A recent study of ADHD medication reported that kids who take certain prescription drugs for ADHD symptoms may be at increased risk for sudden death. The news shocked many parents, and doctors are worried that some may take their children off their medications without consulting their doctors.

Dr. Ellen Schumann with the Ministry Medical Group says, "[ADHD] is also a condition that can be life threatening. Those kids don't have the ability to stop and think before they do. Their accident rate is much higher. They engage in risky behaviors." (Source: WAOW-TV - Wisconsin)

Doctors continue to encourage concerned parents to talk to their children's pediatricians to better understand whether the risk of sudden death applies to their child, and to discuss possible alternatives to medication.

Labels: medications, risks

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On his blog, Hunter in a Farmer's World, Chris G. writes about life as the father of two children with ADHD (one of whom has also been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome). On June 2, Chris G. -- who suffers from ADHD himself -- wrote about an activity that he and his family have been enjoying together, and which he believes may be particularly suited to other families who have been affected by ADHD: geocaching.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt in which the participants use a GPS, or a global positioning system receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called geocaches or caches, anywhere in the world. Typically, the cache is a small waterproof container holding a logbook and some small trinkets as the treasure.

This game became popular after the GPS satellite systems were upgraded to become more accurate, around 10 years ago. Currently, there are over 814,000 active caches hidden around the world.

So why do these games seem well suited for the ADHDr's of the world? It is suitable for the young to the old. Some caches are considered "park and grabs," meaning that you can practically pull your car right up to the site. Others are more challenging, requiring a hike into deep woods or mountains. They often get us out into the therapeutic, green outdoors.

And lastly, the novelty of each adventure seems to keep the attention of the ADHDr's, with our curiosity getting the best of us.

For more information about this intriguing and innovative activity, check out one of the many websites that are dedicated to geocaching.

Labels: Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, activities, families

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Impulsivity is a common symptom in people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Impulsivity is simply an inability to stop and think before reaction to something. It is expressed in both actions and words. Someone with ADHD is likely to interrupt others when theyre talking, having thought of something to share without waiting to share it.

To combat this tendency toward interrupting, an article on the Bella Online website advocates on behalf of teaching active listening skills to children with ADHD:

It's important for those who live with [ADHD] to learn active listening. Active listening is the ability to focus and listen to someone who is talking without forming a response to what he or she is saying internally. ... During active listening the person listening should acknowledge he or she is hearing what the other person is saying.

Reflecting or clarifying techniques can also help improved the listening skills of a person with ADHD. These techniques require the listener to restate what theyve heard, to ensure they understand. This type of listening and thinking can help someone with ADHD stay involved in the conversation.

Labels: communication, listening

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In a culture that thrives on defining and categorizing people, education experts warn that labeling students can do more harm than good. Malcolm Gauld, President of Hyde Schools (prep schools in Maine and Connecticut and public schools in Washington D.C. and New York), said he encourages creating a character culture, rather than a performance-based one.

"In a character culture, achievement is valued, but principles are valued more," Gauld said in an article on the website of Minnesota's Review Messenger. "That is, what you stand for is more important than merely how you stack up against the others."

"Labels and categories register deeply in our children, and they can be difficult to overcome," Gauld said. "And it doesn't end in early childhood. Later, children will likely face additional labeling due to the peer pressure of cliques, and perhaps the name-calling of bullies. And then there is the educational system itself."

Parents of children with ADHD have personal experience with both the benefits and dangers of labeling students whose issues can significantly impact their educational progress.

The good news is that programs such as Stone Mountain School (a residential school for boys with behavior problems) provide highly effective educational experiences for children with ADHD, learning disabilities, and other disorders.

Labels: schools, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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A new study that was released in the American Journal of Psychiatry has caused concern among officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who are worried that parents will take their kids off ADHD medication without warning -- and without considering the risks. The study found that kids who take ADHD medication were six to seven times more likely to die suddenly for unexplained reasons than their peers.

The study was partially funded by [the] Food and Drug Administration, but agency experts said its methods -- which relied on interviews with parents years after a childs death -- may have caused errors. The agency urges parents to discuss safety concerns with their doctor, but to keep children on the treatments. (Source: The Associated Press)

The FDA also said that it is in the process of collecting larger amounts of data for a more in-depth study of the benefits and dangers of ADHD medications, though it gave no timeline for when that study might be completed.

Labels: medications, dangers, research

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A research team from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London has found that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may not accurately perceive the passing of time. This may explain some of the inattention and lack of patience exhibited by kids with ADHD.

[Lead researcher Katya Rubia] revealed that her team used MRI scans to show that 12 boys with ADHD had less activity than usual in the frontal lobe, the basal ganglia and cerebellum, all areas of the brain known to be crucial for time perception. (Source: New Kerala)

Kids with ADHD also have a shortage of dopamine, which is another factor in time perception. The study found that dopamine-enhancing drugs increased to near-normal levels activity in areas of the brain that are involved in time perception.

Labels: Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, brain_chemistry

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Switching from daytime activities to nighttime quiet and sleep is difficult for any child. But for children with ADHD it is especially challenging. According to an article by Erika Lyn Smith of the website BellaOnline, parents can take certain steps to make this transition easier, and to help ensure that their child gets a better night's sleep:

Children need a quiet place to snuggle in and settle down after a nice warm shower or bath. A winding down period before lights out can be the key to a restful night's sleep. During the winding down time, encourage children to read quietly. It is not a good idea to allow video games, action movies or television.

Routine is also essential for children with ADHD, Smith noted. Even in the summer, a regular bedtime schedule will be helpful. Establish rules for the morning, too -- such as no video games, television, or computer activity.

Labels: parenting, sleep, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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A Norwegian study of 24 boys (ages 8 to 12) has led researchers to conclude that a single dose of the popular ADHD medication Ritalin can lead to short-term improvements in muscle control and movement among children with a specific type of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Amy Norton of the Reuters News Service reported on the study in a June 4 article:

The study, reported in the online journal Behavioral and Brain Functions, focused on 24 boys newly diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorder (HKD), a diagnosis nearly identical to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-combined type (ADHD-C).

Children with ADHD-C commonly have increased muscle tension, which can hinder normal movement. This, in turn, may manifest as problems such as stiffness, restlessness as a child repeatedly shifts to get comfortable, and even poor handwriting, explained Liv Larsen Stray of the University of Stavanger, the lead researcher on the study.

"Our study shows that a single dose of methylphenidate typically led to improvement of the muscular tone and to a more fluent movement in children with ADHD-C/HKD," Stray told Reuters Health.

Stray's report was first published May 13 on the website of the journal Behavioral and Brain Functions.

Labels: medications, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, ritalin, motor_skills

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In response to a parent's question about the wisdom of allowing her 16-year-old daughter to stop taking medication for her Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder during summer vacation, educational psychologist Brent Cooper cited concerns about safety and socializations. The exchange was published in the June 6 edition of the Palm Springs, Calif., newspaper The Desert Sun:

In the summer, even if things seem OK at home, an ADHD symptom like impulsivity could cause your teenage daughter more difficulties with her peers, social situations and safety than you realize.

Dr. Daniel J. Fitzgerald III, a Palm Desert psychiatrist, said, "It's proven that teenagers with ADHD who take their meds have a much lower rate of car accidents than their peers with ADHD who don't take their medication. During the summer when your child is biking, skateboarding, and around pools and boats, safety is a big concern. It's only logical that a child or teen who's not distracted and is paying good attention to what they're doing will have fewer accidents."

"No matter what you decide," Cooper wrote to the parent, "you must talk to your youngster's pediatrician or psychiatrist before stopping any medication that's been prescribed."

Echoing Cooper's advice, Molly Shannon-Blake, MSW, of Talisman Camps in North Carolina, cautions parents against allowing their children to take an ADHD medication vacation if the children will be attending summer camp or a similar program.

Labels: medications, summer_camp, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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Canadian researcher Matthew Smith says we've got the wrong perspective when it comes to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Many doctors, authors and educators say that hyperactivity has always existed. But Smith believes that this perspective is incorrect. The truth, he argues, is that prior to the 1950s, hyperactivity was "clinically and culturally insignificant."

Smith made this argument during the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Ottawa, Canada:

Smith says that whether you consider hyperactivity a disease worth treating often depends on context  and the context changed in the 1950s when the U.S. refocused its education system in response to the space race ...

"We need to refocus the history of hyperactivity on the period starting from the late 1950s and 60s," he said. "By doing so, we start to understand why people started to think there was a problem with children, why they thought that problem needed to be fixed, and why it became acceptable to fix that problem with drugs." (Source: Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences)

By understanding the short history of ADHD, Smith contends, parents and children are better equipped to ask questions and ensure proper treatment, if any is needed.

Labels: research, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, history

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A study from the United Kingdom found that autism may be much more common and under-diagnosed than has been previously thought.

Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen concluded that for every three children who are diagnosed with autism, another two also have it but are undiagnosed:

• Dr. Baron-Cohen and his colleagues surveyed more than 11,700 parents of children living in Cambridge, Great Britain, using the Childhood Autism Screen Test and other tools.
• The group had 41 cases of children with diagnosed autism.However, another eleven children met the criteria.
• This means the true prevalence of autism may be closer to one in 64 children, although the undiagnosed children most likely have mild symptoms.

This study appeared in the British Journal of Medicine.

Has your child shown symptoms of autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or a learning disability? Talisman Camps and Programs are currently accepting applications for a series of highly supervised and effective summer camps for exceptional children.

Labels: autism, research

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Danielle Herb is 15 years old. She's also a business owner and CEO. Her company, Drop Your Reins, teaches self-calming techniques to children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as well as young people with certain types of autism.

Drop Your Reins is a revolutionary company geared toward helping parents to transition their ADD/ADHD and autistic kids off prescription medication. Danielle Herb, a 15-year-old entrepreneur, developed the program with the help of her mom, Marianne St. Clair. (Source: Huliq News)

Danielle and Marianne co-teach the program, working not only with the kids, but with their parents. The mother/daughter teaching team also helps students understand the importance of diet and nutrition and the role allergies can play in ADHD and autism.

Drop Your Reins is one of many programs that employs equine-assisted education to help young people with a wide range of physical, emotional, and developmental conditions.

Labels: autism, equine-therapy, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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If you're the parent of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you've likely made countless requests for your child to "just sit still!" But according to a new study from the University of Central Florida learning to sit still may not help your child:

Fidgeting, as it turns out, helps kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder focus. So just like grown-ups need a cup of coffee before tackling a problem, kids with ADHD may tap their feet, swivel in their chairs or bounce in their seats while their brains are busily figuring out that math test. (Source: The Orlando Sentinel)

The UCF researchers studied differences in activity levels between boys with and without ADHD. When given math problems to solve, the ADHD boys were much more fidgety, but still worked on -- and solved -- the math problems.

Elementary school teacher Darcey Eckers said she wasnt surprised by the studys results, telling the Sentinel that ADHD kids are "some of the smartest in the class" and that she doesn't mind if they need to move around a bit in order to get their work done.

Labels: fidgeting, research, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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