Can living a healthy lifestyle improve ADHD symptoms for children and adults? Studies have shown that some additions to your lifestyle could be helpful. Simple things you do today may help with some symptoms and help to improve your overall health. Work with a specialist Ask your health care provider to refer you to a…

Question: I’ve heard the term islands of competence for children with ADHD, but I don’t understand what it means. Is it simply finding what your child is good at and focus just on that? ~ Mom in Virginia Answer: The idea of islands of competence was originally proposed by Robert B. Brooks, PhD, as a…

Can an adult be diagnosed with ADHD even though she didn’t have symptoms of the disorder in childhood or adolescence? There is growing evidence that ADHD is emerging for the first time in adulthood for a number of people. It was only recently that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders acknowledged, in the…

Do the foods your child eats affect his ADHD symptoms? Do you feel a change in your symptom level when you exclude certain foods or ingredients from your meals? Many people are interested in possible connections between what they eat and how ADHD affects them or their children. Families and researchers spend a considerable amount…

Medication management for you or your child can be a challenge. While there is a lot of information on the benefits and potential drawbacks of medication management, many people don’t know what questions to ask their health care providers. Many providers don’t realize the need to discuss how the medication works or the best way…

With excitement for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games starting to build, many children involved in sporting activities are having their “mini-Olympic” events for families and friends. For children affected by ADHD, sports can be a positive experience. A sport or an athletic skill your child does well and enjoys can become an island of competence…

Question: My son and daughter, 12 and 9, both have ADHD. We are working closely with a specialist and have treatment plans for both of them. We’ve seen improvement during the past year and we’re happy with it. However, we’re about to spend two weeks at the family lake house with my husband’s parents and…

Are you getting enough sleep? Or are you staying up too late, either web-surfing or perhaps searching for Pokémon in your neighborhood? No matter what novelty has grabbed your waking hours, it’s important to get enough sleep each night. Practicing habits that encourage a good night’s sleep, known as sleep hygiene, can help you better…

Q: I’m 42 and after all this time, I think I’m ready for an ADHD evaluation. But I’m worried about what happens during an evaluation and what I’m supposed to do. I used to think that only kids were checked for ADHD. Can you tell me what I should expect? — Man in Nevada A:…

This summer’s fad seems to be the popular phone app Pokémon GO. Your child (or you!) might be a “trainer” in this game, which has people walking around their neighborhoods to find animated creatures and collect rewards at special PokéStop locations. But have you wondered how this game may be affecting ADHD symptoms? The game…

Did your child’s teacher talk with you about a process called response to intervention when you went in for parent-teacher conferences last year? Many parents are told that the school wants to try response to intervention, or RTI, before taking the steps necessary to have a 504 Plan or Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, put…

Completing chores and projects can be difficult for children affected by ADHD. The disorder interferes with time management and causes the novelty of a new idea or project to wear off and makes it difficult to finish. What can you do to help your child learn how to get things done? “Time management demands that…