treating children: recent publications

September 26, 2023Thirteen months have passed since ADDitude first forecast a disruptive American shortage of the ADHD medication Adderall, and today more than one-fifth of ADDitude readers continue to experience problems accessing their stimulant prescriptions. According to an ADDitude survey of 10,936 caregivers and adults with ADHD, roughly 38% of all patients have had trouble finding and filling their prescription medication over the last year and 21% continue to suffer treatment disruptions today.“I was on Adderall XR for 15 years, but discontinued it this spring due to the shortage,” wrote a survey respondent, one of many who has switched or stopped taking medication over the last year.“I’m struggling to get Adderall XR and I am forced to take regular Adderall, which I dislike,” wrote another survey respondent.

January 3, 2024The impact of rising and falling hormone levels on ADHD symptoms is compounded for females beginning in puberty, according to a review article published in Hormones and Behavior. 1ADHD symptoms correlate with hormonal fluctuations, especially declines in estrogen, argue the review authors, who present a new two-phase theory of hormonal sensitivity that asserts ADHD impairments spike during two points in the menstrual cycle:Per the theory, females may be more likely to engage in risk-taking and reward-seeking behaviors in the days leading up to ovulation.

November 28, 2023Weighted blankets help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who struggle with sleep disorders by improving both sleep quality and duration, according to a new study published in The Journal of Sleep Research.1 While the results revealed weighted blankets can be beneficial for all children with ADHD, the effects were particularly notable in children aged 11 to 14 years with inattentive type ADHD.Specifically, the study found that weighted blankets increased sleep duration by 8 minutes, on average, for all study participants and by 16 minutes, on average, for children aged 11 to 14 with inattentive ADHD. The study also found that children without weighted blankets were awake for three minutes more during the night, on average, than were children with weighted blankets.Children with ADHD frequently experience a host of sleep problems including difficulty falling asleep, waking throughout the night, daytime sleepiness, and circadian abnormalities.

July 15, 2023Prescription stimulant medication use for the treatment of ADHD does not increase adolescents’ risk for illicit drug use as young adults; however, adolescents who divert and/or misuse stimulants are 2.5 times more likely to use cocaine or methamphetamine during young adulthood, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Open Network.1The University of Michigan study of 5,034 U.S. high school seniors found that adolescents with ADHD who used stimulant therapy were no more likely to use cocaine and methamphetamine at ages 19 to 24 than their neurotypical peers.

Depression impacts at least 18% of people with ADHD, and the risk of developing depression is about 2.5 times higher for people with ADHD than it is for the general population. Perhaps even more sobering: half of all depressive cases are rated by the patient and the clinician as severe to extreme.

Q:  I was told a therapist could help my child, who has ADHD, with his behavioral issues. How do I choose a therapist and what can I expect in the way of treatment practices?A: Many mental-health professionals are adequately trained to address behaviors that accompany ADHD.

In an early scene in the documentary, The Disruptors, a mother fruitlessly tries to coax her third-grade son out from under his bed to get ready for school. Later, she admits, “I constantly feel like I’m barely holding my life together.”The scene is raw, heart-wrenching, and relatable to parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — including Emmy-nominated executive producer Nancy Armstrong, who drew inspiration for the film from raising her children with ADHD.The Disruptors follows five households affected by ADHD, throwing into plain view the daily realities of parenting neurodivergent children.

Not available December 9? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.At this point in the school year, many parents and educators are feeling frustrated and thwarted in their efforts to teach responsibility, motivation, and persistence to children with ADHD, learning differences, and mood instability.

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Not available December 9? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.At this point in the school year, many parents and educators are feeling frustrated and thwarted in their efforts to teach responsibility, motivation, and persistence to children with ADHD, learning differences, and mood instability.

Not available November 24? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.One of the most difficult — and under-appreciated — challenges of ADHD is managing the intense emotions and moods that can hijack everyday life for children and adults alike.

October 21, 2020Living with ADHD may cost an individual $15,664 over a lifetime, and approximately $12.76 billion annually in the United States. This finding comes from a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders1that attempted to comprehensively document the social and economic costs associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) using a lifespan approach.

Not available November 10? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Healthy eating poses many challenges for people with ADHD.

She probably doesn’t and she probably won’t for a few decades, I thought. The girl on the slide laughed and screamed as 20 years faded away, taking me back to my own little handful.I was doing my best to help Lee, my four-month-old baby, sit on my lap quietly during circle time in a Mommy and Me class.

The emotional component of ADHD is nearly as profound as it is underestimated.

All children need four things: your ear, your empathy, your acknowledgment, and special time alone with you. This is how they feel supported and valued by the family.

April 29, 2020

Hypersensitivity — also known as being a “highly sensitive person” (HSP) — is not a disorder. It is an attribute common in people with ADHD. Symptoms of hypersensitivity include being highly sensitive to physical (via sound, sigh, touch, or smell) and or emotional stimuli and the tendency to be easily overwhelmed by too much information.

Any child will tell you: Video games are fun and exciting. It turns out they can be educational, too. Gaming can improve eye-hand coordination, and may foster positive social interactions. Children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) or little athletic interest or ability have an opportunity to compete in a different way, and to form friendships with like-minded gamers.

Exercise can help control symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) by raising the baseline levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. So registering your child for an after-school sport is a great idea, right? Well, it depends on your child’s unique set of ADHD symptoms. Use this list to determine which activities for kids will showcase and strengthen your child’s abilities so she can shine on the court, in the field, or in the pool.

Children and teens with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) are notoriously disorganized — which can lead to messy rooms, frustrated nagging, angry blowouts, and hurt feelings.

Rush-hour traffic, hungry kids, and mountains of homework make weeknights stressful for any parent. For parents of children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), the hours from school dismissal to bedtime can be overwhelming.

Without our bullet-proof morning routine, there isn’t enough coffee in the world to help me manage my family’s chaos. Before our routine, rousing my oldest was like waking the dead. My other two, meanwhile, would take a bite or two of their protein-filled breakfast while whining for frosted cereal, begging, “Please, can we watch TV?”

Need help setting up routines for your kids? Follow our checklist of organizing tips to create easy-to-follow structures that help your child grow and learn to be on time.

The best treatment strategies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) are multimodal ones — combinations of several different, complementary approaches that work together to reduce symptoms. For one child, this ideal combination may include ADHD medication, nutrition, exercise, and behavioral therapy. For another, it may mean taking ADHD supplements and vitamins, practicing mindfulness, and spending lots of time outdoors in nature.