The first two parts of this blog looked at brain research that seeks to explain ADHD, focusing on studies that have identified deficiencies in the dopamine pathway and those that have found differences in other parts of the brain. Part III briefly summarizes two additional research streams.These aim not at describing anomalies in the ADHD […]
This Is Your Brain On ADHD, Part II: Other Studies, Other Theories
Part I of this blog summarized what I’ve been reading about the most extensive body of research on the ADHD brain, which has focused on apparent anomalies in the dopamine system. A number of researchers theorize that the brain’s processing of dopamine encodes our predictions of future rewards for current behaviors and that ADHD reflects […]
This Is Your Brain on ADHD, Part I: Dopamine & Reward
It was 1968 when the diagnostic criteria for what is now called ADHD first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the book used for diagnosing “mental disorders.” Although the criteria for ADHD have changed over time, they have always been based almost exclusively on observations of behavior. The problem with this approach is […]
ADHD & The Legacy of Shame: Part II
Part I of this blog looked at the shame so common among ADHD children, exploring its likely origins and its impact the ADHD child’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Part II discusses some approaches we may find useful in helping children diminish the shame they feel about their ADHD. What We Can Do For the most […]
ADHD & The Legacy of Shame: Part I
ADHD is a multifaceted condition, and when I work with children hindered by it, I try to help them with as many of its facets as I can. I advocate for ADHD kids, especially at school, and encourage them to be more effective in advocating for themselves. I show them techniques for planning, organizing, structuring […]
5 Myths About ADHD
According to the most recent findings published by the Centers for Disease Control, 11% of U.S. children are currently diagnosed with ADHD, including 5.6% of girls and 13.2% of boys. The CDC further states that about 17% of boys will be treated for ADHD at some point between the ages of 4 and 17. With […]
On Being The Homework Police
I am convinced that parenting is something we never really know how to do until we are done. This notion comes to mind when I think of my son, Greg, who was so bright and capable as a child and is now a bright, capable adult. There are moments every so often when I want […]
ADHD: Its Roots and Causes
Parents and teachers have long known how children experience ADHD: as difficulty in sustaining attention, controlling impulses, or following through with tasks. More recently, scientists have begun to define what ADHD actually is, describing it in neurological terms as variations in the way certain parts of the human brain function and communicate. Even more recently, […]
ADHD: Some Facts About Medication
This blog was originally posted on August 9, 2013 and updated on October 19, 2018. Parents of ADHD kids often ask what I think about using medication to treat their children’s symptoms. I usually reply that I am agnostic about pharmaceuticals – that I advocate neither for nor against them. What I do urge is […]
ADHD Part I: What Is It?
According to the DSM-IV TR, the manual that outlines generally accepted definitions of “mental disorders,” Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be diagnosed when an individual (usually a child) exhibits six or more symptoms from one or both of two categories. The first includes signs of inattention such as inconsistent focus, careless mistakes, forgetfulness, distractibility, trouble […]