ADHD in the News 2026-01-15
Researchers survey the ADHD coaching boom
A study explores ADHD coaches and their services, the first step to understanding their safety and effectiveness.
Public preschool boosts early diagnosis of developmental issues
New research by SIEPR scholars Adrienne Sabety and Maya Rossin-Slater shows how early exposure to public preschool benefits low-income children with behavioral and developmental conditions.
What if ADHD risk isn’t fixed at birth, but shaped by how early environments interact with a child’s sensitivity?
A 17-year longitudinal study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev followed children from birth to adolescence to explore whether early-life factors can predict ADHD, and for whom the environment matters most. Published in Infant and Child Development, the study tracked ~125 children and their parents, examining infant temperament, parental ADHD symptoms, and the richness of the early home environment. The key finding: Early 'risk factors" don't affect all children equally.
ADHD diagnoses among mothers surge in the years following childbirth
For many women, the transition to parenthood is a life-altering event filled with new challenges and responsibilities. A new study suggests that for some, this period may also reveal previously undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Researchers in Denmark found that while diagnosis rates drop during pregnancy, they rise noticeably in the years following childbirth. This research was published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Research suggests there may be a systemic underdiagnosis of ADHD in women
A world first study of ADHD in women across their lifespan has found there may be systemic misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of females, rather than a male disposition to ADHD.
ADHD, Methylphenidate, and Growth: Long-Term Outcomes in Adulthood
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often requires long-term pharmacologic management in childhood, with methylphenidate (MPH) as a first-line stimulant. However, concerns persist regarding the potential effects of both ADHD and its treatment on physical growth trajectories and later-life health. A large retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Network Open examined associations between childhood ADHD diagnoses, cumulative MPH use, and adult body mass index (BMI) and height at ages 20–25 years.
Redefining Persistence: Goal-Setting and Neurodivergence
Key points: Traditional goal-setting and goal-getting measures aren't always neurodivergent-friendly. Neurodivergent-friendly tips include tapping into your values and focusing on small actions. It's important to cultivate self-compassion.
50 Years of IDEA: 4 Things to Know About the Landmark Special Education Law
Fifty years ago, Congress dramatically expanded schools’ responsibilities when it passed the nation’s primary special education law, requiring children with disabilities to receive a “free appropriate public education” alongside their non-disabled peers. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, as it was then called, required schools to identify students with disabilities and make individualized plans to meet their needs.
Ed Department Pushing Ahead With Plan To Offload Special Education
With a pair of new hires and recent comments, advocates say the Trump administration appears to be actively laying the groundwork to transfer special education out of the U.S. Department of Education. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told a group of disability advocates she met with last month that she’s committed to proceeding with plans to move special education oversight to another federal agency.
Popular MIND Institute lecture series will address ADHD, autism subtypes, disparities in care and more
Distinguished Lecturer Series covers research and innovation in care for people with neurodevelopmental conditions
Understood.org Launches “ADHD Unstuck” to Help Women With ADHD Regulate Their Mood and Beat the Winter Blues
NEW YORK, January 12, 2026 — Understood.org, a leading nonprofit supporting the 70 million people in the U.S. who have learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia, launched ADHD Unstuck today. This free, self-guided activity is designed to help women with ADHD boost their mood and build self-awareness around emotional regulation.
Smartphone-based interventions show promise for reducing alcohol and cannabis use
[Excerpt] In one study, Traci M. Kennedy, of the University of Pittsburgh, and her colleagues, studied a mobile-health intervention specifically tailored toward young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at high risk for heavy drinking. Participants received frequent check-ins via their smartphones to help identify patterns in ADHD symptoms and their drinking. Based on their responses, participants got tailored feedback to improve self-awareness and reduce alcohol intake.
NHS ADHD spending over budget by £164m as unregulated clinics boom
The NHS is overspending by £164m a year on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services, with an increasing amount going to unregulated private assessments, a Guardian investigation has found.
Social, family and health factors contribute to bullying among adolescents
[Excerpt] Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine took a deep dive into the risk factors of bullying among U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 17 using data from the National Survey of Children's Health, a U.S. Census Bureau household survey collecting information on children's physical and mental health, access to care, and family and social environments. The study focused on how socioeconomic challenges, social influences, family dynamics, and pre-existing health conditions contribute to the risk of bullying, with the goal of informing more effective prevention strategies.