insomnia, tics, slowed growth, and | | | | Hyperactivity Disorder in the U.S. has increasing by |
| heart problems. In 2006 the FDA required | | | | a factor of five since 1991-with production of |
| manufacturers to place warning labels on ADHD | | | | ADHD medicines up 2,000 percent in 9 years. |
| medications, listing the potential serious health | | | | " The commonly used drugs for ADHD are |
| risks. | | | | stimulants (amphetamines). These drugs can |
| These high risks and growing concerns are fueling | | | | cause persistent and negative side effects, |
| parents' search for alternatives that may be safer | | | | including sleep disturbances, reduced appetite, |
| for their kids. | | | | weight loss, suppressed growth, and mood |
| The study was conducted in a private K-12 school | | | | disorders. The side effects are frequently treated |
| for children with language-based learning disabilities. | | | | with additional medications to manage insomnia or |
| Participation was restricted to 10 students, ages | | | | mood swings. Almost none of the medications |
| 11-14, who had pre-existing diagnoses of ADHD. | | | | prescribed for insomnia or mood disturbances are |
| About half of the students were on medication. | | | | approved by the Food and Drug Administration |
| The students meditated at school in a group for | | | | (FDA) for use with children. |
| 10 minutes, morning and afternoon. | | | | " The long-term health effects of ADHD |
| To determine the influence of the Transcendental | | | | medications are not fully known, but evidence |
| Meditation technique, at the beginning and end of | | | | suggests risks of cardiac disorders and sudden |
| the three-month period, parents, teachers and | | | | death, liver damage and psychiatric events. It has |
| students completed standard ADHD assessment | | | | also been found that children on long-term |
| inventories measuring stress and anxiety, | | | | medication have significantly higher rates of |
| behavior and social competency, and executive | | | | delinquency, substance use, and stunted physical |
| function. Students were also given a battery of | | | | growth. |
| performance tests to measure cognitive | | | | <b>Facts about The Transcendental |
| functioning. | | | | Meditation technique</b> |
| <b>"The results were quite remarkable"< | | | | " The Transcendental Meditation technique is an |
| b> | | | | effortless technique practiced 10-20 minutes twice |
| Andy and Daryl Schoenbach's daughter was | | | | a day sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. |
| diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. Like most | | | | " TM is not a religion or philosophy and involves no |
| ADHD children she was taking medication. "The | | | | new beliefs or change in lifestyle. |
| medication helped but had mixed results-she still | | | | " Over 350 peer-reviewed research studies on |
| lost focus, had meltdowns, and the medications | | | | the TM technique confirm a range of benefits for |
| affected her sleep and appetite," said Andy, who | | | | mind, body and behavior. |
| lives with Daryl in Washington D.C. "She was not | | | | " Several studies have compared the effects of |
| performing close to her potential and we didn't | | | | different meditation practices and found that |
| see the situation improving. So at the end of | | | | Transcendental Meditation provides deeper |
| seventh grade when her doctor recommended | | | | relaxation and is more effective at reducing |
| increasing the medication, we decided it was time | | | | anxiety, depression and hypertension than other |
| to take a different course-stopping the medication | | | | forms of meditation and relaxation. In addition, no |
| and using Transcendental Meditation." | | | | other meditation practice shows the widespread |
| "The results were quite remarkable," Daryl said. | | | | coherence throughout all areas the brain that is |
| "The twice daily meditations smoothed things out, | | | | seen with Transcendental Meditation. |
| gave her perspective, and enabled her to be in | | | | " The Transcendental Meditation technique is |
| greater control of her own life when things | | | | taught in the United States by a non-profit, |
| started falling apart. It took some time, but it | | | | educational organization. |