Father of a child with ADHD writes about ADHD news, information, and current ADD/ADHD research.

Stop ADHD Behavior Looking At New Strategies To Help Your Child Grow Up With More Self Control

Very often there is a biological explanation for the hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity in ADHD children. When looking at ways to stop ADHD behavior which was dangerous, researchers recently came up with some interesting insights on the startle reflex or the Moro reflex as it is sometimes called. How is your startle reflex? If you are like me, you may jump out of your chair if someone walks up to you unexpectedly. I am therefore suffering from a high startle reflex. This is an inbuilt defence mechanism we have to protect us in time of danger. A baby will have it the moment he is born when he throws his arms in the air. It is a good sign and shows that his nervous system is working well. If this reflex is not adjusted with time, it may cause an excess of adrenaline and this can lead to h Read More

Why Medication and Psychiatric Treatment Can Reduce Adult ADHD Symptoms

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a difficulty that many adults face their entire lives. Yet many of them never seek ADHD treatment because they don’t know that symptoms like lack of concentration, impulsiveness, and trouble sleeping can develop without the hyperactivity usually associated with cases in kids. Others, having developed without showing any signs of ADHD, don’t recognize adult onset when it appears. But receiving accurate diagnosis, medication and treatment from a psychiatrist provides patients with greater control over their symptoms, encouraging both healthier relationships and greater achievement at the office. Our understanding of this issue has changed thanks to new research. Though ADHD has been recognized since 1937, it has gone through a few nam Read More

Looking At The Common Drugs For ADHD Safer Alternatives To Give Your Child A Happier Childhood

Most parents are aware by now that the common drugs for ADHD that are prescribed are liable to cause some side effects. But when they read more about those side effects, they begin to get a little uneasy. Now we all know that any drug is likely to cause some side effects but the ones for ADHD really put us on high alert. The FDA is on high alert too because they are taking no risks at all because they have slapped the black box warning on all these meds and they are covered. But what are the side effects of the common drugs for ADHD and should we really be alarmed? I was not really alarmed at all because I thought that some of these side effects may have been hyped up by interested parties. However when I read the American Journal of Psychiatry’s recent issue, I began to be concerned. You see in thei Read More

How Parents Cope When Controlling ADHD Without Medication Why Not Follow Their Example

I have just checked the ADHD forums to see what were the latest posts on controlling ADHD without medication. There were about 1,000 replies to this over the last few years so it is obviously a topic that gets people going. Anyway, here are some of the ideas that struck me as useful and which I am going to try out, although some of them are already well established in our household. Providing a safe, regular routine and a structure are really important for ADHD kids which is why I always ask about how ADHD friendly your home is. Where is the noticeboard in your house? Lists and notices do make things easier although an ADHD child may get lost and not remember where he had got to but parents and siblings can always lend a helping hand. Of course you can go overboard with lists but I must say they are a grea Read More

Interesting Facts About ADHD Check These To Help You Choose The Right Treatment For Your Child

Did you know that one of the most interesting facts about ADHD is that over 70% of adults with ADHD get divorced? The reason is that the forgetfulness, distraction, inattention and the multitasking put such a strain on the relationship that many couples just give up and separate. This is a problem because the fact is that very often ADHD in childhood is not properly treated and carried into adulthood. The effects on adult life, not only on relationships, but also in the workplace are often disastrous. Here is another one of those interesting facts about ADHD. Nobody knows exactly how the psychostimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Concerta actually work on the brain. We know that they do relieve some of the symptoms of hyperactivity and inattentiveness but that is as far as it goes. In addition, there are no Read More

American Heart Association Recommends Children receiving ECG before taking ADHD medication

American Heart Association Recommends Children receiving ECG before taking ADHD medication It is estimated that 4-12% of all school aged children in the US are diagnosed with ADHD. Recent studies have pointed to the fact that more children diagnosed with ADHD have underlying cardiac conditions than those that don’t. It is also estimated that 42% of children diagnosed with a heart condition will also receive the diagnosis of ADHD. Because the conventional treatment for ADHD is stimulant medications (Ritalin as an example), the American Heart Association has recommended that children should receive a thorough workup with an ECG before receiving stimulant medication. Dr. Victoria Vetter at the University of Pennsylvania and author of studies concerning stimulant drugs states, ‘… there are many c Read More

5 Tips on ADHD Natural Remedies Parents Should Know About

ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects numerous children around the world. In the United States alone, more than 5 million children and teens are diagnosed with ADHD. Sixty percent of these children are undergoing treatment through medications prescribed by physicians, Ritalin being the most prevalent drug used. Aside from the medications, ADHD natural remedies can also be helpful in managing the symptoms of ADHD. These ADHD natural remedies consist of the use of natural food supplements, herbs, diet modifications and behavioral therapies. Pharmacological treatment for ADHD, although considered to be effective, may bring troublesome side effects to the child such as insomnia, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, irritability, blurring of vision, slowing of growth, and addiction. The use of ADH Read More

ADHD And Bedwetting Problems And Solutions

There is no direct link between ADHD and bedwetting and the two are not necessarily connected at all. However, there does seem to be a higher incidence of bedwetting among ADHD children. One study in the Southern Medical Journal did actually show that six year olds with ADHD were three times more likely to have this problem than normal children. In fact, there is no research that actually shows there is a connection but the fact that ADHD children have attention and distraction problems is a factor that cannot be ignored. Sleep patterns may also be a factor in the ADHD and bedwetting debate. Experts have argued that when we reach Stage 4 of sleep, this is the deepest possible stage and there are very low levels of oxygen circulating in the brain. That causes similar symptoms to ADHD such as lack of attenti Read More

ADHD Gluten Diet Realistic Expectations About How Diet Can Make A Difference

Let us be realistic straightaway. An ADHD gluten diet is not going to cure ADHD, neither is any other diet. Dr. Doris Rapp has very sensibly pointed out that certain allergies caused by food do not just cause typical allergic reactions like a running nose and watery eyes. They also cause a reaction within the brain and the whole nervous system. That is why food and what we give to our kids is so important. We may be giving them the wrong foods altogether and this is certainly not going to help with their ADHD symptoms. There is now a lot of scientific research going on in this area and the results are all pointing to the fact that toxins within the digestive system are going to impact negatively on the functioning of the brain. They can also affect our immune system and the nervous system too. When these t Read More

ADHD Issues –Looking At The Best Treatment Options For Your Child

One of the biggest ADHD issues is the optimum age when it should be diagnosed.  We want to avoid situations where a two year old has to be put on prescription medication. This actually has happened and the idea that ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can be diagnosed at such an early age is a completely false one. The ideal age to get a diagnosis is said to between the ages of four and seven years. It is interesting to note that the forthcoming new edition of the DSM will now extend the age of onset to twelve. This is because research indicates that ADHD can actually start later than previously thought. However, the idea that ADHD starts in adulthood is a false one. It is just that it has always been present since childhood and was never properly diagnosed. Many parents actually discover that Read More