ADHD in the News 2021-01-07

Many Adults Are Living With ADHD — Are You?

Neil Swanson says his wife of 52 years was always trying to understand why a guy like him, who seemed so smart, had so much trouble keeping track of time and staying organized...He bounced from job to job...Finally, about 17 years ago, Swanson was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. “That was quite a revelation,” he says.  



Kids With Congenital Heart Disease Face Higher Odds of Mental Health Issues

Kids born with heart defects may be more likely to develop anxiety, depression and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), regardless of the severity of their heart condition...For the study, the researchers reviewed medical records of close to 119,000 kids, aged 4 to 17, who were treated at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston more than once between 2011 and 2016.



The Influence of Gender on ADHD Recurrence Between Generations

The intergenerational recurrence risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be influenced by gender, and other psychiatric disorders may increase risk of ADHD in offspring, researchers found in a large study. Results were published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.



New Study Suggests Strong Link Between Autism and Substance Use Risk

A new study out of Taiwan reveals that some people on the autism spectrum may be at a higher risk for substance use. Researchers looked at data from the country’s health insurance program to look at whether autism was a risk factor for developing substance use disorder.



ADHD and Focus

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to change all of our lives in ways we could never have imagined a year ago....Many young people with ADHD have been struggling to make it through, avoid depression and get basic stuff done. Amidst increased anxiety and constant access to technology, it’s harder than ever to find focus and stay attentive.



Succeeding with ADHD

A military pilot and an entrepreneur – who were both diagnosed with ADHD relatively late in life – discuss how they cope with it, how it’s helped them be successful in their careers, and what they’ve learned about managing neurodiverse people.  [podcast]



How I Explain Mental Illness to My Child

My son is now old enough that he overhears conversations I have with his dad about his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and he has questions. Explaining mental illness to my child feels like a balancing act. I want to be honest with him, but I want him to feel proud of himself, too. How do I go about making that happen?