Is Your Child Really ADHD — or Something Else?
Aired November 17, 2025
Let’s be honest. If you have a child who can’t sit still, zones out mid-sentence, or seems to live life on fast-forward, you’ve probably wondered at least once, “Is this ADHD?”
Maybe you’ve heard it from a teacher.
Maybe you’ve Googled it late at night after another meltdown.
Or maybe you’ve even tried medication, diets, or supplements and still feel like something isn’t quite adding up.
Because here’s the truth: what looks like ADHD on the outside can have very different causes on the inside.
In this episode, we’re going beyond labels and looking at the whole child.
We’re going to talk about how mouth breathing and poor sleep can actually mimic ADHD symptoms. We’ll talk about what the research really says about food dyes and ultra-processed foods, and why taking them out won’t “fix” ADHD, but keeping them in can definitely make things worse. We’ll talk about why movement and structure are medicine for the brain, and how our modern classrooms are setting some kids up to struggle. We’ll look at which supplements and therapies might help, and which ones are mostly hype. And yes, we’ll even talk about medication — what it does, how it impacts the gut, and how to support your child’s body if you choose to use it.
Because ADHD isn’t always a problem to fix. Sometimes it’s a message — a signal that the body, brain, or environment is out of sync. And when we understand what the body is trying to say, that’s when real progress, and peace, begin.
If there’s one thing I wish every parent knew about behavior and focus, it’s that how your child breathes at night matters just as much as what they eat during the day.
Most parents have never even thought about their child’s airway until I bring it up in an oral-motor assessment. But mouth breathing, snoring, or restless sleep can look exactly like ADHD during the day.
Here’s why.
When kids breathe through their mouths, especially at night, they’re not getting the same oxygen exchange as nasal breathing. The nose filters, humidifies, and warms the air, but it also helps regulate nitric oxide and carbon dioxide levels, which control how oxygen moves through the bloodstream. When a child breathes through the mouth, oxygen delivery to the brain actually drops. Even a small reduction — just a few percentage points — can cause fragmented sleep, irritability, poor focus, and hyperactive behavior the next day.
It’s not that they’re not trying hard enough to pay attention. Their brain is literally running on low fuel.
I often ask parents simple questions during our intake:
Do they snore, even softly?
Do they grind their teeth at night?
Do they wake up sweaty, restless, or cranky?
Do they breathe through their mouth most of the day — even while playing quietly or watching a show?
If you said yes to one or more of those, it’s worth looking deeper.
Sometimes mouth breathing starts from chronic congestion or allergies. Other times, it’s because of oral structure — things like low tongue posture, tight frenums, or small nasal passages that make nose breathing hard. When that happens, the jaw and tongue compensate by opening the mouth, changing muscle tone, and even facial growth over time.
That’s why airway screening is such an important part of my oral-motor evaluations. We look not just at how a child chews and swallows, but whether their muscles and airway are even set up to breathe well while doing it.
Because if a child’s brain spends all night micro-waking from low oxygen, or their body never hits true deep sleep, they’ll wake up in fight-or-flight before the day even starts. And we know what that looks like: impulsivity, distractibility, emotional outbursts, and difficulty sitting still. It’s not defiance — it’s dysregulation.
So what can parents do?
Start by observing. Watch your child while they sleep. Is their mouth open? Are they snoring or grinding?
If you notice these signs, consult with an ENT as well as a myofunctional therapist, who specializes in retraining nasal breathing and strengthening the tongue and facial muscles that support proper airflow.
Sometimes small things — like releasing a tongue tie, treating allergies, or widening a narrow palate — can transform both sleep and daytime behavior. Once a child starts sleeping deeply and breathing properly, everything changes. Their brain finally gets oxygen, their body recovers, and the behaviors that looked like ADHD start to quiet down — not because of medication, but because their nervous system is finally getting what it needs.
You can think of it this way: if the body is working hard just to keep you alive and gasping for air, you don’t have spare bandwidth to focus. Every night your child is subtly struggling to breathe, their brain is compensating. And the result looks a lot like attention problems, hyperactivity, and irritability.
Now let’s shift gears and talk about what goes into our kids’ bodies, because food plays a bigger role in focus and behavior than most people realize.
Parents will often tell me, “Christine, I swear my child gets wild after red candy or fruit snacks.” And you know what? You’re probably not imagining it.
The research is pretty clear: artificial colors and preservatives don’t cause ADHD, but they can absolutely amplify symptoms in sensitive kids. For some children, dyes and ultra-processed foods act like little sparks in an already overstimulated nervous system.
Here’s what’s happening inside. When we eat artificial dyes or preservatives, the liver and gut have to process those chemicals. That adds stress to the body and can increase inflammation. At the same time, many processed foods are missing the nutrients the brain needs to regulate — things like zinc, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins. So now we’ve got a brain that’s overexcited, undernourished, and inflamed. That’s the perfect storm for attention and regulation struggles.
Taking out dyes or switching to organic snacks alone probably won’t erase ADHD. But it’s still worth doing, because if something offers zero benefit and might make symptoms worse, why keep it in?
I like to frame it like this: think of dyes and preservatives as the volume knob, not the light switch. They might not be the cause, but they can turn up the noise on behaviors that are already there. When you turn that knob back down by choosing cleaner foods, the brain can function with a little more clarity and calm.
It’s not about being perfect or banning birthday cake. It’s about giving your child’s brain the best environment to thrive in. Sometimes that starts with the simplest choice: less junk, more nourishment.
Simplifying your child’s diet doesn’t mean perfection. It means progress. You don’t have to throw away everything in your pantry. Start with small swaps. Choose colored snacks made with fruit or vegetable dyes. Switch from sugary cereals to ones with protein and fiber. Offer real fruit instead of juice. And if you can, cook with whole ingredients a few nights a week — even simple meals make a difference.
You’re not just removing the “bad” stuff. You’re making room for the good stuff to do its job. Because when the gut is nourished and calm, the brain gets the right signals. That’s when kids start to focus, regulate, and connect more easily — not because we changed them, but because we changed what their brain is being fueled with.
And speaking of fuel, let’s talk about another piece that often gets overlooked: how movement, structure, and environment shape focus. Because what we expect from kids today — sitting still for six hours and focusing through noise, bright lights, and constant screens — doesn’t exactly line up with how their brains were designed to learn.
Let’s talk about something that no supplement, therapy, or diet can replace: movement.
I say this all the time: if a child’s body isn’t regulated, their brain can’t focus. It’s not a discipline issue — it’s biology.
Our brains are wired to move. Movement increases blood flow to the brain, balances neurotransmitters, and helps process sensory input. When kids move, their bodies release dopamine and serotonin — the same “feel-good” chemicals that ADHD medications often target.
So when we expect children to sit still for six hours in a bright, noisy classroom, with maybe a 20-minute recess, we’re setting them up to struggle. It’s not that they can’t pay attention. It’s that their nervous systems are overloaded and under-regulated.
It’s not just the school day; it’s the modern world. More screens, less outdoor time, tighter schedules, and less unstructured play mean kids have fewer opportunities to discharge energy and reset their sensory systems.
If your child has trouble sitting through meals or transitions, that’s not bad behavior. That’s communication. Their body is saying, “I need more input before I can focus.”
So what can you do?
Start simple. Build movement breaks into your child’s day. Even five minutes of jumping, stretching, or running outside can reset attention for the next hour. Ask teachers if your child can help pass out papers or carry supplies — purposeful movement, not punishment. Encourage outdoor play — climbing, swinging, balancing — because nature offers the kind of sensory input that screens can’t replicate. Keep routines consistent. Kids thrive on predictability. When they know what’s coming next, their nervous system can relax.
I like to call this the “regulation before expectation” rule. You can’t expect focus, patience, or compliance until the body feels safe and regulated. That’s true for adults too. Imagine trying to sit still in a three-hour meeting after skipping breakfast and coffee.
When we start meeting kids where they are physiologically — giving their body what it needs before asking for performance — everything starts to click. And the best part is that movement doesn’t just improve focus. It builds confidence, body awareness, and self-regulation. It’s one of the simplest, most natural ways to support kids with ADHD traits — and it’s completely free.
Now that we’ve looked at the body, the gut, and the environment, let’s talk about support options — supplements, therapies, and yes, even medication — so you can make the most informed decision for your child’s brain and body.
When we talk about ADHD, most people jump straight to medication or no medication, like it’s one or the other. But the truth is, there’s a whole world of options in between. When we combine the right supports, we can often get incredible results with less intensity on any single tool.
Let’s start with some of the natural supports that have research behind them, then we’ll talk about medication and how to protect the body if you go that route.
For many kids, the first step isn’t a pill. It’s rebuilding what the brain has been missing.
Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA, are some of the most studied. They help brain cells communicate better, lower inflammation, and support focus and emotional regulation. You can find them in wild fish, chia, flax, or high-quality fish oil supplements.
Magnesium and zinc can also support mood, attention, and relaxation, especially for kids who crave crunchy or salty foods, which can signal low mineral stores.
Iron and vitamin D are two others worth checking with your pediatrician. Even mild deficiencies can affect mood, energy, and focus.
The key here is food first, supplements second. Whole foods provide co-factors that isolated supplements don’t, and they also build better gut health, which directly impacts neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
There are also therapies that work on the regulation side — helping the body calm and organize itself from the bottom up.
Some of the ones I’ve seen families benefit from include myofunctional therapy, which retrains proper tongue posture and nasal breathing, especially if mouth breathing or snoring are part of the picture. Craniosacral therapy, which is gentle bodywork, can help release tension patterns and improve sleep and regulation. The Safe and Sound Protocol is an auditory program that helps retune the nervous system for safety and focus. Occupational therapy can support sensory regulation and executive function skills. Even chiropractic or osteopathic adjustments can be helpful when structural alignment or vagus nerve function is contributing to poor regulation.
Are these miracle cures? No. But for the right child, in the right combination, they can fill in the gaps that medication alone can’t reach.
Now let’s talk about medication, because this is where parents often feel the most conflicted.
Common ADHD medications include stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) or amphetamine salts (Adderall, Vyvanse), and non-stimulants like atomoxetine, guanfacine, or clonidine. These medications work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine — chemicals that help with attention and motivation. For many kids, they can be life-changing.
But — and this is a big but — they’re not without effects on the body.
The most common side effects are loss of appetite and weight loss, stomachaches or nausea, trouble falling asleep, and in some cases constipation or emotional blunting.
Because stimulants speed up metabolism and suppress appetite, kids often eat less during the day, which can create nutritional deficits over time. That’s why, as a feeding therapist, I always encourage parents to make breakfast count before the medication kicks in, and to focus on nutrient-dense evening meals when appetite returns.
There’s also growing research showing that long-term stimulant use may affect the gut microbiome. We’re seeing shifts in beneficial bacteria and diversity, which makes sense, since the gut and brain are in constant conversation through the vagus nerve. So if your child is on ADHD medication, I highly recommend supporting gut health with fiber-rich foods, probiotics, and hydration.
And please hear this clearly: medication is not failure. It’s not giving up. It’s one tool — and for some families, it opens the door to the other work that actually heals the root cause. The goal isn’t to medicate away the problem. It’s to create enough calm and stability that we can uncover what the body and brain really need.
When we look at ADHD through the brain lens, not the behavior lens, it starts to make sense why so many kids struggle to focus, follow through, or feel motivated.
The two main chemicals involved in focus and motivation are dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine drives reward and motivation. It’s the “feel good” signal that says, “Hey, this is interesting, keep going.” Norepinephrine supports alertness and energy. It helps the brain tune in and filter out distractions.
Most ADHD medications increase these neurotransmitters quickly, which can help focus, but sometimes at the cost of appetite, mood, or gut balance. The good news is that we can help the brain make and regulate these chemicals naturally by supporting the systems that produce them in the first place.
Dopamine and norepinephrine are made from amino acids — specifically tyrosine and phenylalanine, found in protein-rich foods. So the very first step is to make sure your child is getting enough protein, especially in the morning.
I like to share this parent-friendly tip: if you want your child to focus better by 10 a.m., feed their brain protein by 8 a.m.
Great sources include eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, turkey, fish, lentils, beans, nut butters, and protein smoothies with added flax, chia, or collagen. Even 10–15 grams of protein at breakfast can help boost dopamine and norepinephrine naturally.
You can also include foods that help build the cofactors for neurotransmitter production — things like vitamin C from bell peppers and citrus, iron from red meat, spinach, and lentils, zinc from pumpkin seeds and cashews, and B vitamins from meat, eggs, leafy greens, and nutritional yeast. When these nutrients are low, the body literally can’t make the neurotransmitters that medications are trying to replace.
There is also a role for targeted supplements, but this really depends on the child’s brain pattern. In our Roadmap assessment, we look at brain and personality patterns based on Dr. Daniel Amen’s work, because not every “ADHD brain” needs the same kind of support.
For example, low dopamine types often crave stimulation, newness, and reward. They may benefit from supports like L-tyrosine, Mucuna pruriens (a natural source of L-DOPA), B vitamins, and iron when it’s low. Low norepinephrine types may struggle more with alertness and energy. They often respond to things like green tea, which offers L-theanine plus a gentle amount of caffeine, or adaptogens like rhodiola or ginseng for natural mental clarity. Low serotonin types — the more anxious or “worry” pattern — may do better with 5-HTP, magnesium, and omega-3s, which help calm and stabilize mood. Overactive cingulate types — the kids who “can’t let go” or get stuck in rigid thinking — may need balance from supports like inositol, L-theanine, and calming nervous-system tools like the Safe and Sound Protocol or breathing work.
The point is that you don’t want to guess. You want to know which part of the brain needs help and how to feed it strategically. That’s exactly what we do inside the Premium Roadmap, where we use Dr. Amen’s model to personalize the plan to your child’s brain type and personality profile.
Lifestyle habits matter just as much as food and supplements. Movement increases dopamine and norepinephrine naturally. Even 20 minutes of biking, dancing, or jumping can raise levels for several hours. Morning sunlight exposure helps regulate dopamine pathways and circadian rhythm — 10 to 15 minutes outside first thing in the morning can reset focus for the day. Deep sleep replenishes neurotransmitter stores. Mouth breathing or poor sleep literally depletes them. And then there’s novelty and connection. Dopamine loves newness and reward. Building small wins into your child’s day — through praise, progress charts, or fun tasks — can trigger motivation in a healthy way.
So if ADHD medication increases dopamine and norepinephrine chemically, our job is to help the body do it biologically. That’s the difference between temporary focus and long-term brain balance. You can use medication as a bridge, and at the same time help rebuild the bridge from within through the right foods, nutrients, habits, and personalized support. Because when the brain gets what it needs, behavior follows.
After everything we’ve talked about — breathing, sleep, diet, movement, supplements, and even medication — I want to leave you with this:
ADHD is not a broken brain. It’s a different brain.
It’s a brain wired for novelty, creativity, and quick problem-solving. It’s the brain that can hyperfocus when it’s passionate, notice patterns others miss, and bring energy to every room it walks into. It’s also the brain that struggles in systems not designed for it — rigid classrooms, long to-do lists, and environments that reward stillness over curiosity.
And that’s the paradox. The same traits that make life challenging in childhood are often the ones that make these kids thrive as adults — entrepreneurs, engineers, artists, creators, leaders.
So instead of asking, “How do I fix my child?” let’s start asking, “What does my child’s brain need to function at its best?”
That’s why inside the Premium Roadmap, we take such a personalized approach. We don’t just label a child with ADHD and stop there. We look at the why behind the behavior — the airway, the gut, the nutrition, the sleep, the sensory system, and the neurotransmitters that keep it all in balance. We use Dr. Amen’s brain-based framework to assess your child’s personality and neurochemical profile, so we can see which systems need support and how to do that naturally, safely, and effectively.
If your child struggles with focus, motivation, or regulation, and you’ve tried all the basics without real change, this is where you’ll find answers.
You can learn more or start the process today at thepickyeaterstest.com. That’s where you’ll find the quiz that leads into our Roadmap and helps you see whether your child’s challenges are rooted in brain chemistry, gut health, or sensory imbalance.
Because when you understand how your child’s brain works, everything changes. You stop fighting against it and start working with it. And that’s when these incredible, passionate, high-energy kids finally start to shine — not because we changed who they are, but because we gave their brain what it needed to do what it was designed to do all along.
