"Then try some targeted dietary changes (it's hard), and note daily behavior. Been there, done that, and allowed an ADHD-symptom child to regain calmness with no drugs."
My oldest was very well behaved but at times acted out horribly and would cry because he wanted to stop but couldn't. We finally found out that he was reacting to dairy products. We cut them out and his outbursts disappeared within 3 days. It was amazing.
It IS amazing how certain foods affect behavior. But it becomes a battle of wills that many (weak) parents give up on after trying awhile. And school food service folks may give it lip service, but won't do the hard work of changing to less ADHD-inducing foods. Sad.
The American diet is different than 50 years ago -- corn snacks and breakfasts, corn in almost everything instead of other sugars and starches, petroleum based colorings, the overabundance of empty sugar/starch/colored foods. Compare this dietary change over time with the rise of ADD/ADHD. But, no one seems to want to spotlight this; it means fighting drug companies and corn/diary industry lobbies.
They're also now finding that corn syrup sweetener (cheap) also makes us fatter than sugar (beet or cane).
The Feingold Diet saved us. It is a lot of trouble but we were at the point we would have tried anything. To this day my kids and I know when we're "off the diet". JILL