A German study has found that children with eczema, a skin condition characterized by a red itchy rash, are more likely to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Among 1,436 children who had eczema, the ADHD rate was 5.2 percent, compared to 3.4 percent among 1,436 children without eczema. About 20 percent of all children in western countries have eczema, which is linked to hay fever and asthma. Many parents of children with ADHD experiment with natural food diets because they believe the disorder is allergy-based.

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Labels: allergies, diet, studies

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Researchers at Vanderbilt University are experimenting with using robots to monitor the emotional states of autistic children.

Professors Wendy Stone and Nilanjan Sarkar believe that robots could eventually help these children learn social skills. Children with autism spectrum disorder - which affects about one in 150 children - have difficulties "reading" other people and communicating with them.

Stone and Sarkar connect children ages 13 to 16 years old to battery sensors that measure their heart rates, temperatures, and muscle and skin responses. Information from the robots indicates when a child is becoming upset. Since each child responds differently to certain stimuli, this information must be individualized. For example, one child may avoid eye contact and start to tantrum if someone stares at him too often. The idea is to program the robot to help the child modulate his response to upsetting stimuli.

So far the robots are as accurate as trained therapists in predicting behaviors.

These studies appear in the journals International Journal of Human Computer Studies and IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

Labels: autism, emotions, robots

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Parents like Karen George are becoming more common. When her son was diagnosed with ADHD, George was reluctant to put him on medication, because he was only 10 years old. Instead, she had him try a brain stimulation program designed to help improve short-term memory. She says that the approach worked.

"The size of the U.S. Market for brain stimulation products... more than doubled between 2005 and 2007 to $225 million, according to a new report by the consulting group SharpBrains... Even health insurers are getting in on the act. Humana, for example, has teamed up with Posit Science, which makes programs to enhance learning and memory..."

One potential downfall of the "brain games" is that the effects are not permanent. A child whose attention is improved will begin to relapse if the program is discontinued. But, say proponents of the games, the same is true of prescription medication. Source: Reuters

Labels: brain_activity, treatment, memory

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The Greater Newark Chapter of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD) will host a conference "ADHD Across the Lifespan," at Dickinson High School March 7. The featured speaker will be Jeffrey Bernstein, a licensed psychologist.

"Bernstein's workshop will help parents of children with ADHD learn effective ways to work through a child's resistance, manage their own emotions at meetings with teachers and other professionals, help their child become more obedient at home and school, follow through on behavior strategies, and become empowered through advocacy tools."

The afternoon session will feature Ari Tuckman, a clinical psychologist who will talk about how a person with ADHD processes information. Dickinson High School is located in Wilmington, Delaware. The conference will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there is a $45 registration fee. Source: UD Daily (University of Delaware)

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Shire, plc, has announced that it is withdrawing its European Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Daytrana®, an ADHD medication. Daytrana® is a patch, developed for children ages six to 12, that releases a steady, low dose of ADHD medication for up to 9 hours.

"Shire stated that its decision to withdraw the MAA was based on the fact that European regulatory authorities had requested an addiction clinical study for Daytrana® in a European patient population, and that Shire planned to enter the European ADHD market through the previously-announced acquisition of a... product that is already approved in Europe."

Shire will continue to market Daytrana® in the United States, where it has already been subjected to clinical tests and approved. Source: BusinessWire

Labels: medications, treatment, patch

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A study conducted through the Douglas Mental Health University Institute has found that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may be clinically sleep deprived and have abnormal REM sleep. Thirty-eight children participated in the study - 15 who had been diagnosed with ADHD, and 23 who had not.

"Results show that children with ADHD have a total sleep time that is significantly shorter than that of controls. Children in the ADHD group had an average total sleep time of eight hours, 19 minutes; this was 33 minutes less than the average sleep time of eight hours, 52 minutes, in controls."

Lead investigator Reut Gruber, Ph.D, said the study doesn't prove that sleep deprivation is the cause of ADHD, but that it may make symptoms worse. Over time, partial sleep loss accumulates into a sleep debt that can cause neurobehavioral impairments and affect overall learning and attention. Source: PsychCentral

Labels: research, sleep, studies

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Makers of the drug Seroquel are attempting to keep sealed hundreds of pages of drug study results, saying it is in the public's best interest. About 15,000 patients who have been prescribed the drug disagree, and have filed over 9,000 personal injury lawsuits stating the drug has caused weight gain and diabetes.

"Seroquel is approved only for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but its use for everything from depression to insomnia to ADHD in kids is so widespread that the drug has been prescribed for more than 22 million patients."

The company's maker, AstraZeneca, says releasing the documents "could jeopardize public safety by causing confusion and alarm in patients, who may then discontinue their medication..." A hearing is scheduled to take place in Orlando this month - a hearing AstraZeneca wants closed to the public because sensitive information will be discussed. Source: St. Petersburg Times

Labels: medications, side_effects, drug_study

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The British Columbia Medical Association estimates that about 31,000 young people in B.C. have ADHD. It also estimates that less than half of them are getting proper diagnoses or treatment.

"Shelley Ross, who chairs the association's council on health economics and policy, says the resulting social consequences include crime, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy and traffic accidents."

A study by the association also found there aren't enough services available for people with ADHD. Source: Globe and Mail

Labels: treatment, diagnosis

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder researcher Chris Dendy recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to provide teachers there with training and insight in working with students who have ADHD. She was joined by her sister, Dr. Billie Abney, and son, Alex.

"The three family members spent five days overseas to train 50 English-speaking teachers, under the sponsorship of Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, the Saudi ambassador to England. The training was held at the Tuwaiq Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh."

During their visit, they also received awards of appreciation for providing the training. ADHD rates in Saudi Arabia are nearly double what they are in the United States. Source: Walker County Messenger (GA)

Labels: teachers, training

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In her latest play, "Distracted," playwright Lisa Loomer takes a humorous and realistic look into the world of attention deficit disorder. Discovering that her son has ADD sends the main character, Mama, on a search to understand the disorder.

"Loomer carefully presents various sides of the issue, complicated by the over-stimulated, plugged-in, totally wired world of today, where nothing lasts more than a minute or else is reduced to a sound bite."

The story-telling is enhanced by video images that constantly flicker across multiple screens on the stage, resulting in a unique look at an issue with which many parents and kids struggle. Source: The Associated Press

Labels: awareness, understanding, humor

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Two Keystone (Lagrange, OH) High School students have been suspended for supposedly buying Adderall from fellow students, the latest in a series of suspensions resulting from the illicit distribution of these drugs.

"The teens received the same punishment as three girls who were accused of selling the drug generally used to treat attention-deficit and hyperactivity to other students earlier this month."

Another student was also suspended for buying the drug. The suspensions will likely lead to expulsions, and the school's assistant principal says his investigation is ongoing. Source: Chronicle-Telegram (OH)

Labels: medications, students, drugs

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Shire plc, maker of the ADHD medication Vyvanse, has acquired the worldwide rights to a medication called Equasym - which is also used for the treatment of ADHD.

"This acquisition will broaden the scope of Shire's ADHD portfolio and will facilitate immediate access to the European ADHD market as well as provide Shire the opportunity to enter additional world markets."

The agreement between Shire and Equasym maker UCB was announced yesterday. Shire will reportedly pay UCB about $70 million in exchange for the acquisition. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: medications, treatment

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Parents who have just been told that their child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can feel overwhelmed, anxious or confused. Unsure what to do next, they may decide to do nothing at all - but advice from parents "who have been there" can be beneficial:

"Turn off the TV, get outside! Nature will help your ADHD kid release pent-up energy and can have a somewhat calming effect. See if you can give them a special job to do outside that is simple - watering plants, feeding outdoor animals, whatever."

Other parents suggest putting away toys and instead playing board games or reading with your child. The decreased stimulation can help a child relax and focus. Also, find a local CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) chapter where you can connect with other parents and receive support and encouragement. Source: About.com

Labels: parents, support, advice

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