Robot toys could help detect early signs of autism or ADHD in infants

Lauren Klein, a computer science Ph.D. candidate in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, has long been interested in tackling healthcare problems. Her latest approach: robot toys. “I strongly believe that human-robot interaction is a research topic that is promising for the future of healthcare,” said Klein, a member of the USC Interaction Lab.

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How Multitasking Erodes Productivity And Dings Your IQ

If you’ve heard of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), you probably know that its symptoms include impulsivity, difficulty focusing, poor time management, problems prioritizing, and short attention span. And it’s taxing for those who struggle to overcome it. In the workplace, something quite similar and widespread plagues companies, and it wears the innocent label of…

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The Erosive Power of ADHD: Tips for Adults

While attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is now well recognized and commonly diagnosed in children, less attention has been focused on the fact that about half of these children carry some of the symptoms of ADHD into adulthood. What’s more, there are many adults with ADHD who have never been diagnosed or treated…As a result, many adults…

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How our ‘birth environment’ can influence our health

This bigger picture is known as the “birth environment”—and its influence on health has long fascinated Mary Regina Boland, Ph.D. Her work on the theme—conducted using data from around the world, on a myriad of health conditions and diseases—has yielded a series of scientific insights that has colored her thinking about which things we can…

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Antipsychotics for Children With ADHD Should Be a Last Resort

In the past decade, physicians have been more likely to prescribe antipsychotic medications to children, and especially adolescents, than ever before.1 Between 1999 and 2014, antipsychotic prescribing for young people in the United States increased by 50%. More than 1 million American youths take antipsychotic drugs.1 The FDA has approved some antipsychotic medications for a…

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The Best Valentine’s Day Gift You Can Give If You Have ADHD

What’s the best gift you can give your partner if you have ADHD? The gift of attention! I’m going to give you some ideas below, but please let me briefly say why it’s such a great gift first. Since the number one symptom of adult ADHD is distractibility, it’s quite likely your partner doesn’t get…

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Feeling Mentally Blah? 10 Ways to Give Yourself a Boost

The ADHD brain tends to be chronically understimulated due to low levels of neurotransmitters critical for task initiation and focus, specifically dopamine and norepinephrine. A lack of external stimulation or interest can cause ADHD-related symptoms to spike whereas an increase in stimulation actually has the opposite effect.

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