ADHD and Social Connectedness
How is ADHD related to social connectedness among youth? What factors may protect against the consequences of low social connectedness among individuals with ADHD? This month’s research brief focuses on these two overarching questions. The first study found that youth with ADHD were more likely to have lower levels of different types of social supports…
Read MoreFriendship Problems? How Parents Can Help
“Your son is getting better at turning in his homework,” said Spencer’s fourth grade teacher. “However, the other students don’t want to sit at his table. I notice that at recess he is often alone, and I worry about him socially.” Spencer’s parents reflect on this statement. Indeed, they have noticed that invitations to birthday…
Read MoreThe Imagine Neighborhood, Where Children (and Adults) Learn About Feelings
Joyce Cooper-Kahn, PhD, interviews Scotty Iseri and Sherri Widen, PhD Imagination and pretend play have long been considered a foundation for the development of behavioral and emotional regulation—see, for example, the work of psychologists Dorothy and Jerome Singer. Both the process of imagining and the specific rehearsal of situations that are part of pretend play…
Read MoreThe Best Aphrodisiac
THE ADHD RELATIONSHIP SEX SURVEY I CREATED—and somehow got 3,000 people to take—had a section that asked about the types of treatments that respondents had tried, how much effort they had put into it, and how effective they felt the treatment has been. There has certainly been a lot of research already looking at this,…
Read MoreAttention Magazine October 2019
How Can Couples with ADHD Keep a Strong Relationship?
Carol Ann Robbins, PhD A licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across the lifespan, Carol Ann Robbins, PhD, is the clinical director of the Annapolis ADHD Center. She also works at the Chesapeake ADHD Center of Maryland. Dr. Robbins has served as coordinator of the Anne Arundel County Maryland…
Read MoreHelp! My Child Only Has Virtual Friends
From Cajoling to Collaboration–Learn How to Help Your Child Develop True Friendships IF YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS on any social media or gaming platform, you’ve said it before: “Those people are not real! They are not your friends. You don’t even really know who they are! Why do you spend so much…
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 MoreWas Grandma Right About Manners?
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” “Wait your turn.” “Say please and thank you.” WE TRY TO TEACH OUR KIDS good manners so that they can navigate social situations smoothly. As with everything else, some kids pick them up easily, while others struggle. Children with ADHD usually understand what good manners are and probably get…
Read MoreDecisions, Dating, and Job Interviews
Ask the Adult ADHD Expert This is a really broad question, but how can I learn what my family calls “common sense” so that I don’t keep making decisions that get me into trouble? Let’s look first at your family’s concerns. “Common sense” is a pretty broad category. What issues has your family specifically mentioned…
Read MoreHelping Them Soar: WINGS for Kids
IMAGINE A SAFE PLACE to call home after school, a place where children in kindergarten through fifth grade can play games, have fun, make new friends, and learn social and emotional skills intended to last a lifetime. Now imagine this safe and fun place being reserved especially for low-income children who in most instances would…
Read MoreAccountability, Nagging, and Exercise
Does group therapy work for adult ADHD? I have a sneaky suspicion that I could make a lot of progress if I had a group helping to keep me accountable. There has been research showing that certain structured, skills-based groups can be helpful for adults with ADHD. Part of the reason for that success is…
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