Diane Metcalf-Leggette has been diagnosed with four learning disabilities, including ADHD. When she applied to Princeton, she included information about her disabilities and her need for addition time on tests and exams.

However, according to an article in the school newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, Metcalfe-Leggette claims that the school is not providing her with the support to which she is entitled, so she has filed a lawsuit:

Metcalf-Leggette 13 is suing the University for refusing to grant her extended time on examinations, the New Jersey Law Journal reported. & The suit comes after a series of meetings with school officials during which Metcalf-Leggette sought accommodation for her disabilities.

The university currently accommodates her disabilities by offering her a reduced distraction testing environment, a limit of one exam per day and a 10-minute break each hour. Ms. Metcalf-Leggette has stated that she also needs additional time to complete her tests. University attorney Hannah Ross stated that the university is not required to offer extended test time if it would jeopardize the essence of a Princeton education.

The next hearing is set for Jan. 11.

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Dr. Richard Zakreski, Ph.D. will host a webinar (an internet-based seminar) on ADHD today (Wednesday, October 28). Dr. Zakreski has been practicing for 25 years, and specializes in treatment of neurodevelopmental and neurochemical disorders, including ADHD.

A release posted on the website pr.com described the webinar as "a must-see presentation for parents and teachers." The webinar will address the symptoms, causes and impact of ADHD on the lives of children and adolescents at home, at school and with their peers. Effective treatments  both environmental and pharmacological  will also be discussed.

There is no charge to participate in the online event, which is scheduled for 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), but participants must register at NJCTS.org.

Labels: parents, teachers, webinar

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Parents of children with ADHD have many concerns when it comes to medication. One of the more common is the possibility that ADHD drugs could cause mood swings. Mental health expert Dr. Charles Raison recently addressed mood swing issues in an edition of CNNs Expert Q&A.:

The first thing to assess is whether the child might be abusing the stimulant. Stimulants are among the safest of all psychiatric medications when used as prescribed. But they are also prone to abuse, and in high doses they frequently produce all sorts of sinister side effects, including frank psychosis.

Raison also advised parents to take note of when the mood swings started or became worse. Does there seem to be a correlation between the mood swings and the time your child started taking ADHD medication? Talk with your childs doctor and explore the possibilities. Remember, there are many medication options for treating ADHD.

Source: CNN

Labels: medications, mood_disorders

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Today, more children in Denmark are on medication for the treatment of ADHD than ever before. The number of children being treated jumped 40 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to the Association of Danish Pharmacies.

Experts are astounded by the rapid increase and questioning why a more holistic approach involving psychological treatment for children with ADHD isnt being promoted," The Copenhagen Post has reported.

A senior physician from the Zealand Health Region speculates that prescriptions have increased not because other treatments are unavailable, The Post reported, but simply because parents have become accustomed to using medication.

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As cases of ADHD increase in Singapore, doctors there are exploring more experimental treatments.

"The first-ever local study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for kids with ADHD will be carried out next month by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and TCM company Science Arts," The (Singapore) Straits Times reported. "It aims to measure how effective a TCM herbal remedy is for the disorder."

The study will last six months and will measure the effect of a drug whose name can be loosely translated into English as granules to benefit the spirit.

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Health Canada recently released a statement warning of potential psychotic reactions to ADHD medications. The public advisory also said that patient and labeling information will be changed to reflect "the potential for psychiatric adverse affects."

The new safety concerns come four months after Health Canada warned ADHD drugs can carry rare heart risks, including a risk of sudden death.

That public advisory cautioned that any child or adult with high blood pressure, heart disease or heart abnormalities, hardening of the arteries or an overactive thyroid gland should not use Ritalin or seven other medications. (Source: Canwest News Service)

The same drugs are mentioned in this new advisory: Ritalin and Ritalin SR, Adderall XR, Attenade, Biphentin, Concerta, Dexedrine and Strattera. Heath Canada expects label changes to be complete by December, Canwest News reported.

Labels: medications, dangers, Canada, warnings

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Researchers at the University of Illinois have confirmed previous studies which concluded that exposure to green spaces has a calming effect on children with ADHD. The studies found that time spent outdoors improved both attention and impulse control.

An Oct. 17 article by Mary Helen Jones of the Henderson (NC) Daily Dispatch provided the following details about this discovery:

The "degree of green" appears to matter with greater effects from the greenest or most wilderness-like environment.

A walk in the forest trumps a walk in the park or playing organized sports in recreational park fields. Park experiences reap better results than a walk in a neighborhood or downtown area. "Green" play more effectively reduced ADHD symptoms than active play in a gym or play on paved surfaces. ...

According to researcher Frances E. Kuo, "as little as 20 minutes of outdoor exposure could potentially buy you an afternoon or a couple of hours to get homework done."

Labels: attention, impulsivity, environment

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A new government study indicates that one in 100 American children has autism. This is up from the 2007 federal estimate that one in 150 children suffers from this lifelong disorder that impedes communication and social interactions.

Since boys are four times more likely to have the disorder than girls, the new study indicates that one in 58 boys is autistic.

The new estimate is the result of a telephone survey of 78,037 parents by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The figures are more accurate than those in the past because the CDC used a network of 11 sites around the country to gather exact information concerning childrens medical and special education needs.

"[The new study] provides what scientists call convergent validity-- no matter how you shake the bushes, you come up with this 1 percent," said Richard Roy Grinker, an expert on autism at George Washington University.

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Young people who are depressed or hostile, or who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or social phobia, are more likely to become addicted to the Internet, according to an article that appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Between 1.4 and 17.9 percent of all adolescents are addicted to the Internet. Boys are more likely to have such addictions than girls, and the addictions are more prevalent in Eastern countries.

The latest research involved 2,293 seventh grade students from Taiwan, who were followed for more than two years by researchers from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.

"The study's indication that children who were hyperactive and diagnosed with ADHD are finding an outlet on the Web makes perfect sense," said Michael Gilbert, a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication. These children crave the constant stimulation of fast-paced video games and interactive social networks, he said.

Likewise, children with depression, anger issues or social problems also turn to the Internet for an outlet.

"They can take on an avatar or a different identity," Gilbert said, "and contact other kids with the same problems and social inadequacies. They don't have to function in conventional social ways."

Labels: addictions, phobias, internet, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

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Top experts and leaders in the ADHD community are gathering for a unique conference that will take place almost entirely online. Though the conference is geared towards professionals, parents of kids with ADHD are encouraged to attend as well.

"Participants can choose to attend sessions live via teleconference or computer webcast [video there tells you exactly how], or listen to presentation recordings later," reported the Core Psych Blog. "There will also be opportunities to interact with your peers in dedicated forums and chat rooms."

The conference runs Oct. 5 to 7. More information can be found at www.adhdconference.com.

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The sixth annual Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Related Concerns Conference will take place Oct. 22 and 23 at the Temple Baptist Church Student Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

According to a report in the Hattiesburg American, "the conference will bring together general educators, special educators, students, psychologists, social workers, speech/language pathologists, counselors and health care providers to learn how ADHD impacts individuals and discover resources available to ensure their success."

The keynote speaker will be Hattiesburg physician Dr. Ronald Kent, who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with ADHD. For more information, visit www.usm.edu/profdev_edoutreach.

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Edmund Higgins, a clinical associate professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, expressed his concern about the long-term use of ADHD medication in an article that appeared in the July 2009 edition of the journal Scientific American Mind.

A smattering of recent studies, most of them involving animals, hint that stimulants could alter the structure and function of the brain in ways that may depress mood, boost anxiety and, contrary to their short-term effects, lead to cognitive deficits.

Human studies already indicate the medications can adversely affect areas of the brain that govern growth in children, and some researchers worry that additional harms have yet to be unearthed. ...

In light of the emerging evidence, many doctors and researchers are recommending a more cautious approach to the medical use of stimulants.

Some are urging the adoption of strict diagnostic criteria for ADHD and a policy restricting prescriptions for individuals who fit those criteria. Others are advocating behavior modification -- which can be as effective as stimulants over the long run -- as a first-line approach to combating the disorder.

Labels: medications, long_term_effects

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A study that appeared in the journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that children who had been prescribed Ritalin for ADHD were still affected by the condition eight years later.

A July 7 article by Kim Thomas of the New Zealand-based website stuff.co.nz provided the following details about the study:

Researchers reassessed participants when they were in their teens and found they had higher than average levels of delinquency, aggression, and arrests by police than the general population. ...

University of Canterbury psychologist Dr Julia Rucklidge, an ADHD expert, said the research showed Ritalin was a "band aid" which gave some short-term relief for sufferers and their parents, but had no long-term effect.

Rucklidge said the study was significant because it highlighted the need for a fresh look at Ritalin prescribing and at new treatments.

"Ritalin has been seen as this amazing drug but this research is showing that really it is just acting as a band-aid. While it improves behaviour in the short term, it has no lasting effects. These kids continue to struggle in the long term despite taking Ritalin."

Labels: research, ritalin

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The Williamson County school district in Tennessee was recently ordered to pay the legal fees incurred by parents who spent three years fighting for their sons educational rights.

Writing in the Sept. 25 edition of The Tennessean Mitchell Kline provided the following details about the case:

The lawsuit hinged on whether Chase Kildgore, who is now attending college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, would receive tutoring and have an individual education plan under federal laws regulating special-education students. Chase Kildgore was diagnosed with ADHD in May 2003, before entering the seventh grade.

A year later, schools officials declared that he was not eligible for special-education services but came up with an education plan for him. ...

Then the boy was involved in a fight at Independence High School, where he admitted to striking another student. After meeting with the boy's doctor, father, teachers and counselors, school officials decided the fight was not manifested by his ADHD and therefore followed normal procedures for disciplinary action, suspending him from school and sending him to the county's Alternative Learning Center for 20 days.

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In the Sept. 27 edition of the Palm Springs, Calif., newspaper The Desert Sun, educational psychologist Brent M. Cooper advised a mother who suspected her high school aged daughter might have ADHD:

The initial step in determining whether your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is to seek a comprehensive evaluation. Once you have a final evaluation, you may request a 504 Plan, which can assist your child in achieving academic success by identifying the modifications and accommodations needed.

Following the assessment, utilizing a therapist who specializes in ADHD can be helpful in advocating for your child, facilitating effective problem-solving in school and home environments and assisting the child in developing executive functions such as organization and impulse control.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you may also want to consider consulting with a therapist or exploring the opportunities that are available at a private boarding school for students with ADHD.

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A device that has been marketed as a way to detect autism in children under four years old has some doctors worried.

• The LENA Language and Autism Screener is a small monitor meant to fit into children's overalls.
  
• Children ages two to four years old wear the device and overalls for 12 hours, and then their parents mail the device back to the company for evaluation.
  
• The results of the test are based on the child's language ability, which is not always an accurate test for autism.

According to the spokesperson for the manufacturers of the device, parents need to bring the information to a professional, because "it is not a diagnosis, it is a detection."

Parents' reliance on the devices may due to the brevity of many doctor's appointments. Some "well baby" visits last about 10 minutes -- and parents who suspect something is wrong may believe that their pediatrician is not taking the time to address their concerns.

Labels: autism, screening, health_care

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The University of Pittsburghs Youth and Family Research Program is recruiting children ages 6 to 12 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. The children will participate in a treatment study that will measure the safety and effectiveness of a long-acting form of Ritalin.

"During the first three weeks, all children will begin on a low dose of methylphenidate (commonly known at Ritalin) while parents receive an 11-session course of parenting training," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. "Over the next six weeks, half of the children will be randomly assigned to receive risperidone & in addition to methylphenidate, and half will receive a placebo."

The study will last for months. For more information, e-mail Heidi Kipp at kipphl@upmc.edu

Labels: medications, research

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