School
support:
 What
is an Essential fatty acid deficiency?
Symptoms and difficulties can arise from a deficiency
of essential fatty acids, and are sometimes associated with dyslexia,
dyspraxia, visual difficulties, attentional difficulties and the
autistic spectrum.
Fatty acid deficiencies appear to affect a range of conditions:
attention, literacy, coordination and immune deficiency.
These deficiencies can be helped by a course of fatty acid supplements
(e.g. Efalex and EyeQ are both available from UK dispensing chemists
at the time of writing).
A course of dietary supplements can sometimes make a significant
difference to some of these conditions, though not always. As long
as the stated dose is kept to, however, no harm can come of a trial
period (usually 12 weeks are needed to be sure whether or not there
will be improvements).
There is no direct action to be taken by the school, except to
encourage the family to undertake a trial, and to monitor the pupil
for any changes. A double dosage is recommended for 12 weeks to
build up the level of these acids in the body, and a trial should
continue for at least this length of time.
Books
& articles:
Peet, M., Glenn, I. and Horrobin, D. (1999) Phospholipid Spectrum
Disorder in Psychiatry (Marius Press).
Portwood, M. (2000) ‘Seeing the Signs’, in Special,
Spring 2002 (NASEN).
Portwood, Madeleine (2002) ‘School-based trials of fatty
acid supplements’, paper presented at Education Conference,
Durham County Council, June 2002.
Richardson, A.J. (2002) ‘Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD –
Can Nutrition Help?’, paper presented at Education Conference,
Durham County Council, June 2002
Richardson, A.J. and Puri, B.K., (2000) ‘The potential role
of fatty acids in Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)’,
Prostaglandins Leukotr. Essent. Fatty Acids, 63, 79–87.
Richardson, A. and Puri, B (2002) ‘A randomized double-blind,
placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with
highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children
with specific learning disabilities’, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology
and Biological Psychiatry, 26, 2, 233–9.
Stordy, J. and Nicholl, M. (2002) The LCP Solution: the remarkable nutritional treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia (Macmillan)
Useful
addresses & websites:
www.equazen.com
- for information about fatty acids.
www.healthyandessential.co.uk
– a commercial website promoting supplements.
www.fabresearch.org – the website for Food and Behaviour Research.
QuEST Therapies, PO Box 13281, Haddington, EH41 3YY; tel: 07793
919145;
email: admin@questtherapies.com;
website: www.questtherapies.com
– a diagnostic and referral service to identify the prominence
of auditory, visual, or movement/coordination/balance factors in
causing a child’s specific learning difficulty, as well as
the role of fatty acid deficiency.
SpLD Resources, www.dyslexia.org.uk hosts a guide to the help available to parents of children with special needs – a useful compendium of information covering difficulties with reading and writing (dyslexia), numeracy (dyscalculia), handwriting (dyslexia), developmental coordination (dyspraxia), language impairment, autism and ‘attention deficit disorder’. Lists details of the national organisations that address a range of SEN needs, together with a list of books and pamphlets.
Home
support:
What
is an essential fatty acid deficiency?
Symptoms and difficulties can arise from a deficiency of essential
fatty acids, and are sometimes associated with dyslexia, dyspraxia,
visual difficulties, attentional difficulties and the autistic spectrum.
How
will this affect my child?
Fatty acid deficiencies appear to affect a range of conditions:
attention, literacy, coordination and immune deficiency.
How
can I help?
These deficiencies can be helped by a course of fatty acid supplements
(e.g. Efalex and EyeQ are both available from UK dispensing chemists
at the time of writing).
Note: if your child is on any medication, or suffers from any disorder,
it is advised that you check with your GP to confirm that use of
such supplements is not contra-indicated.
A course of dietary supplements can sometimes make a significant
difference to some of these conditions, though not always. As long
as the stated dose is kept to, however, no harm can come of a trial
period.
Liaise with the school to monitor your child for any changes. A
double dosage is recommended for 12 weeks to build up the level
of these acids in the body, and a trial should continue for at least
this length of time.
It may be helpful to discuss the situation with the family GP.
Discuss this also with the school, as they may know of other children
who are taking supplements. The school may also have access to a
dietician or community health personnel who may be visiting the
school.
Where
can I find out more?
www.equazen.com and www.healthyandessential.co.uk
are commercial websites promoting supplements.
www.fabresearch.org – the website for Food and Behaviour Research.
Portwood, M. (1999) Developmental Dyspraxia: Identification and
Intervention, A Manual for Parents and Professionals (David Fulton).
Portwood, M. (2000) Understanding Developmental Dyspraxia: A textbook
for students and professionals (David Fulton).
Portwood, M. (2001) Developmental Dyspraxia: A Practical Manual
for Parents and Professionals (Durham County Council Educational
Psychology Service, County Hall, Durham).
Portwood, M. (2002) ‘School-based trials of fatty acid supplements.’
Paper presented at Education Conference, Durham County Council,
June 2002.
Portwood, M. (2002) ‘Seeing the Signs’ in Special,
Spring 2002, NASEN.
QuEST Therapies, PO Box 13281, Haddington, EH41 3YY; tel: 07793
919145;
email: admin@questtherapies.com;
website: www.questtherapies.com
– a diagnostic and referral service to identify the prominence
of auditory, visual, or movement/coordination/balance factors in
causing a child’s specific learning difficulty, as well as
the role of fatty acid deficiency.
Richardson, A.J. and Puri, B.K., (2000)’ The potential role
of fatty acids in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)’,
Prostaglandins Leukotr Essent Fatty Acids, 63; 79–87.
Richardson, A.J. (2002) ‘Dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD –
can nutrition help?’ Paper presented at Education Conference
Durham County Council, June 2002
Stordy, J. and Nicholl, M. (2002) The LCP Solution: the remarkable nutritional treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia (Macmillan).
SpLD Resources, www.dyslexia.org.uk hosts a guide to the help available to parents of children with special needs – a useful compendium of information covering difficulties with reading and writing (dyslexia), numeracy (dyscalculia), handwriting (dyslexia), developmental coordination (dyspraxia), language impairment, autism and ‘attention deficit disorder’. Lists details of the national organisations that address a range of SEN needs, together with a list of books and pamphlets.
|
