To Help ADHD Kids, Help Mothers

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

Doctors Worry Ruling Could Scare Parents

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

Learn to Unwrap the Gifts of ADD

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.