Children with ADHD Less Likely to Exercise

A retrospective, population-based, cross-sectional study compared rates of physical activity among children with and without an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. This study evaluated data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)…When implementing the AAP’s daily exercise recommendation, children diagnosed with ADHD had a 21% lower adjusted odds ratio of participating in daily physical…

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How to Overcome Your Need for Perfection

ADHD and perfectionism tend to go hand in hand. But why? Often the need to be perfect is driven by a deeper desire to avoid judgment and criticism. Additionally, many people with ADHD convince themselves that they must be in just the right mood to begin a task or that if it can’t be done…

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Which Factors in Pregnancy Affect Babies’ Brains?

In February, we reported on the association between low birth weight and subsequent mental health disorders, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism…Several other studies in 2019 contributed to a growing body of literature suggesting that fetal exposures of various kinds can have long-term effects on children’s mental health.

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Teen Hyperactivity Tied to Maternal Anxiety In Utero and In 1st Years of Life

Children who are exposed to maternal anxiety in the womb and during the first few years of life are twice as likely to have symptoms of hyperactivity at age 16, according to a long-term study of more than 3,000 children. Interestingly, the researchers found no significant link between maternal anxiety and other attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)…

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A randomized controlled trial of interventions for growth suppression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treated with central nervous system stimulants

In this investigation involving 230 children (aged 5 to 12 years), researchers analyzed the effect of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants on the growth of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as tested the effectiveness and feasibility of weight recovery interventions on growth.

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Parents pay thousands for ‘brain training’ to help kids with ADHD and autism. But does it work?

Some families say they’ve seen transformative benefits from programs that claim to rewire the brain. But many researchers say the evidence is thin…Brick-and-mortar training centers like Brain Balance Achievement Centers…and LearningRx…are just one piece of a $2 billion global brain technology market that is increasingly going around the medical industry and marketing directly to consumers.

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Dear Coach: Nothing Seems to Motivate Our Teen ADHD Son

The relationship between ADHD and motivation is a complex one. While we neurotypicals can often just will ourselves into action, for those with ADHD it’s just not that simple. Before you declare your son to be an immovable force, here are some important points to consider…Motivation may not be the problem.

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Autism: AAP guidance includes updates, searchable topics, executive summary

Representing the first update in 12 years, an AAP clinical report on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a comprehensive document that is searchable by topic for easy information access. The report, Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, is available at https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3447; an executive summary is available at https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3448. Both documents, from…

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At What Age Can A Child Be Diagnosed With ADHD?

Oh, ADHD. The four letter acronym, which causes new parents and teachers immediate anxiety…Does your child really have it, could it be something else, or are they just going through a rambunctious phase as they figure out the world?…Due to more extensive research, the AAP has recently updated their ADHD guideline, which outlines how and…

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