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Beyond the ADHD Headlines: A Nuanced Look at Diagnosis, Drugs, and Daily Life

ADHD is a disorder that can impact far more than a child’s report card. Families often seek help not solely for problems in the classroom, but also because their child struggles at home, with hyperactivity and difficulty following rules, managing emotions, and handling social situations. And ADHD is not only a disorder of childhood. Research shows that untreated ADHD in adults elevates risks of car crashes, substance misuse, accidental injuries, and workplace challenges later in life. At all ages, ADHD symptoms vary by setting, but they can create significant distress and real consequences that require meaningful support.

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Featured

 Helping Kids With A.D.H.D., and Their Families, Thrive

Families should not expect simple answers, or short-term solutions. Parents have to take care of themselves, and pay attention to the family dynamic, looking for ways to help everyone thrive.

 How ADHD Became an Adult Disorder

Millions of grown-ups are now being diagnosed with what was once thought to be a childhood condition: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. What did health-care providers miss? And how do you know if you’re affected?

 The Underlying Gift Of Having ADD Or ADHD

If you suspect a personal diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, what if you could view that diagnosis as a gift, rather than a curse? Come again? Yes, a gift, given that you can't change the diagnosis or the symptoms. Let’s review the situation a bit, and then you decide if you have been given an unintended gift or an intended curse.

 Women with ADHD are slipping under the radar – but I'm fighting to change that

We all need to remember that being neurodivergent doesn’t have a look.

Articles of Interest

ADHD Treatments: 5 Really Promising Research Updates

Research into the mysteries of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is booming. By early 2017, more than 31,000 research studies and papers had been published in medical journals about this most-common childhood mental disorder that now affects an estimated one in 12 kids and teens 1 —and persists for one in 25 adults.

Simone Biles refused to be shamed for her ADHD medication after hackers leaked her private records

Hackers tried to imply Simone Biles was doping. She used the leak to reduce ADHD stigma instead.

25 Questions: Is This Your Child?

These questions will help determine if your child is affected by ADD/ADHD-like symptoms.

A new study shows there's a strong link between ADHD and premature death

Does a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increase one's risk of dying young? Though some studies have suggested there may be a link, they weren't large enough to tell for sure. Now, a new, well-designed study in the Lancet gets pretty close to demonstrating this disturbing correlation.

A Reason to Think Twice About Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis

Research from around the world suggests younger children are more likely to get the diagnosis when they’re compared with older peers

ADHD Is Different for Women

The standard conception of the disorder is based on studies of "hyperactive young white boys." For females, it comes on later, and has different symptoms.

ADHD Myths, According to People Who Actually Have It By Ana Tepșanu June 28, 2023, 3:45am

How many times have you heard someone who’s half paying attention to what you’re saying tell you they have ADHD? In the past couple of decades, people have become more aware of this neurodevelopmental disorder, and started throwing the term around without really knowing what it means

ADHD: The Entrepreneur's Superpower

At a time when health care professionals are over prescribing stimulants like Ritalin, medicating the so-called “symptoms” of ADHD out of existence, it’s worth noting that some of the trait’s most common characteristics – creativity, multi-tasking, risk-taking, high energy and even resilience– are, in fact, strengths when leveraged in the right way and in the right career.

ADHD: The High Price Of A Quick, Quick Fix

The experts are finally admitting that medication isn’t the most cost-efficient way of dealing with ADHD after all. More recent studies have called into question whether the benefits from a pill last as long as behavioral therapy coupled with techniques to improve long-term academic and social functioning.

Apps for Kids with ADD/ADHD

Smartphone and Tablet technologies have been a game-changer for people with ADD/ADHD when it comes to improving social skills and self-confidence. The Social Navigator is having a positive impact on the lives of children with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Brains With ADHD Look Different

It’s easy to think we all have attention problems, whether you’re glued to your smartphone, can’t seem to sit still, or drift off while someone’s telling us a boring story. A new study published in The Lancet Psychology, however, has found that the brain of someone with real attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is physically different from a normal brain.

Can Adults Get a Different Kind of ADHD?

“I don’t have any problem with the idea that some adults do not have clear signs or symptoms of ADHD in childhood,” he says. “But that does not mean they have a different condition. It just emerges a little bit later in life.”

Exercise Is ADHD Medication

Physical movement improves mental focus, memory, and cognitive flexibility; new research shows just how critical it is to academic performance.

Exploring ADHD…with science!

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects millions of people worldwide. We know more about ADHD than we used to, but there’s still a lot left to learn. Here are some exciting new discoveries from NIH-funded research and opportunities to get involved.

Frequent Technology Use Linked to ADHD Symptoms in Teens, Study Finds

A new study of 2,500 teenagers suggests that frequent use of digital media can lead to higher risk of developing ADHD-related symptoms.

How ADHD Became a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

The rise of ADHD diagnoses over the years has generated $13 billion in revenue for the companies that produce ADHD medication in the United States. Find out how the increase in attention deficit hyperactivity disorders is resulting in a big payday for big pharma.

How Childhood Trauma Could Be Mistaken for ADHD

Some experts say the normal effects of severe adversity may be misdiagnosed as ADHD.

How to safeguard against overdiagnosis when more GPs treat ADHD

GPs with less training may be more likely to diagnose and initiate medication when it’s not indicated. ADHD can appear similar to other conditions or occur alongside another condition. One study found 77.9% of children with ADHD also had another disorder. Assessing someone for ADHD is time-consuming. It includes taking a thorough history, getting information from others and assessing other mental health or psychological conditions that can mimic or occur alongside ADHD.

In Good Health: What We Know About ADHD

As researchers learn more about the brain and its complexities, they’re also gaining new insights into what the condition looks like across different ages, genders, and races. In recent years, more adults — especially women — are being diagnosed than ever before.

Kids who start kindergarten young are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD

There’s a growing concern about overdiagnosis of ADHD, since the treatment can come with adverse effects.

People With ADHD Can Actually Focus So Hard it's Scary

People with hyperfocus tend to block out everything else going on around them.

People With ADHD Have Different Brains

Certain brain structures related to emotion and reward are smaller in people with the disorder, new research finds.

The Benefits of Fidgeting for Students With ADHD

The children perform better on cognitive tasks when allowed to move freely

The funny thing about ADHD

Have you seen ADHD content pop up in your feeds? Are you getting a lot of it? In the past few years, there's been a surge in the number of adults diagnosed with ADHD, and at the same time more and more people online are going viral with "signs" that you might have it too. Whether with our doctors or friends, we're all talking a lot more about adult ADHD. Is this a perfect storm of online content leading to more diagnoses? Or is there more to the story?

The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder

The rise of A.D.H.D. diagnoses and prescriptions for stimulants over the years coincided with a remarkably successful two-decade campaign by pharmaceutical companies to publicize the syndrome and promote the pills to doctors, educators and parents. With the children’s market booming, the industry is now employing similar marketing techniques as it focuses on adult A.D.H.D., which could become even more profitable.

The Upside of ADHD

The gene responsible for our hyperactive downfall might be the key to keeping nomads healthy.

What It’s Like to Have ADHD As a Grown Woman

I still have ADHD. I’m still disorganized. My room isn’t what you’d call clean. I still have to fight to stay on top of things that seem easy for others. Getting diagnosed wasn’t a cure, it was a key

When ADHD is talked about as a fad – it does more than misrepresent science

When people with institutional authority speak dismissively about ADHD, their words travel far beyond opinion pages and television panels. They shape how employers respond to disclosure, how educators interpret behaviour and how clinicians listen – or fail to listen – to their patients.

When should a child be tested for ADHD?

The first signs of ADHD usually manifest over a few years in early childhood, and most children with the condition show clear signs by first grade. Elementary school teachers are often the ones who recommend that parents have their child tested for ADHD, but many parents and preschool teachers suspect the condition at an earlier age and wonder if testing would be beneficial.

Why ADHD can be a valuable bonus for entrepreneurs

ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – is a common neuro-development psychological disorder characterised by problems with focus, impulsivity and high activity level. It is normally associated with a range of negative consequences such as crime, social exclusion, and academic under-performance. But in an entrepreneurial context, we have found, it is a condition which brings clear advantages.

Why is ADHD more common in boys than girls?

About one in 20 children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at some point during their school life. Interestingly, for every girl diagnosed, there are between three and seven boys who receive an ADHD diagnosis.

Why More Girls — and Women — Than Ever Are Now Being Diagnosed With ADHD

While ADHD diagnoses on their own may not seem all that troubling at first glance, experts note that ADHD plays out very differently in girls and can lead to very different, “horrendous” outcomes for women.

Will Doctors Soon Prescribe Videogames?

How researchers are using computer games to treat pain, aging, ADHD, and other ailments.

Resources

ADHDchildhood

Whether you are a caregiver or an educator for children and teens that may be experiencing symptoms of ADHD or that have already been diagnosed, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll find the information and resources necessary to make a difference.

The 6 biggest questions about adult ADHD, answered by a neuroscientist

ADHD diagnosis has risen in recent years, particularly among adults. But we need to improve how we view and treat it.

ADD ADHD Blog

The internet blog of Dr.Kenny Handelman.

ADDitude

Living Well with Attention Deficit...ADDitude has provided clear, accurate, user-friendly information and advice from the leading experts and practitioners in mental health and learning for almost 10 years.

ADHD & Marriage

Dr. Ned Hallowell and Melissa Orlov blog about marriage when one or both spouses has ADHD. What is it like? What are common themes in marriages with ADHD? What strategies can be used to improve these relationships?

Adult ADD Strengths

A Blog about Adults with Attention Surplus Condition (aka ADHD) by Adult ADD Coach Pete Quily.

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

The Attention Deficit Disorder Association is the world's leading adult ADHD organization. Our mission is to provide information, resources and networking opportunities to help adults with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder lead better lives.

CHADD

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder- CHADD - is the nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families.

myADHD

myADHD subscribers have been using this website to help care for children, adolescents, and adults affected by Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Our subscribers are clinicians such as physicians, mental health professionals, coaches, parents, adults with ADHD, and educators. With myADHD they have instant access to important myADHD Tools including rating scales, history forms, and treatment ideas.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Information on ADHD including signs, symptoms and treatment.

Bright Tots

Signs, causes, symptoms, and treatment of ADHD and ADD in children.

Child Psychology and Mental Health

ADHD sometimes known as Attention Deficit Disorder is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is hard for these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have meet criteria for diagnosis, or approximately 2 million children in the United States.

National Institute of Mental Health

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).

PsychCentral

An introduction to ADHD with further links and resources.