With summer just around the corner, many parents may be thinking about having their kids take a vacation from their ADD/ADHD medication. Most kids who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD take drugs to help them stay focused at school. Since there's no school, can their be no drugs? Experts say it depends entirely on the child and parents should discuss their options with their child's doctors. Teenagers on medications are often better off to stay on their drug therapy regiment. Read more online.

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Parents frustrated with their children's attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder - ADHD - and the negative side effects from ADHD medications are turning to alternative treatments. In Needham, MA children with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning difficulties are benefiting from daily exercise. Balance and hand-eye coordination exercises that basically help re-wire the brain are helping kids in ways that parents didn't expect. By repeating specific exercises, the brain learns to process information more efficiently and effectively. Learn more about non-drug ADHD treatments from Boston.com.

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By sending their kids the message that it's ok to use drugs to solve problems, parents who dole out medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are afraid that their kids will become drug abusers in the future. Research shows that when ADHD medications are used properly, they can actually reduce the risks of drug and alcohol use as the child grows into a young adult. In contrast, when ADHD goes untreated, it sets children up for more problems as they begin to face adolescent problems and pressures. Read more of Dr. Rachel Bryant's article online now.

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Parents who are concerned about the misuse and side-effects of ADHD drugs are turning to behavioral treatment as a non-drug form of dealing with their child's neurobehavioral disorder. Behavior therapy is the only non-drug treatment for ADHD that has been proven to work. Unfortunately, experts still believe that, like diabetes, the best treatments use a combination of behavior therapy and medication. And many parents don't have the time or energy to give to therapy that is necessary for it to be effective. A behavior therapy program that is based on a strict system of rewards and consequences can be developed by a pediatrician or a psychologist. Read more at Bradenton.com.

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Forbes.com reports that

"new research suggests that certain children are more likely to develop
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when exposed to lead in their
environment."

The study found that the lead exposure caused more problems with boys than with girls, which could also be one of the reasons that more often boys suffer from ADHD than girls. While the exact cause of ADHD isn't know, this is a significant step toward finding the cause.

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Researchers at Children's Hospital in Boston reviewed have found that drugs commonly taking by children to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may lead to a decrease in the child's growth and weight. They said boys and girls with ADHD should not discontinue use of the drugs and that it may be the appetite suppressing qualities of the drugs which may lead to the stunted growth. Read more from WBALChannel11.com.

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We've learned a lot about ADHD since the last diagnosis and treatment standards were released by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA). That's why the organization has just released brand new guidelines for recognizing, diagnosing and treating ADHD. As well as offering better analysis of the signs and symptoms of ADHD, the new principles recommend a multi-faceted approach to treatment, offering guidelines for exercise, lifestyle, family and teacher involvement as well as medication.

Another advantage offered by ADDA's new ADHD principles is the clarification they provide regarding the differences between ADD and ADHD. If you're still confused about the differences between the two closely related conditions, check out this ADD/ADHD fact sheet.

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