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.…

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…

There is a growing emphasis on behavioral parent training an as intervention when their child has ADHD, especially for young children and families with a recent diagnosis. But what is parent training, and how should you choose a program? Behavioral intervention is an important tool for managing ADHD symptoms, particularly for children. Behavioral modification training…

Do you have a question for us? Call the helpline, Monday through Friday, 1-5 p.m., at (866) 200-8090 or email us at customer_service@CHADD.org with the subject line “For National Resource Center on ADHD.” Changing school districts Question: We are moving during the summer and my child will start school in a new school district this…

Join the discussion. When your child is coping not only with ADHD but also with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), your decisions regarding treatment and support can be more complicated. It’s estimated that about two-thirds of people affected by ADHD show some features of ASD; other studies indicated 30-50 percent of those diagnosed with ASD also…

Featuring Ericka L. Wodka, PhD, ABPP-CN Watch Now It’s been almost four years since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 recognized the co-occurrence of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many families continue to work out what these changes mean for diagnosis and treatment for their loved ones. Ericka L. Wodka, PhD, ABPP-CN, of…

Join the discussion. Recently, a member of the Attention Connection community posted in Questions & Answers about the difficulty of diagnosing co-occurring ADHD and PTSD.  Diagnosing both conditions at the same time can be hard, especially when they share symptoms. Why is this?  While the underlying causes for the behaviors are different, ADHD and post-traumatic…

Join the discussion. Many adults who were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood think their symptoms may have been conquered by maturity. What does research have to say about that?  Researchers continue to look into the idea that some adults appear to outgrow ADHD, or at least most of ADHD’s outward appearing symptoms. However, about 80…

Ask the Expert Highlight: Understanding Girls with ADHD Watch Now Did you know that girls and women with ADHD are more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety, to view their difficulties with organizing and prioritizing as character flaws, and to suffer from low-self esteem because of their ADHD symptoms? Ellen Littman, PhD, has…

Minority youth make about half as many mental health visits as white children, according to a 2016 study by Lyndonna Marrast, MD, and colleagues. They found that among African Americans, children saw mental health professionals 47 percent less and young adults 68 percent less compared to whites. Among Hispanics, children’s visits to mental health professionals were…