Potential side effects of ADHD medication is a concern for many people struggling with attention difficulties.   A recent study published by The New England Journal of Medicine looks further into whether certain ADHD medications may cause psychosis in teens. The large study was conducted by Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

The study specifically looked at the use of the stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine for the treatment of ADHD.  Prescriptions for these particular medications have been increasing annually. The study used data from two commercial insurance claim databases to review information from patients 13-25 years old who received a diagnosis of ADHD and were prescribed methylphenidate or amphetamine between January 1, 2004 – September 20, 2015. The study consisted of over 220,000 patients.  Within those...

Sleep problems are common for children and adults with ADHD. Getting to sleep can be difficult due to restlessness, medication side effects, or a busy mind. A recent study, funded by the National Institute of Health, found that 57% of parents with ADHD children got less than six hours of sleep every night.

Many articles recommend using background noise such as a fan, a sound machine, calming music, etc. These options might be helpful.  However, there is a new lullaby album that was created just for ADHD.

Bryan Wisda is a local resident and law enforcement officer in the Desert Foothills of Arizona. A news article by The Foothills Focus talks about how an injury on the job lead to his patented method that helps children with ADHD fall asleep quickly. His ten-year-old son struggled to fall asleep due to the side effects of stimulant medication. While Bryan was in recovery, he...

Spring gives us the opportunity to play outside and get our green time. By green time, we mean outside activities with lots of grass and trees and very few buildings.

Studies have shown that spending time in green environments can help improve ADHD symptoms in both children and adults. One study, conducted by Taylor and Kuo, indicated that hyperactive children showed the most improvement in open green spaces like soccer fields. Occasional exposure might be helpful.  However, regular green time showed the most improvement in ADHD symptoms, even if the green time is just 20-minutes at a time.

It may sometimes be difficult to remember the importance of spending time outside.  We can all get caught up in our daily schedules.  Time management is especially challenging for adults and children with ADHD. To get your daily green time, schedule an event in your calendar so it’s...

Living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is challenging.  Everyday activities can be overwhelming and difficult. A recent article in Scot Scoop, Living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, discusses some of the struggles people with ADHD face.

Writer, Pablo Pinilla, discusses the following tasks:

• Getting out of bed on time
• Remembering to do your homework
• Getting to class on time
• Staying focused in a class by trying to catch yourself from spacing out the window

These are just some of the things that students with ADHD struggle with daily.  They are in a constant state of struggle trying to stay ahead and yet most of them are falling behind.

According to the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders, ADHD is a neurobiologically-based developmental disability affecting around 11 percent of children. No one knows exactly...

A study published in Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal reviewed students with ADHD who have an IEP, 504 plan, or informal school accommodations.  It was discovered that accommodations such as extended test time, regular breaks, having the test read aloud, calculator use and reduced distractions in the exam rooms are not working.

The study observed 96 Maryland students with ADHD in grades 3^rd-8^th. Test scores were evaluated from the Maryland School Assessment (MSA), as well as, individually administered cognitive tests. These tests and observations were all linked to the five testing accommodations listed above. When the study participants were compared to ADHD students who did not receive these accommodations, it was found that none of the five testing accommodations were associated with better scores on any of the tests.

Lead author of the...