The technique is called "mindfulness" and it's essentially a form of meditation. It's meant to help people live in the moment, rather than dwelling on things of the past, or the unknown of the future. It's also supposed to help the brain stop jumping from topic to topic, and to be more focused.

"Even children as young as pre-kindergarten are learning about mindfulness techniques in some California schools... One recent study found the technique helped students with ADHD..."

Studies have also shown that the technique can help boost the immune system, reduce stress, and improve the person's overall mood. Read more online.

Cedars Academy helps students who have an impaired ability to control impulsivity. They teach students the importance of inserting a thought between an impulse and an action. Cedar's uses their proprietary Taking Time™ method to help children with ADD learn from actions that are impulsive or socially inappropriate. Learn more about Cedar's Academy boarding school for boys and girls with ADD, ADHD, Nonverbal Learning Disorders, or Asperger's Syndrome.

Khymberleigh Herwill-Levin, a special education specialist, has developed a test meant to measure a child's reaction to various sounds. Called a "listening skills profile", it can be used to detect hypersensitive reactions that can cause a child to shut down.

"The auditory disability's disruption of focus mimics attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other learning problems."

The center where the tests are conducted has several programs intended to help children who have hypersensitive reactions. Read more online.

Shire Plc has developed a new drug for the treatment of ADHD. NRP104, brand-named Vyvanse, is in it's second round of FDA approvals.

"Full approval of NRP104 is contingent on the scheduling, or restrictions, placed on the drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration, whose review is being carried out in parallel with the FDA's analysis and is expected to be finished within three months."

Shire also developed the popular ADHD drug Adderall XR. It view the FDA's delay, and request for additional data, as an indication that the drug's benefits are still an issue. Read more online.

Of the over 4 million children in the United States who have been diagnosed with ADHD, 56% are prescribed medication. Some, however, stop - or never start - taking it.

"Social stigma and feeling lifeless and/or alienated from one's peers are some of the reasons why children and adolescents stop taking prescription stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder."

Julie B. Meaux, PhD, RNC, lead author of the study, suggests an open dialogue between children, parents, and healthcare providers, to help young people understand the importance of the medication and ensure the dosage is right and not causing adverse affects. Read more at MedicalNewsToday.com.

The Cedars Academy is a boarding school for children with ADHD. Afraid your child won't make it to college? Learn about Cedar's programs to help teens and young adults with ADHD transition to college.

Because he wasn't diagnosed until he was thirty, Grady Spears struggled through high school, and the early stages of his marriage and career, unable to focus and reach his potential - but he didn't know why.

"I never knew what ADHD was until I spoke with my general practitioner. I went in for my routine physical and started telling my doctor all the challenges I was having in my professional and personal life... My doctor mentioned that I could have ADHD and referred me to see a psychiatrist who then diagnosed me with the disorder."

Spears now takes Adderall XR once a day and says it's made all the difference in the world. He's learned how to manage his condition, and believes the same is possible for anyone with ADHD. Read more at HealthNewsDigest.com.

Teens with ADHD can be at an increased risk for moving violations and accidents, even if they're taking ADHD medication. Researchers at the University of Virginia have found that some ADHD medications work better than others when teens get behind the wheel.

"In previous studies, [Daniel] Cox and his team set out to determine whether immediate-release and extended release drug formulations influence driving performance throughout the day. They found that... Concerta compared with immediate-release... Ritalin was better at improving driving performance."

Their most recent study compared long-acting stimulants Concerta and Adderall XR. They found that overall driving performance improved the most in teens who took Concerta. Read more at ScienceDaily.com.

Sleep apnea is a condition most commonly associated with adults. It's characterized by inconsistent breathing patterns and prevents sufferers from getting a good night's sleep.

"Some children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may benefit from surgical removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids, [Dr. Jacques] Piche noted, adding that studies have shown that consistent lack of sleep has been associated with many behavioral problems in children."

Dr. Piche recommends that children who are diagnosed with ADHD be examined for possible physical conditions that may aggravate the ADHD. Read more online.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are studying the role genetics might play in a person's response to various ADHD medications.

"'We hope to be able to look at a child's biological characteristics to statistically predict who is more likely to respond to a certain medication and to determine who is more likely not to respond or to have a particular side effect,' said Dr. Mark Stein, lead researcher on the project."

The study will focus on the three main medications used in treating ADHD; Adderall, Concerta, and Strattera. Read more at ChicagoFlame.com.

Most children who have ADHD have a hard time making friends. Their disruptive and sometimes aggressive behavior can cause them to be rejected by peers, and may trigger a down-ward spiral of bad behavior. Assistant psychology professor Amori Yee Mikami hopes to change that with her new "Friendship Clinic".

"Mikami's clinic offers children with ADHD and their parents an eight week program... designed to put into practice the techniques learned for making friends."

So far, children who have participated in the eight-week sessions have shown marked improvement in their inter-personal skills. Read more at ScienceBlog.com.

While many children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are able to continue attending public school, some are simply unable to thrive in a typical classroom setting. Making the decision to pull your child from public school can be tough. This mother of a child with ADHD shares her opinions and experience in hopes of giving guidance to others.

"It is imperative that when making the home schooling decision, you do your research. The importance of knowing what you are getting yourself into is the difference between success and failure."

Each state has different requirements for home schooling, so it's important that you find out what your state requires. Read more online.

ADHD medicine can greatly benefit those to whom it's prescribed; if the patient follows the doctor's instructions. However, dangerous side effects can occur if the drug is misused or taken by someone for whom it was not prescribed. Read more at LifeClinic.com.

The National Institute of Mental Health is sponsoring a study to determine the effects of organizational training on children with ADHD. Organizational and time management skills are often problem areas for both children and adults with ADHD. The study will compare the effectiveness of Organizational Skills Training (OST) with that of Contingency Management.

"Participants in this open-label study will be randomly assigned to OST, CM, or one of these treatments after a waiting period. Participants in the OST and CM groups will attend twenty 1-hour sessions over 10 weeks."

The study is currently recruiting patients.

Read more at ClinicalTrials.gov.