ADHD in the News 2015-09-15

Dispelling the myth: ADHD stimulant medications and tics

Stimulant medications for ADHD – such as Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall and Vyvanse – do not appear to cause tics in children nor make tics worse, concludes a study published this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.



ADHD and Diet: The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Although frustrated parents may sometimes think of ADHD as a burden their child must bear, and find the only solutions are pharmaceutical interventions, a building body of research is investigating the positive effects omega-3 fatty acids may have on reducing inattention symptoms.



Nipping ADHD and Conduct Disorder in the Bud

New research suggests predictors of adolescent ADHD and conduct disorder can be identified—and intercepted—in school-age children. According to a recent study, it is crucial to identify and remedy “bad” behavior and low academic performance during kindergarten. If these 2 modifiable factors occur together in a young child and are allowed to persist, the odds that the child will display severe symptoms of comorbid ADHD and conduct disorder are 8 to 1.



Autism Diagnosis May Be Delayed When ADHD Diagnosed First

A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was associated with an almost 3-year delay in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when compared with the age of diagnosis of children diagnosed with ASD alone, a new study reveals.



ADHD Can Be a CEO’s Secret Superpower

Bill Gates, Walt Disney, Richard Branson, IKEA founder and chairman Ingvar Kamprad, Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, Cisco Systems CEO John T. Chambers, Jim Carrey and Howie Mandel all have ADHD. They have found ways to find complete order in their disorder. Once out of the structured school system, ADHD is not a disorder, but rather a beneficial trait in the working world.



Keep It Simple! 3 Parenting Tips for a Healthy Life Balance

The wise parent ensures a good balance between a child’s active learning opportunities and her unstructured times. Here are three ways suggested by Dona Matthews, Ph.D., and Joanne Foster, Ed.D., that you can help your child create a healthy life balance



Rise in disability benefits for children with mental disorders consistent with population trends

The percentage of poor children who received federal disability benefits for at least one of 10 major mental disorders increased from 1.88 percent in 2004 to 2.09 percent in 2013, and such growth is consistent with and proportionate to trends in the prevalence of diagnosed mental disorders among children in the general US population, says a new report.