Join the discussion. The teen brain changes rapidly as it evolves from the brain of a child. In teens, there are higher levels of two important chemicals used in brain communications—dopamine and norepinephrine. But the levels of those chemicals are typically low in brains affected by ADHD. Estrogen, the key female hormone, affects the brain…

Join the discussion. You may have experienced one or more of the normal transitions in hormonal levels during adulthood that can affect ADHD symptoms in women: pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. During pregnancy, women can experience significant improvement to their ADHD symptoms as levels of estrogen increase. Later, during perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels decline and…

Join the discussion. Migraines are extremely painful headaches that can include nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. These headaches often co-occur in many children, adolescents and adults affected by ADHD. One study found that men affected by ADHD were more than twice as likely to have migraines as other men, and another study in…

Join the discussion. Getting appropriate and effective treatment for a condition depends on getting an accurate diagnosis. But if two or more conditions such as ADHD and learning disorders exhibit similar symptoms, or when those conditions co-occur, accurate or differential diagnosis can be challenging. What is the relationship between learning disorders and ADHD, and what…

Join the discussion. Having ADHD is like being in a room with a 1,000 TV sets turned on, but all on different channels. “Now try and concentrate on just one TV without getting distracted,” Damian Aird asks the readers of The Mighty, a community platform for people coping with mental health conditions. For him, that…

Ask the Expert Highlight Behavioral Therapy: What It Is and Finding a Therapist  Featuring John Barton, PhD, ABPP  Watch Now Did you know that behavioral therapy is an important part of treatment for ADHD? Behavioral therapy teaches parents skills and strategies using positive reinforcement, structure, and consistent disciple to better manage their child’s behavioral.  John…

Join the discussion. What if, using a simple cheek swab, your doctor could pinpoint the right ADHD medication and the right dose for you on the first try?  The possibility is not too far away. The emerging field of pharmacogenomics  holds the possibility of using the information from your unique set of genes to select…

Are you concerned about the increased risks for substance abuse among young people with ADHD? There is good news: A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that ADHD medications significantly lower the risk of substance abuse. One of the largest studies to date focusing on ADHD medications, researchers drew from anonymous medical…

NRC Video: Teenagers, ADHD, and Substance Abuse Featuring Brooke Molina, PhD Are you among the many parents concerned about substance abuse and the choices their children may make? Research has shown there is a modest connection between childhood ADHD and a risk for later substance abuse. But you can do something to help prevent it.…

College classes are about to begin, and with them the stresses of academic life. Some students are inclined to experiment with caffeine, energy drinks, and vitamins as study aids―and some students will illegally seek out their classmates’ prescription ADHD medications. Stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD address the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and poor focus, and…

CHADD is pleased to present Matthew J. Gormley, PhD, and Jaclyn Kamradt, MA, as winners of the 2017 Young Scientist Research Awards competition. Dr. Gormley and Ms. Kamradt will each receive $1,000 along with recognition in November during the 2017 Annual International Conference on ADHD in Atlanta, Georgia. They will also receive a professional membership…

Join the discussion. Question: I saw an advertisement for a micronutrient pill to treat ADHD. I’m looking for options to treat my child’s ADHD symptoms.  Could adding micronutrients have an effect on his ADHD symptoms? Answer: Recent research implies some people might benefit from including micronutrient supplements as part of their treatment plans, but the…