Amnon Gimpel, M.D., has released a book titled Brain Exercises to Cure ADHD. Dr. Gimpel draws from over 30 years of academic and clinical experience in his book, which is meant to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, medication.

"Dr. Gimpel explains that the child, adolescent or young adult (even some adults) is actually suffering from brain delays in some portions of the cortex, which may be treated with cognitive therapy and 'Brain Exercise Therapy.'"

Dr. Gimpel's book is not written as a textbook, but rather as a guide for parents and sufferers of ADHD to learn and implement his brain exercise therapy. Source: Jewish Press

Physical exercise, like the kind kids with ADHD get at summer camp, can also be a good form of treatment. Talisman Camps offers programs for kids with ADHD, ADD, and learning differences.

Labels: brain_activity, exercise, treatment

A team from the University of Cleveland has conducted a study in which they determined that skin patches are a safe and effective treatment of ADHD for children 6 to 12 years old.

"'The findings are significant because only a relatively modest amount of work has been done to examine the effects of ADHD treatments by gender,' said Dr. Robert Findling."

Three-hundred and twenty-six children participated in the study, which found that a skin patch improved ADHD symptoms in 41 percent of boys and 23 percent of girls. Source: The Post Chronicle

Labels: alternative_medicine, studies, treatment

Being a single parent is difficult in and of itself. The difficulties can be compounded if a child has ADHD. But there are ways for single parents to retain their sanity while helping their children grow to be successful, healthy adults.

"Schedule 'together time.' The shared time should be child-oriented and involve high-quality interaction between the two of you. Reading together, playing a board game or cards, watching a DVD or video, riding bicycles, or making a favorite meal will do nicely. Sibling rivalry, often a concern in families with ADHD, will decrease considerably if you schedule regular together time."

Your family can also benefit from having the kids help out at mealtime, getting them involved in extracurricular activities at school, and agreeing on responsibilities around the house. Source: ADDitude Magazine

Labels: diet, meals, single parenting ADHD kids

ADHD medication can work wonders in managing ADHD symptoms for children who have been properly diagnosed. But it's important to know how the medication will interact with other medications; cold medicine, allergy medicine, and even vitamin C can negate the effects of some ADHD medications.

"[Dr. Oluwole] Olusola said the smart thing to do is to be informed. 'Parents should, depending on which medication their child is on, obtain from the pharmacy a list of foods or medications which will counteract the medication in a negative way,' Olusola said."

It's important for parents to take charge and be responsible, taking the initiative to ensure that a child's medication has the best chance of being effective. Source: Mental Hope News

ADD boarding schools help by offering teaching styles geared towards children with ADHD. Find one at TeenBoardingSchools.com.

Labels: diagnosis, medications, symtoms

An Australian study of over 200 families has found that children with ADHD often have difficulty sleeping. It's a problem that affects not only the child, but his caregivers as well.

"Moderate or severe sleep problems were associated with poorer psychosocial quality of life and daily functioning of the child. Compared with children without sleep problems, those with moderate or severe problems were more likely to miss or be late for school."

Caregivers of ADHD children with sleep problems were more likely to have poor mental health. Fortunately, sleep problems can be addressed without giving the child additional medication. Set aside time to talk to your child about her day, stick to a bedtime routine, and offer choices before bedtime ("What story would you like to read?", "What stuffed animal would you like to take to bed?") Source: Reuters

Cedars Academy schools for ADHD children offers a family-like atmosphere, structured behavioral treatment and challenging college preparatory curriculum.

Labels: quality_of_life, sleep, studies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Strattera for use in the maintenance of ADHD in children and adolescents. It is the first non-stimulant approved by the FDA for treatment of ADHD.

"Strattera provides uninterrupted relief from ADHD symptoms throughout the day into the evening. This is important since the symptoms of ADHD go beyond the work and school day."

The approval comes after an 18-month study showed dramatically superior results in the maintenance of ADHD symptoms for children and adolescents between the ages of six and 15-years. Source: News-Medical.net.

Labels: medications, non-stimulant, treatment

Two studies that recently appeared in the American Journal of Psychiatry found almost no link between ADHD medication and substance abuse. The results help quell fears that kids who start taking ADHD medication are more likely to struggle with drug or alcohol use later in life, but also pointed out another unexpected issue:

"Subjects who didn't start stimulant medication until they were between the ages of 8 and 12 had greater substance abuse that was mediated by an increase in antisocial personality disorder in adulthood."

The study seems to indicate that kids who received ADHD treatment later in childhood were more like to develop an antisocial personality disorder, which then sometimes increased the risk of substance abuse. The upshot of both studies, however, is that neither found a direct link between ADHD medication and drug or alcohol use. Source: Psych Central

Labels: studies, substance_abuse, treatment

The most common treatment for ADD and ADHD is medication. But some research indicates that changes in a child's diet, along with medication, can significantly improve ADD or ADHD symptoms.

"A number of nutritional approaches have been promoted to help manage ADHD, with most involving some form of food restriction or dietary supplementation... (Dietary modification and nutritional supplements should not be used instead of the usual medication without a doctor being involved.)"

Reducing food additives, decreasing sugar, and increasing magnesium and zinc have all been shown to improve ADD/ADHD symptoms in some children. When making dietary changes, it's best to change one thing at a time and take note of what works and what doesn't. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)

Labels: alternative_medicine, diet, treatment

A new study being conducted through Oregon Health & Science University has found that supporting the mother of a child with ADHD helps the whole family function better. Inspiration for the study came from two previous studies which found that the mother is the best "barometer" for measuring how a family is doing.

"'Some of these mothers get so exhausted and have to deal with so much they kind of wear out,' [Judy] Kendall says. And, they get depressed. Kendall's work was partly inspired by a study five years ago, which showed that mothers of ADHD children were at high risk for becoming depressed."

Called "The Parents and Children Together study," it sends nurses into the homes of Portland families that have children with ADHD. The goal of the nurses is to work with the mother, teaching them how to work with their kids and how to manage the chaos, in hopes that their stress level will be reduced and their mental and emotional states improve. Source: Portland Tribune

Last week, the American Heart Association released a statement recommending that children with ADHD be given a heart test before they're prescribed any stimulant medication like Ritalin. The statement came after the AHA concluded a study which found that stimulant medication can increase cardiac risks in children with existing conditions.

"Pediatric cardiologist Darshak Sanghavi from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester said he doesn't fully agree with the AHA recommendation... '(With the AHA announcement) people have brought up this worry that ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall increase the risk of heart problems,' he said Thursday in a phone interview."

While Ritalin and Adderall won't cause heart problems, they can aggravate existing heart issues, which is why the AHA released its statement. Source: Sentinel and Enterprise

Labels: heart_test, medications, stimulants

Beginning Wednesday, April 16, registration will open for a free teleseminar called "Unwrapping the Gift of ADD." The 8-part seminar takes place via conference calls at the end of April, each lasting about one hour.

"In an effort to bring parents of kids & teens with ADD/ADHD, and adults with ADD/ADHD the best ways to unwrap the gift of ADD, we've pulled together 8 top ADD/ADHD experts to share with you the best strategies and tactics to do this..."

Traits of ADD/ADHD like impulsivity and inattentiveness have positive aspects that few parents or kids ever hear about. Drs. Edward Hallowell and Kenny Handelman have developed this seminar based on their report "Find the Genius in ADD" as part of their ongoing efforts to eliminate the stigma associated with ADD and ADHD. Source: PR Web

What will your ADD child be doing this summer? Talisman offers summer camps for children with ADHD other special needs.

Labels: benefits, positives, support