ADHD in the News 2025-12-11
Social Media Draining Kids’ Ability To Concentrate, Study Argues
THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Social media could be draining children of their ability to concentrate, a new study says. Children who spend a lot of time on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter or Messenger gradually become less able to focus and pay attention, researchers reported Dec. 8 in the journal Pediatrics Open Science. This might partially explain why ADHD diagnoses have increased among kids in recent years, researchers said.
School reopening during COVID-19 pandemic associated with improvement in children’s mental health
Boston, MA—Reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked with significantly lower rates of mental health diagnoses among children, including anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a drop in related health care spending, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues. The benefits were especially pronounced among girls. The study was published Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Epidemiology.
ADHD prescriptions on the rise in Ontario, study finds
Annual prescriptions for drugs to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increased 157% in Ontario from 2015 to 2023, according to a new study from researchers at ICES, North York General, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.
Half of people arrested in London may have undiagnosed ADHD, study finds
Offering screening for neurodivergence to people detained by the police could help ensure access to appropriate support and fairer treatment in the criminal justice system, say Cambridge researchers. A study from the team suggests that one in two individuals arrested and detained in London may have undiagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and one in 20 may have undiagnosed autism.
New Book Release from Norton Mental Health
8 Keys to Parenting Kids & Teens with ADHD: Supporting Your Child's Executive Function by Cindy Goldrich
Expanding upon her bestselling book, ADHD expert Cindy Goldrich offers compassionate, science-backed tools to help parents support their child’s growth in patience, communication, emotional regulation, and independence. This update emphasizes the crucial role of executive function, elaborates on important conversations parents should have with their children, and offers thoughts on helping children transition into post–high school life.
Expanding upon her bestselling book, ADHD expert Cindy Goldrich offers compassionate, science-backed tools to help parents support their child’s growth in patience, communication, emotional regulation, and independence. This update emphasizes the crucial role of executive function, elaborates on important conversations parents should have with their children, and offers thoughts on helping children transition into post–high school life.
Evolution of CBT for Treating Adult ADHD
Key points: CBT is an empirically supported psychosocial treatment for adult ADHD. Advances in DBT and ACT represent the third wave of behavioral therapies and have been applied to adult ADHD. Emerging trends of process-based CBT and 4E cognition may further advance adult ADHD treatment. CBT for adult ADHD continues to evolve to further adapt to the needs of adults with ADHD.
New research differentiates cognitive disengagement syndrome from ADHD in youth
Recent investigations into child psychology have provided evidence that a specific cluster of behavioral symptoms is separate and distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The research indicates that this condition, known as cognitive disengagement syndrome, presents a unique set of challenges that shift as children mature into adolescents. These findings were published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Teens, ADHD and college planning: Five things to know
For students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who are applying to college, planning ahead can ensure they receive the mental health care and academic support they need.
Your Child’s ADHD Could Be Misdiagnosed
Diagnosing ADHD in very young children can be complicated, especially when behaviors that look like symptoms may simply reflect age and maturity. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains what is developmentally normal, and how factors like family changes, anxiety, or classroom demands can mimic ADHD traits. Learn what parents should consider before pursuing a diagnosis and why partnering with a pediatrician is essential for understanding a child's behavior and developmental stage.
How neurodivergent households design ‘a home that knows your brain’
From dark, sound-proofed rooms to clever storage solutions, families with autism and ADHD are finding inspired ways to adjust their environments
Young adolescents participating in organized sports less likely to show oppositional-defiant behavior
Young adolescents, especially boys, who participated in organized sports between ages 6 and 10 are less likely to defy their parents, teachers and other authority figures, a new study by researchers in Canada and Italy suggests.
UK watchdog bans social media ads promising ADHD and autism treatment
Advertising Standards Authority issues enforcement notices related to 11 different supplements and tests
FDA clears Lumosity brain training games as a prescription app for adult ADHD
Lumos Labs has obtained a clearance from the FDA for its popular Lumosity brain training platform, greenlighting a version of it to be marketed as a prescription digital therapeutic for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for the first time. Dubbed LumosityRx, the agency's 510(k) covers the smartphone app's use in improving attention among people between the ages of 22 and 55. According to Lumos, more than 100 million people have already used its Lumosity platform, and the FDA's clearance marks the company's expansion from consumer software to clinical-grade approaches.