Parents cautious of new FDA-approved device for kids with ADHD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first medical device of its kind to treat ADHD in children between the ages of 7 and 12 years-old is being met with “cautious optimism” by parents and advocates. The new device known as the Monarch eTNS system will cost parents about $1,000 and isn’t yet…
Read MoreAntipsychotics and Unexpected Death in Children
The off-label use of high-dose antipsychotics for conditions such as attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to significantly increase the risk of unexpected death in children and young adults, according to a recent retrospective study.
Read MoreA Media Avalanche is Burying Our Attention Spans
The vast and growing volume of diversions that pepper our modern world appears to be taking a toll on our attention spans as people hop to the next trending topic faster and faster, European researchers report this week…The findings, published Monday in the research journal Nature Communications, were the result of nearly 2 years of…
Read MoreUC Davis to study whether virtual reality can help kids with ADHD navigate reality
A study by the UC Davis Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute will test whether VR technology can help kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder reduce their sensitivity to distractions, according to a Tuesday press release.
Read MoreQ&A: High energy, lack of focus don’t necessarily mean your child has ADHD
Dear Mayo Clinic: As the mom of an elementary schoolboy, I hear a lot of talk about ADHD. But what is it exactly? How do you tell the difference between a kid who just has a ton of energy and one who has a problem that needs to be addressed? Are there things that put…
Read MoreChoosing Medications for ADHD: Q&A with Anne Buchanan, DO
Dr. Buchanan: Most child psychiatrists, including myself, consider stimulants first-line. I view alpha-agonists as second-line, or sometimes I use them as augmenters to a stimulant, such as when we see only a partial response from a stimulant or when we are limited in dosing due to side effects. Agents such as Strattera (atomoxetine) and Wellbutrin…
Read MoreDoes sugar make kids hyper? That’s largely a myth
“If you look at the peer-reviewed evidence, we cannot say sugar absolutely makes kids hyper; however, you can’t discount that sugar may have a slight effect” on behavior, said Kristi L. King, senior pediatric dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Read MoreMore screen time linked to higher risk of ADHD in preschool-aged children: Study
A new study out of the University of Alberta has found that by the age of 5, children who spent two hours or more looking at a screen each day were 7.7 times more likely to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when compared to children who spent 30…
Read MoreMedication Isn’t the Only Answer for ADHD Treatment: 6 Alternatives to Consider
Before defaulting to medication as an ADHD treatment for you or your children, talk to your doctor. Decide together whether any of the following non-pharmaceutical treatments might work:
Read MoreThe Simple Accommodation Many Students With ADHD Aren’t Getting
I know many ADHD students are allowed movement breaks as per their 504 or IEP. These students should be allowed to sit on exercise balls or fidget cushions, and use pedal desks, rubber bands on their chairs or fidget stools. There are a variety of options out there. Classrooms need to offer more for these…
Read MoreFinding focus: Musical training may improve attentiveness
A team of Chilean academics has produced a study, published by the journal Heliyon, that suggests “musical training produces lasting improvements to a cognitive mechanism that helps individuals be more attentive and less likely to be distracted by irrelevant stimuli while performing demanding tasks.” The study asserts that the more years of training a subject…
Read MoreRaising a child with ADHD costs five times more than raising a child without ADHD, study finds
Raising a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) costs American families an estimated $5.8 billion every year—five times more than raising a child without ADHD—according to a new study by researchers at FIU’s Center for Children and Families. This is the first study to calculate children’s social, behavioral and academic difficulties into a family’s…
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