ADHD and Criminal Justice, Part One: The Punishment Mindset and School Discipline
INDIVIDUALS WITH ADHD or similar disorders have brains that function differently, in some respects, from the brains of neurotypical individuals. To many readers of this magazine, that is well known and understood. These are our children, our students, our siblings, our parents, and even ourselves. But there are many people who interact with individuals with…
Read MoreHow ADHD Sometimes Improves
PART TWO FOR DECADES IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THE DISORDER CURRENTLY KNOWN AS ADHD always started in early childhood and always was outgrown sometime during adolescence. We now know that ADHD sometimes doesn’t show up until adolescence or beyond. We also know that for most, ADHD continues to cause impairments and sometimes gets worse during adolescence…
Read MorePeaks and Troughs: Uneven Medication Coverage & ADHD
ADHD is a common and potentially serious disorder of inconsistent self-control. Although medication is never the whole answer, it is usually an important part of comprehensive care. If side effects are avoidable, stimulant medications are usually effective. However, with each dose of medication, blood levels rise and fall, in and out of the therapeutic range.…
Read MoreADHD, Brain Balancing Music, and Mindfulness
New Breakthroughs and Resources OF ALL THE OPTIONS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH ADHD live better lives and be more functional members of society, one of the most overlooked is the use of music. As you will see, there is a good reason for this; “regular” music doesn’t work. Most traditional music is intended for entertainment…
Read MoreOvercoming the Immunity to Intelligence
(Or. How I Created the BuJo) THE DAY OF THE BIG TEST was brisk but bright, charged with that hopeful electricity of spring. It was one of those invigorating days where it feels unnatural to be cooped up inside. Our teachers must have felt the same way, because they had an idea. . . The…
Read MoreEngagement: Making Educational Content “Stick” Through Technology
ENGAGEMENT. IN MY YEARS as a speech and language pathologist working with students with a wide variety of learning issues, I have learned that engagement is half the battle in facilitating success. Students with attention difficulties must struggle with immersion in educational environments not necessarily designed for their needs, in which the material they are intended…
Read MoreGiftedness & ADHD: A Strengths-Based Perspective and Approach
ADHD AND GIFTEDNESS are sometimes described as having the same or similar characteristics. However, one diagnosis is considered a disability and one, a gift. Neither assumption is ideal in supporting the child identified with either ADHD, giftedness, or both, often referred to as twice exceptional or 2e. (Twice exceptional or 2e refers to a diagnosis…
Read MoreTips for Organizing Your Home (Webinar guest: Susan Pinsky)
Tips for Organizing Your Home Susan Pinsky is a professional organizer specializing in ADHD and chronic disorganization. She works closely with medical professionals, training physicians on appropriate organizing methodology for patients with pathologically based disorganization. Pinsky is the author of Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD and The Fast and Furious Five-Step Organizing Solution. A…
Read MoreHelping Students with ADHD in the Classroom (Webinar Guest: Sydney Zentall, PhD )
SYDNEY S. ZENTALL, PhD, is professor emerita of educational studies at Purdue University. Her background includes teaching children in both general and special education, and educating teachers for more than three decades. Dr. Zentall has also been the recipient of grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and from the Office of Special Education,…
Read MorePredicting ADHD Symptoms
Predicting ADHD Symptoms THIS RESEARCH UPDATE will focus on predicting ADHD symptoms-inattention and hyperactivity impulsivity- from both behavioral and biological measurements. ADOLESCENT ADHD SYMPTOMS Can adolescent ADHD symptoms be predicted from early childhood temperament? Although ADHD tends not to be diagnosed until children are seven or eight years old, many parents report that they noticed…
Read MoreQuestions About ADHD Medication
Questions About ADHD Medication THIS UPDATE examines some of the recent research on medications for ADHD. MEDICATION & SUBSTANCE USE RISK Is risk for substance use reduced in adolescents with ADHD who are treated with stimulant medications? Many parents of youth with ADHD are concerned about whether treating their child’s ADHD with stimulant medications may…
Read MoreCompassionate, Trauma-Responsive Schools
The Heart of Learning RESEARCHERS NOW KNOW that exposure to extreme stress can affect several functions children rely on to succeed in school. It can, for example, affect their ability to concentrate, to retrieve information, to remain focused on their goals, and to control and regulate their emotions and related behavior. In fact, it can…
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